WILMINGTON, Mass. – A granite replica of the Stanley Cup weighing a reported 7,000 pounds greeted Boston Bruins prospects as they reported for rookie camp at the team’s practice arena.
That should be their first clue that making the team could be harder this year.
“I think everybody’s excited to come to camp, to start up this year,” assistant general manager Jim Benning said on Friday after the first skate of the team’s rookie camp.
The NHL champions will spend the weekend at their practice arena north of Boston, which was festooned with a new marker denoting the team’s path to its first Cup since 1972. Then they’ll head to New York for two exhibition games against the Islanders.
“It’s pretty special,” said Dougie Hamilton, a first-round draft pick. “You feel like asking them, ‘Let’s see your ring’ or ‘How was it winning the Cup?’ (But) they can be your teammates, so it’s kind of weird like that. It’s been special with this whole organization and what they’ve done.”
Among the players on the ice were Hamilton, a defenseman who was the No. 9 pick in this year’s draft, and last year’s second-round picks Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight. They’re hoping to impress the coaches
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