Just a few short weeks ago, the Dallas Stars completed their 2023 Development Camp. Usually, at Development camps, just in case you’re unfamiliar with what this is, here’s what typically happens there, according to NHL.com:
"“…But unlike a training camp that occurs before the NHL season beings, development camp provides a unique opportunity for players to work on their game and progress towards their NHL dream. Skating sessions will focus on tactical and positional work…”"
That being said, Dallas was actually able to welcome 31 different prospects in order to properly jumpstart their offseason, as well as be able to get that much closer to not only pursuing but also achieving their NHL dreams as well.
What happened at the 2023 Development Camp for the Dallas Stars?
Ben Bishop, former Stars goaltender, was finally able to join all of these prospects during development camp as the brand new Player Development Coordinator. He also was able to travel to most, if not all, of their respective junior hockey teams in order to properly see them in an element that they feel the most comfortable in, and then how they take their magical skills into a more professional sort of environment that they will be totally out of their comfort zone in.
He, among many other members of the Stars’ promotional team, was able to talk to some of these prospects to get their perspective on what the 2023 Development Camp looks like. Here’s what 61st overall pick, Tristan Bertucci, had to say about what camp was like for him:
"“It’s just learning…We have meetings on stuff like nutrition and then taking all of that good stuff and using it to get better when we get home.”"
When it comes to meeting said brand new team prospects, GM Jim Nill and recent GM of the Year Award Winner, likes the fact that even though they did pick these people/players in the draft, now’s truly the time to get to know them as draft time and post-draft time can be “kind of a whirlwind”. There’s no time like the present, am I right or what?!
Finally, here’s what Player Personnel Rich Peverley had to say about what it’s like to have all of the first-time-to-America European players come here to enjoy development camp(s) with them:
"“It’s a great opportunity for all of the Euros who have never been over here…Lian not being on the ice…but just being here as a group, getting to know everybody, it’s really good for the European players. It’s a good icebreaker and it kind of leads into what’s coming next and their comfort level.”"
As always with any team out there in the NHL, various meetings and seminars are held throughout the week(s) to ensure that everyone knows the game, the players on their respective teams, and even how to skate around and work with some of the best of the best. One of the best quotes and super true quotes out there is that “You’ve gotta beat the best to be the best” and that couldn’t be more true for all of the NHL hockey prospects out there.
While it may take time, it is possible!
We look forward to seeing all of the future Dallas Stars prospects and what they’ve learned from the team’s 2023 Development Camp!
Who is your favorite Dallas Stars prospect? Did we do okay in the 2023 NHL draft this year? Be sure to catch the Stars’ first home game on October 15th, 2023 against Nashville!