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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.