CHICAGO -- Taking boxing classes, playing Spikeball, learning breathing exercises, even playing the part of a stand-up comedian.
No, those don't sound like the typical activities at an NHL development camp, but the Chicago Blackhawks chose a different approach to theirs this summer: Stay off the ice, concentrate on getting stronger mentally and physically, and have some fun too.
"It was just more so trying to get a different look and utilize the time better to give them opportunities to learn some things that we wouldn't have time for, either in season or if we put them on the ice," general manager Kyle Davidson said about this approach, which the Blackhawks have talked about internally for a while.
"Just different skills that are necessary if/when they become [professionals]."
The camp, which began June 30 and runs through Thursday, is also a break from the rigors of skating and on-ice practices, with several of the prospects having been on the ice a lot lately. Three of them played for Seattle, the Western Hockey League champion, which lost to Quebec in the Memorial Cup Final on June 4: forward Colton Dach, Chicago's second-round pick (No. 62) in the 2021 NHL Draft, and defensemen Kevin Korchinski (No. 7 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft) and Nolan Allan (first round, No. 32, in the 2021 draft).
Goalie Drew Commesso finished his season with Boston University and then was with the United States for the 2023 IIHF World Championship until late May.
"I think it was great, especially for all the prospects, not only myself, but everyone here," said Commesso, who was selected by the Blackhawks in the second round (No. 46) of the 2020 NHL Draft. "Just to focus on the off-ice part of it, getting stronger, and the week was really filled with a lot of hard, challenging workouts.
"I know each prospect in the camp got a lot better and a lot stronger. We also learned a lot of things from a lot of the workshops, the workouts and the nutrition meetings and things like that. I personally loved the layout of the camp."
Prospects enjoyed the various events. Former defenseman Johnny Oduya, who won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015, taught them different breathing techniques.
"We did this one, when you get on the bench, it's not the only thing you can do but it's in-in-out and it's supposed to send a message to your brain to calm you down," said forward Paul Ludwinski, a second-round pick (No. 39) by Chicago in the 2022 draft. "That one we practiced a bit and also just five seconds in, five seconds out to slow things down after stuff at practice, in game or when you're working out."
Ludwinski said he played Spikeball well enough on Wednesday to get cleared to skate -- he's coming off a sprained left ankle he sustained late last season with Kingston in the Ontario Hockey League.
Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson helped the prospects in the boxing classes. No, players weren't throwing haymakers at each other.
"I haven't hit anyone in the face yet, but it's been pretty fun learning from some guys, to teach some punches," said forward Frank Nazar, a first-round pick (No. 13) by the Blackhawks in the 2022 draft. "If I ever get in a fight, I know what I'm doing."
Nazar, who was working through injuries last year during development camp, appreciated the structure of the event this year.
"I think it's the right way they've done it this year," he said. "I like how we're more focusing on getting our faces on the team and with the guys around the building. I think they made the right choice."
There were also some lighthearted events. Prospects attended the Chicago Cubs' 8-6 loss to the Cleveland Guardians at Wrigley Field on Sunday. Center Connor Bedard, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft in Nashville last week, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. They took cooking classes at The Chopping Block, a school for home cooks, with mixed results.
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 2, 2023
"Our food wasn't the best, but it was definitely edible," Nazar said. "I think it's good, especially being a college kid. It's something you've got to learn, and living on my own next year, I think it'll help a lot."
a thumbs-up. "It was good to see guys get out of their comfort zones. Some guys are actually really funny, so it was enjoyable."
The program got great reviews from the prospects, and the hope is that they'll find it helpful.
"They get so much time on the ice that I don't necessarily believe that extra four days of ice is going to change anything one way or another," Davidson said. "Just give them a little break from instruction on the ice and take it off ice, and teach them some different things that they wouldn't be exposed to likely at their amateur team and not too much when they turn pro.
"You almost assume they know things like media training and [things] like that. Just a little bit of a different education set."
