But oddly, it still got me.

It's one thing to know NHL stars socially, and to talk and joke and laugh, and another entirely to have to prove your worth against them.

The first few times I played summer hockey against Dany Heatley, I was more than hesitant. 

What if he makes a quick cut on me and I clip him with my knee, injuring him and making him miss NHL games? I'd get crucified. What if I break his hand in a puck battle? And on the other side of it, just how strong is a man that size? What if he rubs me into the boards and I snap like someone pulled a 20-year-old Sherwood PMP out of the attic for Zdeno Chara to take slappers with?

But like anything – I'm told public speaking goes this way – exposure does the trick. I never truly got comfortable that first summer playing against big names, but the next year it was easier, and same with the one after, and eventually, I was a regular in a game with some pretty elite talent.

And even with that comfort level, because I wasn't NHL good, I was still somewhat self-conscious.

So you can imagine that there would be a transition period for most players between draft day and that first day in an NHL uniform.  Because they're not NHL-good either ... yet.

The best of the best have the adjustment a little easier. Sure, those kids might be excited to meet the people they've read about and watched for years too, but to be a top-five NHL draft pick, you have to be so crazy confident it's tough for the average person to comprehend. They've never been anything other than awesome, so there's no hesitancy about playing with or against anyone, no matter how famous.

But for those drafted in the later rounds, going to training camp is doubly hard, since the inside of your head is swirling like a hurricane. By the time I had my NHL tryout, summer hockey had helped me get comfortable against real pros, but not everyone has that luxury.

How do you carry yourself? That's the main question. You don't want to step on toes, but you want other people's jobs. You want to be liked, but you need to be respected. Walking the thin line between doing what's best for your on-ice career and your off-ice life can be a tough task to tightrope.

It took until day four for me to really take a run at an established guy (Radek Martinek, one of the best hits of my career), and like I said, I came in fairly comfortable. Career-wise, I would have been far better off finishing hard checks on guys the whole time, but I wasn't sure what would come of me doing that. I figured I'd be running the risk of being the kid (Brett Draney) that Bill Guerin chopped down like Paul Bunyan in training camp in Dallas.

I would guess that some of the guys who are having their first big NHL experience may never get to the "take-a-run-at-someone" point. In fact, I doubt they ever get to the "play-like-themselves" point for a few days. 

So for fans hoping their draft picks jump in and make a difference, don't forget, there's plenty of factors that go into playing well.  Getting accustomed to hitting your boyhood idols is just one of those things.

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Good stuff

JB- love the inside track on player's headspace. So many factors to consider, that are virtually invisible when watching a NHL game.

Mike , September 02, 2010

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...

Sadly I can't remember who said it - but a rookie goalie in his first game found himself facing a 2 on nothing breakaway from Shanny and Yzerman. His comment after the game was something to the effect of "I spent about 2 seconds saying Wow, look at them go, and then realized Oh Cr&p! I'm supposed to stop them!"

Deirdre , September 02, 2010

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First Camp

I will always remember my first junior camp. Growing up in a town with the local junior team being the only show in town, those guys become like stars. My first shift in camp, 15 year old me went into the corner with the 20 year old star in his 5th year with the team. I remember thinking "oh crap, I have to hit him!" and then absolutely laying him out, then had to fight one of the veteran d-men. I think that shift alone won me a spot on the team.

Derek , September 02, 2010

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