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BOSTON - In the midst of a development camp full of exciting young prospects from all over the globe, anticipation is growing for Harvard Crimson defenseman Wiley Sherman, who has spent his first three collegiate seasons playing within a stone's throw of TD Garden.

Once a fifth-round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, the towering, 6-foot-7 defenseman has fine-tuned his game under the tutelage of Harvard head coach and former Bruin Ted Donato, while becoming a steady force on the back end.

During his college career, Sherman - teammates with fellow Bruins prospect Ryan Donato - steadily increased his point output and plus/minus, while carving out his role as a shutdown defenseman on a Harvard squad that made its first Frozen Four appearance since 1994 last season.
"It's been a lot of fun," Sherman said during last week's Development Camp. "The team has found a lot of success the past three years."
A big piece of that success came on the TD Garden ice where he could be featured in the years to come. Harvard defeated Northeastern and Boston University this past February at TD Garden, capturing their first Beanpot title since 1993.
"The guys worked all year for it," recalled Sherman, who posted a career high 13 assists for the Crimson last season. "We made it one of our goals - one of our biggest goals at the start of the year and everyone couldn't be happier to finally accomplish it."
Along with all of his collegiate hockey accolades, Sherman can add one more title to his resume: Boston Bruins Development Camp veteran.
"This should be my fifth, but it's my fourth," laughed Sherman, who missed the 2015 camp due to injury.
Like most Bruins prospects, Sherman finds value in the camps year in and year out.
"Coming to these camps has been really beneficial," he said. "There's a lot of valuable advice from all of the coaching staff."
For the Greenwich, Conn., native, there is a noticeable convenience to being located so close to the team that drafted him.
"I'm living up at school this summer, so it's pretty funny," Sherman joked. "My room at school right now is like a mile away from here, and the hotel [where the development camp participants stayed] is about five miles away."
All kidding aside, the distance between Harvard and Boston's new training facility, Warrior Ice Arena, makes his impending transition to professional hockey one of greater ease.
"You get to keep in touch a lot, you get to see them after games and stuff, so it's good," Sherman said. "It's been great being in the new complex. The rink is awesome and the locker room is amazing."
While Sherman's developmental path since being selected by the Bruins has been a lengthy one, the dividends it could pay are imminent. The 22-year old defenseman is entering his senior season at Harvard, and will look to make his jump to the pros after earning his degree at one of the most prestigious collegiate institutions in the country.
After coming so close last season, hoisting a national championship above his head would be a fitting end to an impressive four years for Sherman and his Crimson teammates.
As for his personal goals?
"Keep maturing," said Sherman, '"keep getting stronger, and see where it takes me."
If he does all of that, he might not be leaving Boston anytime soon.
The 2017 Boston Bruins Development Camp was presented by AT&T.