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I had a friend in the office (Dean, if you’re reading this you know it’s true). As I waited he would say, “what’s more worthless than pre season hockey?… I just ignored him. That was my last fax purchase. From there we had met friends who lived in Traverse City who would pick up tickets for us and once a player left us an envelope for all the events. That was pretty cool.
Kasper’s workout in preseason camp (above) just shows how much things have change. You can see work done to strengthen hip flexors and core muscles. Mannequins on ice have replaced cones. Camaraderie mixed with fierce competition. The young players are the most fun to watch at camp.
I’ve talked before about the advantage some of the European leagues have. Young standout players can be promoted to play in leagues that have former pros, aspiring pros and full size combatants that want you to know how hard they’re going to make life for you.
The OHL, US development program, QMJL etc all have their strengths. But, for some collegiate programs are a fantastic option. As numbers dwindle and players have to decide if they’ll try to get a job overseas or take invites to ECHL camps, hockey is a career that ends suddenly and abruptly. You can be traded, thrust into a culture where you can’t communicate, but you get the feel for a realistic season.
In college, you play fewer games and can put on weight. You earn your spot, but you’re not getting traded. It also gives you the opportunity to have “plan B… ready to go. It’s not perfect, no route is, but it is my personal favorite. I was a resident advisor in an “athlete dorm… (on campus, near workout facilities) and it was an eye opener. I’d get phone calls that someone was playing music too loud from a 6’7… basketball player. These guys were serious about getting sleep and sticking to their routine.
Obviously, some schools don’t focus on academics as much for “favored… athletes, but for the most part the players have to meet an academic standard to keep playing and keep their scholarship. Michigan has a hub of choices for players. U of M, Michigan State, Ferris State, Michigan Tech, go south to Miami of Ohio, Western Michigan University, Northern Michigan etc. It boils down to opportunity on and off the ice. U of M seems to be home to the drafted above the others. Fantastic crowds at those games too.
Let me know your favorite route, any training camp thoughts and as we get closer, who is going to turn heads this year? It’s getting exciting.