Red Wings conclude development camp with scrimmage in Traverse City
By Nick Barnowski –
TRAVERSE CITY – The Red Wings’ annual summer development camp concluded with a scrimmage Tuesday morning in Traverse City.
It took overtime, but Team Lindsay defeated Team Howe, 5-4, at Centre Ice Arena.
Jerome Verrier scored 1:39 into the sudden death session, which followed two 25-minute periods where the two teams tied, 4-4.
A couple of Michigan natives made their mark on the game. Waterford’s Dylan Larkin scored once and assisted on the game-winner, while Macomb’s Sheldon Dries found the back of the net for the game’s first goal.
“It was an unbelievable experience,” Dries said. “My family actually came up for the game so it was really cool to play in front of them and get a goal.”
The goal signified a positive end to the camp for the Western Michigan forward, who was a free agent invite.
“It was definitely a high to go out on,” he said. “It gives me a little bit more motivation to get back here next year.”
The two teams traded goals in the first period. After Dries scored, Larkin found the net with 14:28 left. Chase Pearson scored for Team Lindsay to make it 2-1, but James deHaas struck back, putting the game at 2-2 heading into the intermission.
Bryce Gervais kicked off the scoring in the second period, and then Anthony Mantha gave Team Howe a two-goal lead on a nice deke in front of the goalie.
Team Lindsay fought back, though, as 2015 first round draft pick Evgeny Svechnikov scored on a shot from the low-slot to make it 4-3. With six seconds left, Christoffer Ehn roofed one from close to the side of the net to tie it up.
Mt. Clemens native Nick Betz said the game was the culmination of a great week in northern Michigan.
“Growing up watching the Red Wings, they were my favorite team,” said Betz, who plays for the OHL’s Erie Otters. “To be able to come here, it’s been outstanding.”
Dries said the biggest takeaway from the camp will be the skating techniques he learned from Jiri Fischer.
“(Jiri’s) an unbelievable skater, so whenever he’s talking to you, you better listen,” Dries said. “I’m really going to take that and try to improve my game.”
With the emphasis the Wings put on what it takes to make it as a professional hockey player, Betz said listening to club coaches and executives talk about the process is what he’ll take away the most.
“I think just how hard you need to work and how small the window is to become a pro,” he said. “You need to take all the opportunities you get and just go with it.”
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