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dnL · 02-19-2017, 03:49 AM

Pre-season - for a lot of us, is just that - another pre-season. For a lot of players here in the SMJHL, it's an extremely nerve-wracking experience. These young kids, newly drafted, are leaving home to have their first experience of the second-highest league in the world.

For me, personally, this year was my first year of training camp with my SHL team, the Minnesota Chiefs. I had no clue what to expect, and even though this wasn't my first North American training camp, I was still nervous. I was about to get on the ice for the first time with some of the best players in the world; I was to learn from some of the best coaches on the planet; I was to work my ass off to improve as much as I could in the short week, and try to make an impression on both the coaches and my future team-mates. At the end of the day, when I finally get my shot in the SHL with the Minnesota Chiefs, I want my line-mates to know who I am, how hard I've worked, and what skill-sets I possess. I want them to be comfortable with me on the ice with them, because that is one of the most important attributes I can provide to my linemates and team-mates - comfort and confidence.

I still remember my first day of camp. Thankfully, I wasn't the only new kid showing up to camp. I met a few of the other rookies at the hotel - we came a little earlier, to adjust a bit. O'Rourke, Hämäläinen, Starkonov, Crawford, and Wexter all met up with me in the hotel. I didn't know any of these fellows personally, but had much experience with each on the ice during the previous season in the SMJHL. From what I've seen on the ice in the previous season, I have a feeling a few of these players possess the ability and mental fortitude to stay up here with the Minnesota Chiefs; the rest of us will likely require another season or two in the SMJHL with our respective teams to continue improving - but we need to get this training camp out of the way.

Still a day away from the start of training, the six of us grew antsy and bussed to the arena to kill time. We wanted to see where we'd have our training camp, meeting players that we've dreamt of meeting our entire lives. Looking to kill some time, due to our nerves, we watched a few young teams' practices. Afterwards, we met with the players of each team's practice and offered encouragement and advice - something that many of us received in our youths. The helpful advice and confidence of a player making his or her way in the professional world does much for a young mind, and though we're not quite there, we hoped to invoke that sense of purpose and wonder that each of us six pursued to get where we are now.

Once camp finally started the next day, we were in for a shock. Compared to our games in the SMJHL, training camp - essentially practice - was faster paced, more physical, and much more difficult. Keeping up with the speed and skill of these players here at camp has so far been my most difficult task in my life; even trying to keep up in the playoffs last season was easier than trying to keep up with these players, my heroes, who have 5+ years of experience as the best, and playing amongst the best in the world.

And that was only the first day.

The rest of the week was much the same - wake up, work my ass off and get my ass kicked for hours and hours, get back to my room and fall asleep. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat. The amount of skill I witnessed and played with and against each day left me in awe and shame. But I'm confident, and I've received words of praise from these veterans, that one day I will be one of those players instilling awe into the young kids coming up for his or her first training camp. I will be there, one day; hopefully sooner, rather than later. But I am confident in my abilities, and my coaches and team-mates that I will make that progression.

I left training camp feeling better about my game, and feeling inspired. It was a struggle, yes, but I felt capable of playing with and against these best in the world. Upon returning, we had training camp with the Kelowna Knights - now I was to be one of the veterans welcoming the youth to the league.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - it's more impactful and real in writing - I am a man of few words; I have always felt leading by example, rather than by word, is more impactful and fitting to my style. As training camp began here with the Knights and, especially the youth, I tried my best to lead by example. Taking the young players into the board and trying to show what to expect in the SMJHL; playing the neutral zone, offensive zone, and defensive zone as it were an SMJHL game. I hope the young players, fresh to this league, were able to garner something from my example; to try offering the best support possible, I would offer a few choice words of encouragement or advice. I truly feel I was able to at least shed some light into what is necessary to succeed in the SMJHL.

As the season starts, I hope my growth at the Minnesota Chiefs' training camp, and my leadership and development at the Kelowna Knights training camp will instill another positive year not only for me, but for our team. I hope to be a solid, confident voice in the locker room, able to offer guidance and support to our young players, while still growing my own skillset and leadership abilities.

This year and next, I feel, will be both important years for Kelowna and Minnesota, but also for me. What I learn, and the skills I develop this season will shape my career. I hope to be a leader; not necessarily by points and wins - don't get me wrong, I hope for many of each - but by my leadership. I hope to be the player that my team-mates look to in times of difficulty, and celebrate with me in times of success. These next two years will shape that dream.

I can't wait.

~1100 words

Baelor Swift · 02-20-2017, 12:18 AM

Jenny · 02-20-2017, 12:42 AM

GCool · 02-20-2017, 12:48 AM

Awesome job with this dude. Cheers

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