The word development on it's own is not scary. But pair it with the word camp and mention it to NHL rookies and players desperate to make the NHL, they start to get a little anxious. Mix in 4:30 A.M wake up calls to train with Navy Seals and development camp quickly becomes torture for the prospects.
Buffalo Sabres began their annual development camp on Monday. It began with a 4:30
wake up call and the prospects having to make their beds before departing for the beach. After the players arrived at the beach they began working out with Navy Seals. Yes you read that correctly, Sabres rookies are being trained by Navy Seals!
But as Sabres rookie Luke Adam explains, it's not just about the physical training.
“It’s a lot of mental training. I don’t know if it’s as much a hockey player as it was a person, They said we’re not training you from the neck down; we’re training you from the neck up.’" ~Luke Adam
One of the most important thing a young player can learn is how to play the game "smart". While a hockey player in this day and age has to be in tip top shape, thats only half the battle. The other half is being mentally tough. Players have to learn to play their positions or roles on the team correctly, know where they fit in. But they also need to learn how to optimize their effort, and learn when their bodies are actually tired. They need to almost "retrain" their brains. Something the Seals are helping with.
“Obviously from a physical side, you’re going to be in great shape working with them. I think more importantly it’s the mental side. Hopefully we can take some of that and relate it to our job as well. We have a lot of respect from them, but even more appreciation for them now.” ~ Cody Hodgson
But perhaps the best part of the players training with the Seals is the tight discipline they're under. They have to wake up at 4:30, make their beds, clean their rooms and clean
up after their meals. Teaching them to be responsible hockey players, and take ownership of their possessions. But when they players forget to clean up after themselves, the Seals give them a friendly reminder on the beach.
“It was just little things, like this morning. They picked up every bottle that the guys left at the supper room last night, and we were punished. ‘How much is this bottle worth?’ Then we’d have to do 50 pushups. ‘And what about this bottle?’ It’s a hundred squats for that. ~ Luke Adam after day 1.
Development camp will continue all week and the players will be training with the seals on the beach every morning. Followed by 1 hour workouts and drills on the ice in front of
the coaching staff and management. Followed by off ice workouts. If you want to make the NHL you have to put in the time and training to do so.
Players to watch for at development camp include: the Sabres first round draft pick Mikhail Grigorenko and Zemgus Girgensons, rookie Marcus Foligno, 2011 first round pick Joel Armia and Luke Adam. All five players have a legitimate chance of cracking the roster for opening night.
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