PENTICTON, BC - When the coach has a question in a meeting, James Hamblin has the answer.
When you're in need of a captain at Rookie Camp, James Hamblin has the experience and proudly takes on that responsibility.
When you have a job to be done on the ice, James Hamblin can help you get it done whether it's getting that all-important goal or getting a defensive stop.
There's one prospect who's earned the nickname 'Mr. Do It Right' from his coaches and peers, and he's setting the example here in Penticton, BC at the Young Stars Classic while setting himself up for further success in the Oilers organization. The 23-year-old forward is setting the standard at Rookie Camp in the Okanagan purely on merit with his skill, humility and dedication after fighting his way up the ladder from a fresh-faced rookie for the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers to earning an entry-level contract in the NHL.
"He's someone that is 'Mr. Do It Right'," Condors Head Coach Colin Chaulk said. "You talk about coaches' favourites, and I have favourite players. My favourite players are the ones that are good people, work hard, and do it right. James became a favourite player because of his performance.
"Whether it's blocking a shot, whether it's scoring a big goal or doing the little things, he's someone that does it. There are many others as well, but he's grown into that role and I'm just excited personally to see him having some success and for you guys to see it as well."
The Edmonton, AB product has been one of the standouts on the ice at the Young Stars Classic wearing the 'C' for the Oilers Rookies and his hometown club, tabulating two game-winning goals and an assist on a line with Dylan Holloway and Xavier Bourgault through the tournament's first two games. Off the ice, he's a perfect example to players, coaches and management of how a prospect should work for an NHL job and how he should conduct himself while doing it.
"You look at him over the course of the year and it's really difficult to find him doing anything wrong," Chaulk added. "We joke with him that he's 'Mr. Do it Right', so with his experience and the road that he's travelled, he earned that opportunity."
YOUNG STARS: Hamblin setting the standard
Oilers prospect James Hamblin has grown over the past three seasons from being an undrafted forward into a leader and standout at Rookie Camp on a two-year NHL contract
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