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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com SPORTS

Boo Nieves heads home to 
New York for Prospect Camp

Fifteen Wolverines 
play at NHL camps

By SYLVANNA GROSS 

Daily Sports Writer

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — It’s 

been three years since the New 
York Rangers drafted Cristoval 
“Boo” Nieves in the second 
round (59th overall) of the NHL 
draft. And it’s been two years 
since he first participated in the 
annual Rangers Prospect Camp.

In one year, he will graduate 

from Michigan and, depend-
ing on his performance, pos-
sibly transition from wearing 
maize and blue shirts to being a 
Blueshirt.

But after a standard freshman 

year, a shaky sophomore year and 
a solid junior year, the senior for-
ward might have figured out the 
key to consistency — confidence.

“Between the first time I 

came to camp and the second, I 
would definitely say confidence 
is the biggest difference in me,” 
Nieves said. “Confidence in skat-
ing, faceoffs, everything around 
me. I think confidence is giving 
me a little more of a performance 
boost, and I want to bring that 
back to Michigan.”

His 
execution 
during 
the 

Rangers’ camp at the Madison 
Square Garden Training Center 
in Westchester County, N.Y. cer-
tainly improved from his 2014-
2015 collegiate season and his 
spring six-week workout with 
the Michigan hockey team. And 
his skating earned respect from 

fellow prospects and potential 
future teammates.

Fellow Big Ten hockey player 

and Rangers prospect, forward 
Vinnie Lettieri from the Univer-
sity of Minnesota, said Nieves 
is a “standout leader and (has) 
promising potential.”

Nieves attributes his attention 

to detail — most importantly his 
need to get low, keep his stick 
controlled and become a better 
two-way player — to Michigan 
coach Red Berenson.

“My goal is to make sure 

everyone knows it’s me every 
time I’m out there,” Nieves said. 
“I need to be engaged, be consis-
tent and make something hap-
pen every time I go on the ice.”

He added after the camp: 

“Leaving, I feel way better than I 
did walking in. I had a good start 
but a better finish. I think I did 
pretty well.”

Most notable to the Rang-

ers’ staff, sportswriters and a 
couple of fans in attendance was 
the physical difference between 
2013 and now. With more muscle 
definition and standing a tad 
taller, Nieves was a formidable 
force on the ice.

Nieves was also complimented 

on his skating and passing skills. 
Both were noticeably developed 
in contrast to his first year at the 
camp.

The newly elected alternate 

captain for the 2015-2016 Wol-
verines did admit that his defen-

sive skills could use a little help. 
The forward also acknowledged 
his need to keep the puck on his 
stick longer and attempt more 
shots.

Nieves, 
both 
at 
Rangers’ 

camps and at Michigan, has 
shown an affinity for setting 
up his teammates with passes 
rather than being more assertive 
with his own shots.

His tendency to go for the 

assist rather than the shot has 
led to relatively low scoring 
statistics. He scored just seven 
goals his junior season, three as 
a sophomore and eight his fresh-
man campaign, but had 21 assists 
in both his junior and freshman 
seasons and 19 as a sophomore.

Despite the slightly disap-

pointing statistics, Nieves said 
he plans to carry his “posi-
tive vibes” from training camp 
through to his senior season, 
while looking to increase his 
goal production. Aside from 
team goals, Nieves knows he still 
faces an uphill battle to staying 
in Rangerstown for good.

The Baldwinsville, N.Y. native 

has connected with current and 
former members of the Rangers 
organization in hopes of bridg-
ing the gap between college and 
the pros. A lot of progress needs 
to be made, but one thing will 
stay the same.

“I introduced myself as Boo,” 

Nieves said. “It’s my hockey 
name.”

By CHLOE AUBUCHON 

Daily Sports Editor

Fifteen Wolverine team draft 

picks and free agent invitees par-
ticipated in NHL Development 
Camps over the past few weeks, 
honing their skills and gain-
ing valuable experience without 
affecting their NCAA eligibility. 

