Carlton graduate and former CEC hockey star Justin Jokinen is one of 41 players invited to a special prospect development camp by the Buffalo Sabres.
The camp runs all week at Dwyer Arena on the campus of Niagara University in Lewiston, N.Y. It is for prospects and draft picks who have not signed professional contracts.
"It's going well," Jokinen said at mid-week from the camp. "It's my first time here. There's lots of hard work and skating to do and lifting weights. Every morning I'm up at 7:30 for meetings and presentations. They feed us well, then we skate, work out after that and we skate again. It's non-stop stuff."
Jokinen is also having fun, despite the hard work.
"I'm meeting lots of new kids from all over the world," he said. "I think practicing with these guys is going to make me better. Everyone here is really good."
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Jokinen, who was a fourth-round draft pick of the Sabres in 2008 (number 101 overall in the draft), attended Minnesota State Mankato last season and skated extensively for coach Troy Jutting's Mavericks.
He played in 24 games last season, scoring three goals and adding two assists for five points.
"It was a lot of fun at Mankato," Jokinen said. "I got a lot more ice time at the end of the season. I just talked with the coaches today - they check in while I'm out here."
Likewise, the Sabres are in regular contact with Jokinen during the college season.
"They try to call every couple of weeks," he said. "They make sure I'm having fun and make sure I'm working hard."
The key element to Jokinen's game has been adding body size. He attended the scouting combines last year at a weight of 166 pounds, but has already added 21 pounds to his 6-foot-3 frame.
"I think I'm meeting the expectations," he said. "The beginning of last season was an adjustment going straight to [Division 1] from high school because of the strength of the players. Now I'm adapting."
Jokinen scored 90 points in his final two seasons with the Lumberjacks and was a vital part of CEC's section championship team two seasons ago. He was a finalist for Minnesota's Mr. Hockey award as a senior.
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A statement released by the Sabres says, "the goals of the camp are to give the prospective players the fundamental ideas of the Sabres playing system and the conditioning programs of an NHL player. The camp participants will also study and examine NHL rules and the successful techniques a player must possess to become a professional athlete."
