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Fitter Melchiori eyes spot in AHL

Jets prospect worked out at Roberts' camp

By: Robin Short

Posted: 10/3/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS archives Julian Melchiori spent another year in junior to fine tune his game.

CORNER BROOK, N.L. -- After coming close to making the team in training camp last season, 21-year-old defenceman Julian Melchiori hopes he has an added edge to help him land a spot on the St. John's IceCaps roster this time around.

And that advantage comes courtesy of former NHLer Gary Roberts.

Melchiori, who hails from Richmond Hill, Ont., took part in Roberts's popular conditioning camp in the off-season, joining a number of other NHLers -- Steven Stamkos, Jeff Skinner and James Neal among them -- minor pros and juniors.

Roberts stresses high-intensity, high-endurance training coupled with a strict diet.

"He really pushes us," Melchiori said of Roberts, a fitness buff, who credits his conditioning for a long NHL career.

"He's huge with nutrition. We log everything we eat. And he's big on resting your body, too.

"The pro mentality... it's a whole new game. I'm in the best shape of my life. It was an amazing experience and I'm taking all I learned from that and applying it to my game."

Melchiori was among the last cuts at the IceCaps' camp last season, sent back to the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers as an overage player. He finished out the season with the Oshawa Generals.

He lost out on the final blue-line spot to Ben Chiarot, who spent most of last season shuttling between St. John's and Colorado of the ECHL.

With Paul Postma, Derek Meech, Zach Redmond, Dean Arsene, Travis Ramsey and probably young Will O'Neill comprising the first six defencemen, the No. 7 spot is up for grabs between Melchiori, Chiarot, Jake Marto, and 6-5 junior grad Cody Sol.

"It was disappointing going back to junior," he acknowledged, "but I took a lot of positives from it.

"I had a good year in junior (two goals, 34 assists in 61 games) and I took the time to develop and work on my game.

"I think I'm a more mature player, and I'm ready for the opportunity and looking forward to it."

So far in camp, St. John's coach Keith McCambridge has noticed a different Melchiori, and it's not just his 6-4, 210-pound frame.

"I noticed his poise today in scrimmage," McCambridge said Tuesday. "He has more poise with the puck. That chance to play heavier minutes in the OHL did nothing but benefit him. To see him come in here and carry the puck more, and make the correct option coming out his own zone is what we envisioned.

-- St. John's Telegram

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 3, 2012 D2

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