The annual Nashville Predator’s Development Camp kicks off on Monday morning, where prospects, draft picks, and a few invitees of the organization converge to hone their hockey skills, and learn what they need to do to get better as players.
Per the Predators press release:
The purpose of the camp is to educate and direct players in their pro development and conditioning programs, and the week’s events will be presided over by Predators Director of Player Development Scott Nichol and Strength and Conditioning Coach David Good, with assistance from the rest of the Nashville Predators and Milwaukee Admirals (AHL Affiliate) coaching and hockey operations staffs. The scheduled training regimen includes a variety of on- and off-ice testing, dry-land activities and workouts, on-ice fundamentals work, video sessions, media and nutrition education, and team-building activities. The players will also receive instruction on training principles such as sport-specific power and strength enhancement, flexibility and off-ice conditioning.
This year’s camp will take place at Bridgestone Arena, and will be capped off with a game and an open house on Saturday. All but Tuesday’s on ice workouts are open to the public. The schedule of those for the week:
Tuesday, July 8: 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (testing)
Wednesday, July 9: 9 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Friday, July 11: 9 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Saturday, July 12: 3:330 – 5 p.m.
The full schedule (subject to change) can be seen here, and the full roster can be seen here. Familiar names like Colton Sissons, Marek Mazanec and Filip Forsberg will be part of the camp, as well as several of the 2014 draft picks, including Kevin Fiala, Vladislav Kamenev, and Justin Kirkland.
Having the camp in the arena this year is a fantastic idea, and I hope some of you are able to make it out. It’s the last dose of hockey we’re likely to get until training camp, as well as the first real look at some of these players. Given how widely praised this year’s draft was for the Preds, there should be a buzz about these kids.
If you happen to see one of us there, don’t hesitate to come say hello.