Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey

Spartan alums return to East Lansing for annual MSU Pro Camp (with photos)

Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey
Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey

 

By @MichaelCaples –

EAST LANSING – Near the end of every August, they return to Munn Ice Arena.

Former Spartans (and some of their friends) arrive in East Lansing ready for the transition from summer training to team training camps, and with the help of Tom Newton, they start finding their stride once again.

The annual MSU Pro Camp – run by Newton, MSU’s longtime assistant coach – gives players the chance to knock the proverbial rust off their skates as they prepare for the upcoming season.

“Driving in that first time is always a pleasure,” said 25-year-old Jake Chelios, a Bloomfield Hills native and Spartan defenseman from 2010-14 now pushing for a spot with the Carolina Hurricanes. “I don’t skate during the summer, so this is kind of my kicking-off point. It’s great to see all the guys you played with or played against throughout the year and you talk to the throughout the year but you don’t really get to see them or hang out, so this week’s important for that, as well as the hockey part.”

Monday marked the first day of the camp, and the ages of the participating Spartans ranged from 33-year-old Jared Nightingale to camp rookies and recent MSU grads Michael Ferrantino, Jake Hildebrand, Justin Hoomaian and Travis Walsh.

Ferrantino, who is moving into the pro ranks with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers this season, said that despite skating with older players, he wasn’t too nervous.

“It’s obviously really cool,” said Ferrantino, a Plymouth native and MSU’s most recent captain. “I’ve been watching it for the last few years now, being up here in the summertime, and now getting to come out here and play with these guys and really see first-hand what they can do, it’s pretty special.”

The camp has drawn quite a crowd in recent years, as Spartan alums open Munn Ice Arena’s doors to some of their teammates and friends looking for a tune-up before training camp. On Monday, guests included Michigan natives Chad Billins, Beau Schmitz, Andy Miele and Ryan Obuchowski, as well as former Red Wings defenseman Jakub Kindl. In fact, this season, they even welcomed a Wolverine into the camp – Ann Arbor native Chris Summers.

The foreigners, it should be noted, all have to wear MSU jerseys for the duration of camp.

For MSU alums and NHL veterans like Justin Abdelkader, it’s a chance to check up on the alma mater.

“It’s always great to come back,” the Muskegon native and Red Wings forward said. “It’s nice to see they made some renovations here at the rink, some of the chairbacks and the bleachers in the end zones, new lighting, scoreboard, all that, all coming together really nicely. But it’s always good coming back to skate, see all the guys you played with, some guys you didn’t, but Newts has been running a good camp for a long time here. I’m not sure how many years it’s been, but it’s been a lot and it’s always fun to come back.”

‘Newts,’ as he is affectionately referred to, has the admiration of many classes of Spartans.

“Newts has been here my whole life,” said Red Wings forward and East Lansing native Drew Miller. “For me, I think I’ve known him as an assistant coach here and then playing for him and for what he does for me and my preparation for my training camp is huge, so every year it’s good to come back and see him. He puts together a good week for us.”

And reconnecting with the Spartan family is just as important as the hockey training.

“It’s a blast,” Miller said. “You know everyone, everyone’s here for the same reasons, hockey side is you’re pushing each other to get ready for camp, just to see everyone and catch up and they have the golf outing at the end of the week. It’s a fun week, good hard work and then good times on Friday.”