Nate Prosser, former Elk hockey player now with Colorado College, spent last week in the St. Louis Blues development camp, after being invited by coach Andy Murray and a Blues scout.
by Bruce Strand, Sports editor
Nate Prosser, former Elk hockey player currently with Colorado College, spent last week at a St. Louis Blues developmental camp.
"I got called by coach Andy Murray and a scout," said Prosser. "They said they needed a couple more defensemen for their development camp if I wanted to fly down or drive down."
Prosser, who helped CC win the WCHA regular season title this winter, didn't need to be asked twice. He packed up his car and drove down with CC teammate and fellow defenseman Brian Conley of Bloomington, who'd also been invited.
Nate Prosser, former Elk who has played two seasons with Colorado College, was photographed by his father, Chris, while skating at the St. Louis Blues dev elopmental camp last week.
The week consisted of lots of weight testing and on-ice drills, such as the "beep test" where skaters dash hash mark to hash mark, faster each time, to gauge lung capacity. Two 15-man teams than played a game Friday night.
"It was a great opportunity for some exposure and experience," said Prosser. "I think I made a good impression. My dream, my goal, of course, has always been to play in the NHL."
The practices were run by coaches of the Blues' AHL team. The Blues coaches were on hand, too. Prosser got to meet and shake hands with Murray.
Thirty players in camp included last year's rookies, this year's draftees, AHL players, some Swedes, and college free agents.
Prosser, an economics major, has played two USHS seasons and college seasons. He was not drafted when his age group was picked four years ago, so he would take the free agent route to any pro career.
Home for the summer, he's been working out with college and NHL players at Velocity Hockey Center in Eden Prairie.
{snippet instory}
The Blues roster, coincidentally, includes another former Elk, Dan Hinote, a veteran right winger previously with the Colorado Avalanche.
