One door closes. Another door opens. Thats been the theme of Justin Bailey's life the past four months.
The pride of Williamsville, NY completed his freshman season with the Kitchener Rangers in April. He immediately began working out to get himself in the best shape possible for the NHL draft. On June 30, another door opened when his hometown Buffalo Sabres made his dreams come true by drafting Bailey in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft.
Bailey was invited to participate in the Sabres' three day prospects camp in early July. He stood out for Team Gold in the Blue & Gold scrimmage. At the conclusion of Sabres prospect camp, Bailey's training and fitness routine continued. In late July, Bailey was invited to attend Team USA's World Junior Championships training camp in Lake Placid. After three days of evaluation and 4 scrimmages, Team USA has made its first round of roster cuts from its WJC training camp in Lake Placid. Surprisingly, Bailey didn't make the cut for the Team USA WJC camp. He played LW on the fourth line for the USA Blue Team, and he made the most of his limited ice time.
Bailey headed home to Williamsville after his Team USA WJC disappointment. Rather than let it get him down, Bailey threw all of his energy into getting in even better physical shape s that he would be able to create lasting memories at the the Traverse City Prospects Tournament. Bailey was invited to participate along with all of the Sabres top draft choices and their best organizational prospects.
In four games played at Traverse City, Bailey scored two goals and made a positive impression on Darcy Regier, Kevin Devine and the Sabres.
On Tuesday, Bailey was one of five who were sent back to their junior clubs. There's no time to reflect on his dizzying summer as his Kitchener Rangers will drop the puck on their 2013-14 season on Friday night.
Man, what a ride its been for bailey these past four months!
In a nutshell, Bailey went from playing with the OHL Kitchener Rangers, to being selected in the second round by the Bills at the NHL draft, to attending Sabres prospect camp, to being invited to and cut from the Team USA WJC camp, to being invited to his first ever Sabres training camp, to playing well at the Traverse City prospect tournament.
"This summer has been a life-changing experience for me," said Bailey.
Bailey's dream is coming to fruition before his very eyes. He has met so lmany new and interesting people in the past four months. He's gotten his first taste of the NHL culture and the Buffalo Sabres work ethic. Bailey told WGRZ in Buffalo that Sabres management has given him a 'to do" list, which includes him turning up the aggression level in his game and developing a style of play more better suited to the NHL.
Thanks, WGRZ.com
I'll make a bold prediction right now:
Bailey is going to transfer all of his new found experiences and training techniques to the Kitchener Rangers where I expect him to score 25-30 goals this season. He scored 19 in his rookie OHL season after suffering a serious concussion in the first few weeks of his freshman season in junior hockey.
Bailey departs Buffalo healthy, happy, bigger, stronger and more confident than ever before.
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