One day, Dillon Dube and Kole Lind plan to play in the National Hockey League.
The linemates each gave their respective teams a precursor of what乌鸦传媒檚 to come at the Young Stars Classic over the weekend in Penticton.
, 19, a second-round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2016, is attending his second NHL training camp.
On Monday, the Cochrane, AB native closed out the Penticton tourney with the Flames乌鸦传媒� lone goal in a 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
乌鸦传媒淛ust play my game and feel that I can fit in,乌鸦传媒� Dube said of his main objective at his second Young Stars Classic. 乌鸦传媒淥bviously, it乌鸦传媒檚 going to be different at main camp with all the pros there, they乌鸦传媒檝e been there for a long time and I just want to be able to be confident with them and show that I乌鸦传媒檓 pushing for a spot in a couple of years.乌鸦传媒�
, 18, a second round-draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks, made an auspicious debut at his first pro camp, registering two assists and adding an empty net goal in Friday乌鸦传媒檚 4-2 win over Winnipeg.
乌鸦传媒淚t was a really cool time, had a lot of fun out here, to throw on a Canucks jersey for the first time was definitely special,乌鸦传媒� Lind said. 乌鸦传媒淚 think we would have liked to have had a couple more wins, but it was a great time all around.
乌鸦传媒淚 felt good out there, I felt fresh for the new year, not as rusty as I usually do,乌鸦传媒� Lind added. 乌鸦传媒淚t helps to have a little better players out here that can make the game a lot easier for you for always being in the right spot乌鸦传媒t felt good.乌鸦传媒�
With the departure of key veteran high-scoring forwards Nick Merkley, Calvin Thurkauf and Reid Gardiner from last year乌鸦传媒檚 club, both Dube and Lind will be key to the Rockets乌鸦传媒� success in 2017-18.
Rockets乌鸦传媒� assistant coach Kris Mallette said the two second-round NHL picks will be front and centre for the WHL club this season.
乌鸦传媒淒illon and Kole had prominent roles in our top six last year and we expect both to come back and show us an added level of play and lead by example,乌鸦传媒� said Mallette. 乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e not our only guys but are definitely in a group of players we乌鸦传媒檙e going to lean on in all situations, kind of our go-to guys.
乌鸦传媒淗opefully they won乌鸦传媒檛 take too much added pressure on themselves, and if they do that and just play their games, they乌鸦传媒檒l be fine.乌鸦传媒�
As for Dube乌鸦传媒檚 second appearance at an NHL camp and Lind乌鸦传媒檚 first, Mallette said the experience can only be a benefit to both the players and the Rockets.
乌鸦传媒淚 think it乌鸦传媒檚 a confidence booster for them,乌鸦传媒� Mallette said. 乌鸦传媒淭hese guys are trying to make that next step and it gives them confidence knowing they乌鸦传媒檙e able to have success at that level.
乌鸦传媒淭hey know coming back (to the Rockets) and working hard will help them meet the expectations that come from the pro level. The message is the same from us as it is from their NHL teams. We乌鸦传媒檙e on the same page, we want them to continually improve so the day will come they can move on and play pro.乌鸦传媒�
Dube and Lind are among 10 Rockets currently at NHL training camps.
The Rockets will open the WHL regular season Friday, Sept. 22 at home to the Kamloops Blazers.