For the NHL hopefuls, the 

camps provide unmatched expo-
sure to life in the world of pro 
hockey while giving participants 
on-ice training, off-ice workouts 
and the opportunity to meet fel-
low prospects, players and key 
members of the organizations 
they may eventually play for. 

Rising junior forward JT Com-

pher, who was originally drafted 
35th overall by the Buffalo Sabres 
in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, 
officially joined his new team 
for the first time at the Colorado 
Avalanche development camp, as 
his rights were traded to the Ava-
lanche in June. He isn’t letting this 
opportunity go to waste.

“These camps are a great time 

to learn about the professional 
lifestyle and to get familiar with 
the team that may have your NHL 
rights,” Compher told MGoBlue.
com. “Which is important, as 
many guys have the goal to play 
professional hockey. Each camp is 
different but has a focus on skills 
and teaching you useful informa-
tion that you can take back to use 
during the year at Michigan and 
throughout your career. The main 
thing is soaking in this informa-
tion and learning from these dif-
ferent coaches.”

Incoming freshman forward 

Kyle Connor echoed his future 
captain’s sentiments after his first 
skate at the Winnipeg Jets devel-
opment camp, highlighting the 
opportunity to develop and hone 
his skating and other skills after 
the draft. 

The first-round 2015 Entry 

Draft selection — Connor was 
selected 17th overall by the Jets 
— isn’t letting the pressure of his 
top-pick status affect his game, or 
take away from the excitement of 
the whole experience.

“I think it’s more excitement 

(than pressure) for me, definitely,” 
Connor told NHL.com. “I waited 
a long time this year and it was a 

lot of fun this year. And now that 
the draft is over, I think it’s all hard 
work from here.”

Fellow 
first-rounder 
Zach 

Werenski, 
who 
was 
selected 

eighth overall in the 2015 Entry 
Draft by the Columbus Blue Jack-
ets, saw marked improvement over 
his week at development camp. 
The rising sophomore defenseman 
valued the opportunity to focus on 
aspects of his game that often go 
overlooked during the collegiate 
season.

Rising junior forward Alex Kile 

was the only Wolverine to attend 
two different teams’ development 
camps as a free agent invitee. The 
Michigan native spent a week 
training with the Detroit Red 
Wings, his favorite team grow-
ing up. Kile joined former line-
mate Dylan Larkin, who decided 
to forgo his final three years at 
Michigan to sign with the Red 
Wings. 

Kile then immediately went 

to join another former linemate, 
Zach Hyman, at the Toronto 
Maple Leafs Development Camp.

Two future Michigan team-

mates also trained together with 
the Minnesota Wild. Incoming 
freshman defenseman Nicholas 
Boka joined rising junior defense-
man Nolan De Jong with the Wild 
over the past week. 

The 
Wolverines’ 
incoming 

senior class was represented at 
the camps by forwards Boo Nieves 
with the New York Rangers and 
Justin Selman with the St. Louis 
Blues

Goaltender Zach Nagelvoort 

with 
the 
Edmonton 
Oilers, 

defensemen Michael Downing 
with the Florida Panthers and 
Kevin Lohan with the Washington 
Capitals and forward Tyler Motte 
with the Chicago Blackhawks 
rounded out the rising junior class 
for Michigan. 

While Werenski was the only 

rising sophomore to attend a 
camp, the incoming freshman 
class had a strong showing. Future 
Wolverines attending camps in 
addition to Boka and Connor 
included 
forwards 
Brendan 

Warren with the Arizona Coyotes 
and Cooper Marody with the 
Philadelphia Flyers as well as 
defenseman Joseph Cecconi with 
the Dallas Stars.

JAMES COLLER/Daily

Alternate captain Boo Nieves left camp confident that he proved why the New York Rangers drafted the forward in the second round in 2012.

