By Arielle Gordon
While many students spend the summer interning or working in an office, three Colorado College hockey players got a taste of what it takes to be a professional athlete.
Every summer, NHL teams host development camps and invite recent draft picks and eligible undrafted players to work out and practice with their coaching staff. Forward Ben Copeland ’22 spent a week in Vancouver with the Canucks. Redshirt junior Chris Wilkie completed his third development camp with the Panthers in Florida, and captain forward Mason Bergh ’19 went to New York to play with the Rangers.
Prior to this year, Copeland had played two years of high school hockey at Edina High School in Minnesota and two years in the United States Hockey League with the Waterloo Blackhawks in Iowa. During his time in Vancouver, he got a preview of the work still ahead of him to make it to the NHL. “It’s never easy,” said Copeland. “You haven’t made it yet. There is so much more to do.”
Copeland was an undrafted invitee with the Canucks but is looking forward to playing his best this season and is hoping to be contacted by NHL teams again next summer. Wilkie, on the other hand, is new to CC this year, but he is already a development camp veteran. “I was selected by the Panthers in the 2015 NHL Draft,” said Wilkie. “Since they have my rights, I knew that I would be attending their camp going into the summer.”
Panthers camp is now a familiar experience for Wilkie, and while he is there to grow as a professional, he also takes advantage of the personal side of the week. “I think my favorite moment is just getting to see all of my friends again that I’ve gotten to know over the years of going to camp and catching up with them about how their seasons went and everything like that,” said Wilkie.
Wilkie played for the University of North Dakota for two years and recently transferred to CC. He missed last season due to NCAA transfer eligibility rules. Despite his previous NCAA and NHL experience, Wilkie is still always ready to learn and improve as a player.
“I try and pick up little things from other players in the camp that I can add to my own personal game,” said Wilkie. “Just by watching other players and picking their brains about certain things, I think that I was able to work on them myself and add some details into my own game. Whether it be skating technique, skills with the puck or defensively, I always try to be a sponge and soak everything that I can in to work on myself.”
After waiting to respond to development camp offers until the end of last school year to avoid distracting himself, Bergh made the most of his week with the Rangers.
“My favorite moment was the camp scrimmages,” said Bergh. “We played three games while I was there, and it was fun to be able to compete and play against some of the best young prospects from around the world.”
In addition to competing against some of the most talented young hockey players, Bergh learned skills that are applicable to him on and off the ice; “Time management is one thing that really stuck with me from camp, and it can be easily applied to the college setting,” said Bergh. “Being able to juggle multiple things can help me to become a more successful student and athlete.”
Copeland and Wilkie are both new to the Tigers but are already making an impact. Copeland scored his first NCAA goal and Wilkie scored his first goal as a Tiger in their season opening win last Saturday. Bergh kicked of his senior year with an assist.
The Tigers split their season opening series 1–1, winning the first game 10–2, but losing 4–3 in the second game at the University of Alaska Anchorage last weekend.
Look for Copeland, Wilkie, and Bergh to continue their skillful ways this whole season. They’ll be counted on if the Tigers have championship dreams.