The Washington Capitals Development came to a close on Saturday. It is now wrapped up. The prospects, who gained considerable knowledge and experience, headed off in separate directions, their descriptive stories now memories to be posted in diaries and into development camp annals.
On Saturday the two prospects who were recounting their Development Camp experiences, Braden Holtby and Trevor Bruess, posted their final messages.
In chronological order:
“An excellent camp – a lot of talent here, lots of fun, and we’re all real tired. You can train so much, but it’s not the same. – Braden”
“It sucks to end on a loss but we battle all the way thru. – Trevor Bruess”
“Personally I was dead after 25-30 secs of each shift – I know I’ve got to come back to camp in better shape. – Trevor”
“Now I’m headed to the airport for a flight back to MN. This has been fun – thanks for following. – Trevor”
The final scrimmage saw the White Team win, capturing all three scrimmages.
And then Coach Bruce Boudreau enthused that the camp had not only been a whole lot of fun, but that he was thrilled with the work that he had seen from the about three-dozen hopefuls.
“You can’t overlook the fact that Dubuc got seven goals in three games,” he said, “or eight or whatever it was. It was a lot. Those things stand out. You have to like at the end when the going got tough – John Carlson and Cody Eakin, Bruess and (Dmitri) Orlov, the whole group. Mathieu Perreault looked so much better than he did at this time last year – a lot of good things from a lot of guys. It bodes well for the Capitals’ future.”
Holtby, described as a standout, was interviewed. What did he gain from the week at camp? “Obviously, the experience thing. I even felt more comfortable at this camp than last year. You know, your first one you are kind of nervous and whatnot. You are kind of starstruck – all of the guys and being on the ice with them. This year I’m trying to prove a point an show that I can be at this level. Throughout the rest of summer, it’s going to consist of training. This is when the serious stuff stars – a lot of work with my goalie coach back at Edmonton. And hopefully I’ll come in in the best shape that I can.”
Right wing Francois Bouchard, who spent last season with the Calder Cup winning Hershey Bears, said, “It was a great year for us at Hershey. … I couldn’t ask for a better year. I hope I’m going to do it again next year because it was so much fun.” And what is he planning to work on now? “I just want to be more consistent. I hope I’ll have more ice time next year so that I can play the game more. I’m going to work hard this summer to try to get ready for next September.”
Joe Finley, a 6 ft 7 defenseman, suffered a couple of injuries that found him instead shining as left wing in Saturday’s scrimmage, offered, “Hey, I’ll play goalie if you need me to. I just want to get every opportunity to get on the ice. Any way that I can help the team and get myself to the next level, I’m willing to do it.”
Defenseman John Carlton, touted as a camp standout who will be heading to Team USA camp, said, “I don’t know if I played my best. I didn’t really expect to. I kind of took a little time off after we made the run at Hershey. I’m going to get on the ice a lot more come August. I thought I did well, but I know I can do a lot better.”
And center Cody Eakin summed up what all of the prospects were saying on the final day. “It was nice to get introduced to the organization, to come to Washington where – look at these exhibition games – they completely filled the stands. It’s a great organization, and the trainers are treating us awesomely.”
As to his own camp experience, Eakin said, “It’s a lot of thinking, a lot of concentrating. … They want to see who can take it all in and doesn’t have to be asked twice. You work on things that they ask you, have a little fun and do what you are here for. You meet a lot of guys from everywhere, down south and across the seas. Everyone is in the same position so you become friends real fast.
“You look at some of the older guys, and you want to pick up what they provide. It’s kind of a stepping stone, to base your game and see how it completes against other guys that are older and fighting for the same position. You go in with an open mind and hopefully come out with a lot of things to learn.
“It has been awesome. We have been treated awesomely. Walking through this facility and complex – it is awesome to be in this organization, and I’m enjoying it. You see some of the bigger guys who you see on tv , and for them to be a part of my first training camp is exciting.
As to what Eakin will do now – “I need to work to improve everything because I’ve got to compete at the next level. You want to compete with the guys that are older, bigger, stronger. I’ve learned little things, like don’t over commit, puck control. … You’ve got to get bigger and stronger every day.”
So the young men move on to work on honing their skills – happy for the education and experience, and full of anticipation that someday they’ll be playing at the very top of the game with the Capitals. And, no doubt, there are a few Stanley Cup aspirations included too.
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