Jets development camp positive experience for players

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This article was published 13/07/2012 (5100 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The end of Winnipeg Jets Development Camp early this afternoon at MTS Iceplex was a mirror image to what we saw with the big club at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season.

Roughly 40 players skated to the logo at centre ice and raised their sticks in salute to the 1,000 fans who jammed one side of the rink for the final day of action, which included a scrimmage.

For the record, the Blue Team beat the White Team 6-2 on goals by Scott Kosmachuk, Carl Klingberg, Mark Scheifele, John Albert, Austen Brassard and Jordan Samuel-Thomas – Eric O’Dell and Will O’Neill replied for the White – but the five-day session was more about what took place away from the rink.

“It really wasn’t about the on-ice, it was about the off-ice… the personalities, getting to know them and getting them to know everybody in the organization,” explained Jimmy Roy, the Jet Coordinator of Player Development who was in charge of the camp. “It was about the opportunity to make these kids feel as comfortable as they can so when they come to a training camp they are even more comfortable and are able to perform at their best.

“It wasn’t really about going out there and evaluating the guys on the ice. It was about the teaching part. We had some guys out there this week who were really good at what they do. Randy Gilhen with his faceoffs… there were five or six guys that came up to me who said, ‘That was pretty neat. I never had anybody sit down and show me some of the things he showed me.’ Mike Keane came in and talked about some of the things that helped him in his game. Hopefully they something from the off-ice stuff we had and move on from there.”

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Roy said there were a few ‘hiccups’ he would change for next year, but the response from almost all of the players about the camp was all positive. Some went so far as to suggest that the mix of on and off-ice stuff made the first-ever Jet D-Camp the best they had experienced.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said 2011 first-round draft pick Mark Scheifele. “It was good to end it with a fun day and the scrimmage. I’ve learned a lot, but it’s been a fun week, too. A big thing for me was the sports psychology: learning how to be a professional, learning how to deal with things. And just being on the ice and honing your skills and getting better at the little things.”

The camp provided the organization a chance to do some baseline testing of all their prospects, but also to hammer home the importance of things like nutrition and proper training. Just as important was the opportunity to get the best young talent together, many of whom will be future teammates.

“It’s been fun, it’s been challenging,” said 2012 first-round pick Jacob Trouba. “On the ice I’ve been challenged by better players, which is good for me and off the ice being around them and seeing how they work out and what they do is also pretty helpful. They’re all good guys and Zach Redmond, my roommate, is a really good guy and he’s been helping me out and nice to me.

“This is a great organization. All the people I’ve met here and all the top guys are really nice. I wasn’t expecting the (large crowd on Friday). I knew it was a big hockey city here, but I never expected 1,000 fans to come out to development camp. I think it really shows how big a hockey city this is and it’s part of why I’m excited to be here.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait