Marc Stevens recently returned from an NHL development camp with a desire to keep pushing toward his goal.
The 22-year-old Turkey Point resident said attending the L.A. Kings camp is one of the best experiences of his hockey career.
“Growing up playing, obviously the dream is to make it to the NHL,” said Stevens who spent a week at the camp held at the Toyota Sports Complex in Torrance, Calif.
“To get that taste of the NHL lifestyle … was something special.”
He said the camp is a step toward achieving his goal of one day playing in the NHL.
“I definitely took a lot from it. It was an unbelievable experience.”
Stevens found out he’d been invited to the June 26-30 camp after his agent was contacted by L.A. assistant general manager Mike Futa. Stevens’ uncle, John, is the Kings’ head coach.
The younger Stevens said he go to talk to his uncle at the rink.
“I’ve looked up to him my entire life so being able to see him in his work setting and experience it, it was awesome.”
Stevens, a six-foot, 190-pound forward, skated with L.A.’s recent draft picks, top American Hockey League prospects and other selected free agents at the camp.
“When I was in the OHL, a lot of those guys were there so I’ve played against a handful of them before.”
After enjoying a four-year OHL career with the Guelph Storm, Stevens moved on to the University of Guelph. He’s been with the Gryphons for two seasons and this past year he put up a solid 14 goals and 11 assists in 26 games.
“I was really pleased with the year and how it went,” he said.
“I thought I had a good year, probably one of my best years of hockey yet. I produced some good numbers and had a lot of fun.”
Part of that fun was due to Guelph’s great season. The team finished first in the Ontario University Athletics west division before bowing out early in the playoffs.
And, for the first time, Stevens was on the same team with his brothers: Mike completed his fourth year as a player, while Justin was an assistant coach.
He said his parents, Larry and Rosanne, especially enjoyed having all three boys in one place.
“They’re used to driving all over North America to watch us play,” he said. “So, for us to be in the same building every weekend was awesome for them.
“For myself, and I can probably speak for my brothers as well, it was an unbelievable experience. Walking into the rink every day and seeing both of them is something I honestly didn’t think would happen.
“I was grateful to have that last year.”
Stevens, a St. John’s College graduate, is hoping to build on his success last season. He said he feels the Gryphons will ice another strong lineup for his junior year.
He said he hopes to play hockey as long as he can and at the highest level possible.
“The goal is to stay in North America as a pro and try and get an NHL deal,” he said.
“If not that, then go over to a top league in Europe somewhere.”
ICE CHIPS . . . The Kings have an another local connection with Simcoe’s Rob Blake employed as the team’s general manager and Waterford’s Nelson Emerson recently promoted to director of player personnel. “With all the ties aside, I love the way the Kings play,” said Stevens. “I feel like it’s my style of game. They play a tough, hard-forechecking (game). A couple of players on their team I try to resemble my game around, like Jeff Carter and some of the other power forwards they have there.” . . . Stevens and his brothers are now in their third year of running a local camp – Young Prospects Development Camp – at the Brant Sports Complex and he said it’s going well. “It went great last week. I feel like the kids really enjoyed it. We’re happy to be able to put something on like this.”
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