Despite Injury, Lohrei Makes Most of Second Dev Camp

BOSTON - Mason Lohrei didn't hit the ice this week, but he is still taking plenty of positives out of his second Bruins Development Camp.
"It's been awesome," said the 21-year-old, who is recovering from an offseason knee procedure. "Last year was my first Development Camp but coming back and seeing everybody again is awesome…all the little team activities we do, the fun stuff, doing charity events. It's just good to be here and be around everybody."

The Wisconsin native has also been working with the Bruins' training staff as he gears up to return to the ice in the coming weeks.
"It's going well," Lohrei said of his rehab. "It's really cool being here this week and working with the trainers here, doing a lot of new stuff. I'm in a later phase now. Just trying to strengthen as much as I can and get back on the ice soon. I start skating in a couple weeks here. Been itching for a while."
Lohrei, who was Boston's top selection (58th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, had a standout campaign as a freshman with Ohio State University in 2021-22. The 6-foot-4, 204-pounder had 29 points (4 goals, 25 assists) in 31 games and was named to the Big 10 All-Freshman team along with fellow B's prospect Georgii Merkulov.
Despite a strong progression through his rookie year with the Buckeyes, Lohrei will not be jumping ship just yet and is expected to return for his sophomore campaign this fall.
"Going back and just continuing to work on my game and get stronger, quicker, work on my defending, just little details," said Lohrei. "Stuff like that is pretty intriguing to me to go back. I grew up dreaming of winning a national championship. That's the main goal. I'll go back and try to accomplish that this year."
Lohrei did admit, however, that he can see his opportunity at the pro level "getting closer."
"I try not to focus on that stuff too much. But it's exciting," said Lohrei. "You feel yourself getting closer. It's every kid's dream to play in the NHL. Hopefully I can make that jump sooner rather than later."

The blue liner said that even while at Ohio State, he's been working with Bruins Director of Player Development and Player Personnel Advisor Jamie Langenbrunner and Player Development Coordinator Adam McQuaid on shoring up his game.
"We had a little group chat with all the D prospects, just sending clips of guys from Boston and even other prospects and we get to watch each other, learn from each other," said Lohrei, who added that he is aiming to improve his defensive game to become more physical and harder to play against.
"Talked a lot this year with Jamie and Adam - working on my stick, working on my gap, closing quicker, faster. I want to play against the other team's best players and shut them down. That's something I take a lot of pride in and keep working on that."
Langenbrunner said he has noticed significant physical development in Lohrei over the past year, while also noting that he's been impressed with how the youngster has carried himself off the ice.
"His frame. He's filling out. He's going from a boy to a man," said Langenbrunner. "He carries himself just a little bit differently now. I think watching him during the season…his poise with the puck, his ability to create and make plays. At 6-5 or whatever he is, to move like he does, is pretty impressive.
"I think the thing you'll get from all the staff around here is the way he carries himself in the room. Everyone really enjoys him. It's been great just having him here even though he couldn't skate. He's progressing well. And according to the medical staff, should be ahead of time. That's a good thing."

Bulked Up and Blossoming

Brett Harrison began to blossom in his second full campaign with the Oshawa Generals. After having a full season wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, the Ontario Hockey League resumed play last fall and Harrison made sure to take advantage.
The Bruins' third-rounder (85th overall) in 2021 notched 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists) and added another seven points (four goals, three assists) in six playoff contests. His 61 points was a huge jump over his 37-point (21 goals, 16 assists) output in 2019-20.
"I had an up-and-down year and faced some adversity," said Harrison. "But I think it was a very successful year. Just trying to grow in all aspects of my game."
Harrison has been trying to grow physically as well. Since his Oshawa season ended on May 1, the centerman said he's been in the gym five times a week to work on his strength and conditioning, while building a solid nutritional plan to put on the right type of weight.
"Lots of protein shakes after workouts. Just a lot of hard work," said Harrison. "I tried to put on some pounds, which I did. I put on 10 pounds from the end of the season to where I am right now. Just trying to build more physically and mentally…I'm trying to get an elite shot so I can score from all areas of the ice. Just trying to create my scoring touch even better."

