(left) Steven Stamkos, the expected #1 overall pick in the upcoming Draft, at the NHL CombineFrom: The Hockey News
by Ryan Kennedy
TORONTO - The NHL's draft combine is a wonderful and chaotic event.
The stars of tomorrow are put through the wringer in a Toronto airport hotel conference room for scouts, GMs and the media and despite, as of now, the official results are only available to the 30 NHL teams, I'll try to shed some light on what was established on Day 1 of the two-day fitness tests.
The players were grouped into heats of eight, with the first two consisting of NCAA-bound skaters. Those kids are only allowed 48 hours at the NHL function due to eligibility requirements, so all their team interviews were conducted yesterday (many for the full day), then they were rolled out bright and early for the fitness tests before boarding planes for Minnesota and beyond at noon.
Since most of these players are playing their first college hockey next season, the contingent was largely high school and Jr. A.
In the first group, incoming DU freshman center Joe Colborne was the main attraction. The 6-foot-5 forward didn't look super-fit on the Wingate anaerobic bike test - which pushes riders to hit an all-out speed and then maintain the pace for 30 seconds - and clearly will need some time to put more muscle on his 190-pound frame (In his defense, Colborne has grown about eight inches in two years).
On the infamous VO2 Max bike test - where tension is increased as the pedaling goes on - Colborne needed an official to lead him by the hand once the test was finished.
Others, though, showed even more stress. This test lasts much longer than the Wingate and was the heartbreaker of the day.
This is probably the best time to point out the intimidation factor of the VO2 Max. As Colborne was getting warmed up, three others in the group sat on a bench waiting for their turn, looking like they were getting called into the principal's office.
The sheer effort put into the exercise is incredible. A valley formed between University of Minnesota recruit Aaron Ness's shoulder blades as he bore down on the bike and more than a few riders kept the pace by violently tossing their bowed heads back and forth as they pedalled.
The stars of tomorrow are put through the wringer in a Toronto airport hotel conference room for scouts, GMs and the media and despite, as of now, the official results are only available to the 30 NHL teams, I'll try to shed some light on what was established on Day 1 of the two-day fitness tests.
The players were grouped into heats of eight, with the first two consisting of NCAA-bound skaters. Those kids are only allowed 48 hours at the NHL function due to eligibility requirements, so all their team interviews were conducted yesterday (many for the full day), then they were rolled out bright and early for the fitness tests before boarding planes for Minnesota and beyond at noon.
Since most of these players are playing their first college hockey next season, the contingent was largely high school and Jr. A.
In the first group, incoming DU freshman center Joe Colborne was the main attraction. The 6-foot-5 forward didn't look super-fit on the Wingate anaerobic bike test - which pushes riders to hit an all-out speed and then maintain the pace for 30 seconds - and clearly will need some time to put more muscle on his 190-pound frame (In his defense, Colborne has grown about eight inches in two years).
On the infamous VO2 Max bike test - where tension is increased as the pedaling goes on - Colborne needed an official to lead him by the hand once the test was finished.
Others, though, showed even more stress. This test lasts much longer than the Wingate and was the heartbreaker of the day.
This is probably the best time to point out the intimidation factor of the VO2 Max. As Colborne was getting warmed up, three others in the group sat on a bench waiting for their turn, looking like they were getting called into the principal's office.
The sheer effort put into the exercise is incredible. A valley formed between University of Minnesota recruit Aaron Ness's shoulder blades as he bore down on the bike and more than a few riders kept the pace by violently tossing their bowed heads back and forth as they pedalled.
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