Michigan natives with development camp invites get rare opportunity with Red Wings
By @MichaelCaples –
TRAVERSE CITY – Dylan Larkin may be the homegrown budding star for the Detroit Red Wings, but he’s not the only Michigan native skating at the team’s development camp this week.
The Wings invited a collection of local products to their annual prospects development camp in Traverse City, giving a select few the rare opportunity to wear the Winged Wheel jersey and skate in front of the likes of Ken Holland and Jeff Blashill.
Based off the most recent edition of the development camp roster, the following Michigan names are skating at the camp:
- Dylan Larkin – Waterford
- Alex Kile – Troy
- Alex Globke – Waterford
- Nick Betz – Mount Clemens
- Sheldon Dries – Macomb
- Michael Babcock – Northville
- Adam Lidstrom – Detroit
- Kevin Lidstrom – Detroit
- Grant Gabriele – Brighton
- Nick Azar – Grosse Pointe Park
- Travis Walsh – Haslett
- Jalen Chatfield – Ypsilanti
“It’s going to be a fun week,” said Kile, a sophomore forward for the Michigan Wolverines. “It’s an honor to get this type of recognition, this is my first time going to a development camp, and I’m really excited for what the week holds.”
The free-agent invites will skate alongside Red Wings prospects this week, learning from the coaching staff both on and off the ice.
For Globke, a junior forward with Lake Superior State, it’s his second time going through the week-long development camp.
“Year 2 is definitely more easier, knowing a couple of the guys, more comfortable and it’s nice that they have a lot of the same staff here and people that you know. Especially growing up around Michigan, I know all the people and pretty much know a lot about the organization, so it’s maybe a little easier the second time, but it’s definitely still an honor.”
The Waterford native said he loves having plenty of Michigan company at the camp, as well.
“I love it. Obviously their first-rounder last year, Dylan Larkin, had a great year at Michigan, and he’s a local guy…it’s awesome to see them recruiting guys from Michigan and guys from the U.S. Obviously it’s always fun to see the guys you grew up with playing. I played with a few of the guys, actually, Sheldon Dries is here, as well – a lot of guys I’ve played with or against. It’s fun to see, fun to see the guys here and compete with them again, and it’s fun to see the guys from Detroit playing for Detroit. It’s pretty awesome.”
The fact that they are getting to wear Red Wings red and white all week isn’t getting lost on the camp invites.
“It’s an honor,” said Betz, who wrapped up his fourth season with the OHL’s Erie Otters this spring. “It’s nice to come to the hometown team. It’s pretty cool to put on these pants and helmet and gloves and the jersey and experience all this. It’s been a great experience so far.”
Dries, a junior forward at Western Michigan, said his camp invite came as a wonderful surprise.
“It’s a huge honor. I got late invite, but once I got the call, my stomach dropped a little bit, because I wasn’t expecting it. I’m happy to be here, and I’m going to show them what I’ve got.
“It was unbelievable,” Dries said of putting on a Red Wings jersey. “Growing up in the Detroit area, watching them play for 21 years now, it’s a very special moment for me and my family.”
The prospects will be going through on and off-ice workouts with the Wings all week. On-ice instructors include new Griffins head coach Todd Nelson and Toledo Walleye coach Derek Lalonde.
Azar, a Honeybaked Midget Major product, said that the first day of practice was a great experience.
“It was good, just getting the legs ready, little bit of skills and skating, just getting back into the swing of things here. Hoping for a good camp.”
According to Chatfield, a Windsor Spitfires defenseman, there were some things to work through on Day 1.
“It was a little iffy out there because I’m trying to break in the new gear and get my nerves out, but I should be ready to go, better next practice.”
The Wings aren’t going to judge after just one on-ice session, however.
“I think a lot of guys are nervous,” said Jiri Fischer, Detroit’s director of player development. “Today, I don’t really think it’s a judgment day, besides seeing how guys are interacting with each other. Are they hard on themselves because the puck is bouncing, do they have swagger, know to keep their confidence that they are going to get better as camp goes on. No decisions are being made if guys are good or bad – we know that guys are having new sticks, guys flew from overseas, guys are getting used to a smaller ice surface, too.”
While they weren’t selected by NHL clubs, the prospects know that there are other routes to a professional career. This week’s camp offers them the chance to learn from the Detroit management group about options to still pursue a career after college or juniors.
“I just want to step up my game,” said Walsh, a senior at Michigan State. “Coming up on senior year, have a big year at Michigan State ahead of me, and I want to try to pursue a pro career here, so I just want to take every opportunity I have here and work the hardest I can.”
Gabriele, a product of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, is about to be a freshman defenseman for Western Michigan, and he knows there’s still plenty to learn.
“I’m just looking to get more educated on things, you know,” Gabriele said. “What it takes to make it to the next level. Coming off the national team, we did some stuff, but this takes it to a whole ‘nother level. I’m just looking to get those steps on what it takes to get to the next level.”
Plus, this week can work as a tryout of sorts, as well.
“Players know,” Fischer said. “The guys who are not our draft picks and have been invited as players to be part of this camp, they have been scouted, that’s the reason why they’re here, they have been invited, and they said yes. Going forward, out of the invites, there are two groups – there are guys who do play in college and are planning on planning to go back to college at the beginning of the year, and then there is juniors. Obviously out of the juniors, the guys are going to be coming to fall camp, and at the end of the day – Brian Lashoff was the same way, Willie Coetzee was the same way.
“There’s always an opportunity.”
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