A Veteran Presence

Marc McLaughlin is just 22 years old and in his second Development Camp. But he was the veteran presence in the dressing room this week as the only player with NHL experience.
The Boston College product and Billerica, Mass., native played 11 games with the Bruins last season, notching three goals - all on TD Garden ice. He also played three games (two postseason) with the Providence Bruins.
"It definitely gives me confidence going into my second year of Development Camp - obviously a little bit older, more experience, just trying to be a leader for the younger guys here at camp," said McLaughlin, who was a captain at Boston College.
McLaughlin, who saw most of his time with Boston as a right winger on the fourth line, said he has been using the offseason to further improve his game as he aims to find himself as a permanent part of the B's roster this fall.
"I think the summer is good for fine-tuning your individual skills that I've been working on. My poise with the puck, my skating are areas that I can definitely improve. I've been working on that," said McLaughlin. "[Former Bruins skating and skills coach] Kim Brandvold is here this week and a lot of other great skills coaches that you can lean on and learn from."

Let's Get Physical

With a number of tall, lanky, big-bodied blue liners at Development Camp, there was bound to be some heavy hits, despite the usually tame mid-summer showcase of the Bruins' top prospects. Jackson Edward, a defenseman for the London Knights, did not disappoint in that department.
The Bruins' seventh-round pick in last week's draft showed off his 6-foot-3, 186-pound frame, including a heavy hit on fellow 2022 selection and blue liner Frederic Brunet, sending him to the ice in front of the bench during Wednesday's camp session.
"Edward from the London Knights is a guy that plays a physical style of hockey," said Providence head coach Ryan Mougenel. "The identity of the Bruins has been pretty evident with [Player Development Coordinator Adam McQuaid]. We're looking for guys with ultra-competitive spirits and courage. The one thing we've been very transparent with the fellas here is it's a big part of being a Bruin. Hopefully they all bring it."

Another Camp on Tap

Bruins 2020 sixth-rounder and Woburn native Riley Duran also brought the body during his second Development Camp. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound forward is coming off a strong freshman campaign with Providence College and is set to be one of 60 players - including fellow Bruins prospect Ty Gallagher - to partake in the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp later this month in Plymouth, Michigan.
"I'm just so happy I got the invitation," said Duran, who notched 19 points (10 goals, 9 assists) in 38 games for the Friars last season. "I just think I've got to go there and play my game and good things will happen if I just compete."

That's A Wrap

The week concluded with the annual 3-on-3 tournament, which was won by McLaughlin with a sudden death overtime goal. Defensemen Michael Callahan and Mason Langenbrunner, forwards Dans Locmelis, Quinn Olson, Matthew Poitras, and Duran, and goalie Philip Svedeback were also on the winning team, led by Providence assistant coach Matt Thomas.
"It's awesome. We had a good win, good team," said Duran. "It was a battle out there, definitely was a battle. Felt like a weekend in Hockey East."
The traditional 5-on-5, full-ice scrimmage followed and ended in a 4-4 tie after two 15-minute periods. Oskar Jellvik tied it, 4-4, with his second goal of the contest late in the second period for Team Black, which also got goals from Harrison and camp invite Jamie Engelbert.
Team White's goals came from Trevor Kuntar, Locmelis, Brunet, and camp invite William Worge Kreu.
"I think it varied. Some guys we see all the time, so you don't quite see all the big gains as much as other," Jamie Langenbrunner said when asked of his assessment of the week. "But a guy like Oskar Jellvik popped to me. He's not a guy we see a lot, but the skill level, the creativity.
"Our second-round pick this year, Matthew Poitras, stood out for me - just his sense, his willingness to play inside. [2021 draft pick and defenseman] Ryan Mast, the way his body has changed; he's moving so much smoother, his confidence with the puck. That was a big move from last season.
"Those are three guys on the prospects side. We've seen from Johnny [Beecher], we've seen the way he carries himself around here now is completely different. He's got the leader mentality. He looks like a pro. There's different levels of what you're watching and what you're hoping for from guys."