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[hockeygod]

As prospects convene, Flames aim to fill holes
Ward interested in hockey IQ in players at development camp

George Johnson, Calgary Herald July 9, 2012

Naturally, the nearly unblinking gaze down at WinSport Athletic and Ice Complex at Canada Olympic Park starting today at 3:30 p.m. will be squarely on that so-much-depends-on Next Generation of the Calgary Flames.

On Sven Baertschi, so tantalizing in that memorable five-game NHL audition last season. On 2012 top-pick high-schooler Mark Jankowski. On Max Reinhart and John Ramage, sons of notable ex-Flames. On Swedish star Markus Granlund.

For Abbotsford Heat boss Troy Ward, though, every bit as vital in this edition of the annual 40-prospect summer development camp is what’s closer at hand. The AHLers required to fill gaps, plug holes, to come up and provide the required depth to help pull this organization out of a three-year playoff abyss.

“I’m really interested in what we’ll see from guys from the our club that are going to be there,’’ Ward said Sunday, awaiting a flight from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to whisk him into town. “Guys like (Chris) Breen, James Martin, Carter Bancks, Gaelan Patterson. What has to stand out for me is to make their presence felt in this camp.

“They have to be among the best players.

“There has to be a statement from them. Otherwise you have to look at your own program … how you’re going about things. You always hold the knowledge and thought process that you have players at lower levels, who are younger, that will end up being better than the players from past drafts.

“But you want to see, it’s imperative that you see, a maturation level of your players in Abbotsford. Where are they at? Do you notice that on a daily basis?

“You’ve got to be able to at least walk away from this thing and say: We’ve got help on the way, good players, good people, in our organization. You’ve got to see a noticeable gap, in my opinion.’’

Ward, a serious candidate for the vacant Flames’ head coaching job that eventually went to Bob Hartley, is overseeing this week’s activities at COP, fresh from a yearly father-son camp he stages in Mankato, Minn.

And while a look-see at the undeniable skill level of the newbies is of immense interest, of more immediate concern is upgrading the development of players in the 22-to-26-year-old group, an age bracket that’s a major concern for the Flames.

“There are some of the younger guys out there, the (John) Gaudreaus, for example, whose spatial awareness on the ice and skill level is ahead of some of the guys that have been in Abbotsford,’’ says Ward.

“That’s the nature of the beast. But at the same time, we have to be able to say as an organization: We can get some minutes out of some of these other guys, the guys available to us now, because of the level they’ve developed to.

“The kids that everyone seems to be talking about are down the road. We have to close the gap in the other area. We have to make headway with guys that might’ve emerged in the organization. They need to make significant steps.

“That’s a really important part of this camp.’’

So, adds Ward, is the measuring of hockey intelligence.

“The one thing I do want to understand is how well these guys can think. We are definitely putting them in a position this week to see how well they think the game, and at what level.’’

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I am pretty sure I will see more of the same static, non-thinking 'drills' prevalent in hockey when I attend. If I see anything different, I will post here… so don't hold your breath!

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
"Great education depends on great teaching."