Rubbing shoulders with some of the big boys at Bell MTS Iceplex on Thursday was exactly what promising young defenceman Tucker Poolman needed.
Poolman, 24, from East Grand Forks, Minn., was anxious for a test. By his own admission, he passed with flying colours.
He wasn’t set on wowing anyone during a fast-paced, physical workout with the group of players the Winnipeg Jets have since sent to Penticton, B.C., for the annual Young Stars Classic tournament against prospects from the three other western Canadian NHL clubs.
He was simply eager to see how two surgically repaired shoulders would handle something well beyond the loose brand of shinny he’s been playing back home the past few weeks.