'It's surreal' | Guest coaches soaking in development camp experience

Chelsea Walkland looked down and noticed a missed call on her phone from Buffalo Sabres director of player development Adam Mair. As a lifelong Sabres fan, Walkland wondered why the former Sabres forward would be looking for her.

Following the conversation, the Rochester native was offered the chance to serve as a guest coach at the Sabres' 2023 development camp and felt it was too good an opportunity to pass up.

"I'd say, honestly, pretty surreal," Walkland said when asked what the experience has been like.

"I grew up in Rochester, New York, so family's diehard Sabres fans, Rochester Amerks fans. So, to be invited to this organization and see just how first class and how welcoming it's been, I'd say pretty surreal. I keep having to pinch myself when I kind of look around it and take it all in."

Walkland is currently an assistant coach for the Colgate women's ice hockey team and has helped lead the team to three straight ECAC Hockey Championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances.

The chance to coach at development camp was made possible for Walkland and fellow guest coaches Shelly Picard and Troy Thibodeau by the NHL Coaches' Association as part of its initiative to increase diversity in the league.

Walkland and Picard also heard about the opportunity after participating in the NHLCA's Female Coaches Development Program, which aims to support female coaches in several areas including skills development, leadership strategies, communication tactics, networking, and career advancement opportunities.

"Just to have young girls seeing us out there coaching, I know can be really powerful as well," Olympic silver medalist and four-time IIHF World Champion Picard said.

After days of on-ice sessions, nutrition and recovery lessons, and team bonding, the guest coaches have a lot to bring back to their respective programs. But to Thibodeau, one thing in particular has stood out about the Sabres' organization.

"You can clearly see the Sabres are taking steps on the ice. And you're part of this organization for a few days, and it makes total sense," the Dartmouth assistant coach said. "From the top down, the way everyone treats each other. Kevyn Adams treats Donny Granato the same way as he speaks to us. I've noticed that since the second we stepped in here. So, there's just really good people in this organization from the top all the way down and so that's a big thing.

"Young coaches get into this and always try to learn and have new experiences. So, just to be around Kevyn Adams, Donny Granato, Seth Appert, all these development guys, it's an unbelievable experience for us."

All three guest coaches led drills Wednesday morning ahead of the final on-ice session of development camp and 3-on-3 tournament Thursday.

While leading the group, Walkland not only noticed the relationships, but also the passion the players, coaches and staff have for the game of hockey.

"I'd say one thing on the week, it's just so evident that everyone that's part of this program just loves hockey so much," she said. "…We love being on the ice and I think it comes through with the energy that the players are bringing and everything like that. We're having a blast out there, especially today with those minigames. So, it's a lot of fun."

Here are more notes from Day 3 of development camp.

1. Defenseman Mats Lindgren, a fourth-round pick by the Sabres last summer, expressed how thankful he is for Buffalo's development staff for helping him improve his game over the past year and how excited he is to be part of the organization.

"Really excited," he said. "Having Don Granato as my coach, hopefully, one day. That's amazing. The way they play is pretty exciting. …That's kind of the way I like to play. So, pretty excited to, hopefully, be there one day."

2. Scott Ratzlaff, a 6-foot goaltender selected by the Sabres during the fifth round of the NHL Draft last week, said he has paid close attention to how Devon Levi has found success despite a lack of size.

"He's kind of mastered that class of trying to take as much space up as possible, being that size," Ratzlaff said. "So, he's definitely a guy that I like to look at and see how he kind of plays the game, both mentally and working on angles and things like that. He's definitely a mentor and it's an honor to be in the same organization as him."

Ratzlaff also shared what it has been like getting to know first-round pick Zach Benson at development camp after playing against him in the WHL during the season.

"He's awesome. He's a great character, a great guy," he said. "He's a competitor, too."

3. The Sabres prospects return to LECOM Harborcenter on Thursday for the final day of development camp and the annual 3-on-3 French Connection Tournament.

Competition kicks off at 9:15 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. Admittance will be on a first-come, first-served basis and is not guaranteed.