Gormley Impresses at Camp
Gormley Stands Out on Day 2 of Prospect Camp
Friday, 07.08.2011 / 8:18 PM / Features By Anthony Perez
GLENDALE -- Defenseman Brandon Gormley arrived for his second Prospect Development Camp as one of the top young players within the Coyotes’ system.
And after an impressive season in 2010-11, the No. 13 overall pick at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft is eager to use this camp to fine-tune his game for the team's regular training camp in September.
“You’ve got to be able to compete here to eventually come to camp (in September) and be able to compete with those guys,” Gormley said after Friday’s workout. “…It’s a whole new level when the men step on the ice there, the men who have played in the NHL for 10 or 15 years, so you’ve got to compete and use a strong work ethic.”
In 47 games last season for the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Gormley notched 13 goals and 35 assists. His play earned him a spot on Team Canada’s roster for the World Junior Championship, but an injury a few weeks before the event kept him out of the tournament.
Once his junior season was complete, the Coyotes assigned Gormley to their top affiliate in the American Hockey League. He played four games for San Antonio and scored a goal. And now the 19-year-old native of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island is looking to show the Coyotes that his game has progressed and he’s ready to take the next step in the process of becoming an NHL player.
Coyotes Assistant General Manager Brad Treliving says that he and the organization’s scouting staff monitor the progress of all their prospects throughout the season and they can tell that Gormley’s game has evolved in the past year.
“As with all the players here in their second go-round (at Prospect Camp), he’s more mature,” Treliving said. “There’s been more physical development, but he’s such a mature kid and a poised kid. I think he hasn’t disappointed.”
Newly appointed Development Coach Dave King is working with the players on the ice during Development Camp and he thinks Gormley’s skills have stood out, even though he missed the first day of on-ice workouts because his gear did not arrive on time.
“It’s his first day on the ice and it looks like it’s about his 20th or 30th day on the ice,” King said. “He’s real smooth; he’s a real composed player. This is a smart player. He really understands the game and it looks like he’s going to have a great year this year.”
Treliving says that Gormley will be given all the time he needs to develop and that there’s no reason to push him to the big club.
“Whenever he’s ready, whether it be this fall, next fall, or beyond, that’s when he’s going to play,” Treliving said. “But we’re real confident that we’ve got a really good player in Brandon.”
Excelsior~ Ever Higher
Dear Mr. Fantasy play us a tune
Something to make us all happy
Do anything, take us out of this gloom
Sing a song, play guitar, make it snappy~ Traffic