Troy Stecher was voted the Vancouver Canucks Best Defenceman by the fans in his rookie year.

Yet, that doesn乌鸦传媒檛 change his attitude about heading into his second NHL training camp, especially with new coach Travis Green.

乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 feel like anybody thinks their spot is safe. I have to come in and earn a spot,乌鸦传媒� said Stecher, who captained the Penticton Vees to a 2012 RBC Cup. 乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 feel like I乌鸦传媒檓 given anything. You have got to earn their respect and trust. Teammates as well.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e getting younger now. Having a fresh face behind the bench is obviously exciting,乌鸦传媒� continued Stecher, who was in Penticton during the Western Canada Cup in May. 乌鸦传媒淲illie (Desjardins) was a great coach. We all loved playing for him. He had that room the way he wanted it. We just weren乌鸦传媒檛 as successful as we wanted to be. I think with a new coach, it乌鸦传媒檚 going to be good for our team. Guys are going to come into camp more prepared.乌鸦传媒�

Related:

Canucks camp officially opened Wednesday, and prior to during the Canucks Young Stars Classic, general manager Jim Benning confirmed to TSN乌鸦传媒檚 Bob McKenzie during an interview that the Richmond native is part of the team乌鸦传媒檚 top-six blueliners.

Reflecting on his rookie season, Stecher said the biggest thing was learning a lot about himself. He had a very strong training camp, but was still sent to the American Hockey League乌鸦传媒檚 Utica Comets, where he played four games. He got his chance due to injuries and never looked back. In 71 games, Stecher put up three goals and 24 points along with a minus-16 rating. He ranked fifth among NHL rookie defenceman in scoring while averaging 19 minutes, 58 seconds of ice time. Aside from Luca Sbisa playing all 82 games, the only other Canucks defenceman to play as much as Stecher was Ben Hutton, who also played 71 games.

乌鸦传媒淭he guys that I was surrounded with and my teammates, were some of the best guys I have ever met,乌鸦传媒� said Stecher, who was mobbed by Vees fans wanting to talk, get his autograph, and have photos taken with him. 乌鸦传媒淚 know that Henrik and Daniel, they are known to be good people, to meet them first-hand was pretty incredible. They really do care about every single person they come across.乌鸦传媒�

Horvat was doing an interview when he spotted in a photo. "Whoaaaa Troy!!"

乌鸦传媒� Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks)

The Sedins, defence partner Alex Edler and now former Canuck Alex Burrows, were players Stecher learned from. Burrows was really good with the younger players, said Stecher. The Ottawa Senators forward got the younger players to mix with the veterans.

Everyone contributed in what was a tough season, but that乌鸦传媒檚 what Stecher said made it special.

乌鸦传媒淲e didn乌鸦传媒檛 do as well as we would have liked. Away from the rink that we were a pretty tight-knit group,乌鸦传媒� said Stecher. 乌鸦传媒淲e wanted to go out there and do well. Things don乌鸦传媒檛 happen that way all the time.乌鸦传媒�

Stecher experienced challenges handling the rigors of an NHL season. People have doubted him at every level. When when he arrived in Penticton at 16, there was an unknown of how he would do. He was motivated to prove people wrong.

乌鸦传媒淭here is different challenges you have to face. There are some big bodies,乌鸦传媒� said Stecher, listed at five-foot-10, 190 pounds on . 乌鸦传媒淵ou are going to get some bumps and bruises. You乌鸦传媒檙e a National Hockey League player. You乌鸦传媒檙e pretty fortunate. A bruise on your leg is not the end of the world. It乌鸦传媒檚 just a mindset.乌鸦传媒�

His mindset heading into camp will be to show he deserves to make the team.

sports@pentictonwesternnews.com
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