Former Red Wings defenseman Jiri Fischer (right) was a coach at the team’s annual

prospect camp on July 8-13 in Detroit.

Red Wings prospect camp features top young players

By Carl Chimenti

This year’s Detroit Red Wings prospect camp, July 8-13, featured the team’s top young players, including six draft picks and 14 free agent invitees, and a change in venue.

A power outage at Joe Louis Arena knocked out the ice on July 11, so the camp moved across town to City Sports Center.  Despite the move, the purpose of the camp stayed the same: show the young prospects what to expect and what it takes to become a Red Wing.

“This camp is about education and these players need to learn and give themselves the best chance to make it as a pro,” said Detroit general manager Ken Holland.

Notre Dame sophomore forward Riley Sheahan, the Red Wings first round pick in the 2010 NHL Draft on June 25, was excited to attend his first pro camp to get a feel for the pro level and what the team expects.

“It’s awesome and it’s still a little overwhelming and it is not really in my head yet,” said the 6-2, 200 pound Sheahan, who just completed his first year with the Fighting Irish. “Everything is coming quick and so it is good to get a head start.”

After the first day, Sheahan was excited about the speed of the players at the camp.

“There is obviously a lot of talent here, said Sheahan, who finished with six goals and 17 points as a freshman last season.  “These players are all elite guys and the hockey is very high paced.”

Sheahan talked to friends who had attended NHL prospect camps to get an idea of what to expect.

“I had a lot of friends who went the year before,” revealed Sheahan. “They all went through this last year. They told me a lot about their experience and also about the (NHL Draft) combine and what to say at the draft so it was pretty helpful to me.”

Still the butterflies were there.

“Yeah, definitely a little,” Sheahan said laughing. “Once you step on the ice the adrenalin takes over and you sort of forget about being nervous.”

The prospects did skill-development drills with coach Tomas Storm and followed that with a power skating session led by Cranbrook-Kingswood coach Andy Weidenbach. The morning session concluded with Curt Fraser, head coach of the Wings AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, taking the squad through a variety of drills.

After a lunch break, players attended meetings about nutrition and fitness and did off ice workouts at the rink.

Fraser said that the young players did very well despite having limited time to prepare following the draft.

“It’s the middle of summer, they come in here and they try to get ready and it’s not like they were playing against their friends,” said Fraser, who will begin his third season with the Griffins this fall. “They are out there with elite players. Everything is a little bit quicker, you have to move a little bit faster and you have to be in position at all times.”

“They are nervous and you can see that. But after about a half hour into practice during drills they seem to relax and then everything flows a lot better.”

The players dressed in the Red Wings locker room and forward Dan Cleary spoke to the players before the camp started.

“What we look for is to see if the kids are prepared to commit to do the things that the Detroit Red Wings expect of them,” said Fraser. “It’s not an easy road to play for the best team in the world.”

Former Wisconsin defenseman Brendan Smith, the team’s first round pick in 2007, attended his fourth Wings prospect camp after signing a three-year contract in May.

“I have been here before, but it’s still exciting,” said Smith, who is expected to compete for a spot on Detroit blue line this season. “What I am trying to do is to take a bit of a leadership role and try to show everybody what to expect during the camp.”

“I received help from guys in the prior camps,” said Smith “So I am just tried to give back a little information and wisdom to the new guys.”

Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill said despite having to pick up everything and move to a different arena, the camp was a success.

“All of our staff did a great job (with the move) and the players adapted as well,” said Nill. “All in all we were quite pleased with the way things went.”