Penguins TV interview with Alex Smigelski
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA — The road to the National Hockey
League begins in earnest today for recent Williams College graduate
Alex Smigelski, ’10.
The reigning NESCAC Player of the Year, Smigelski is one of 16
forwards invited to participate in the Pittsburgh Penguins’
development camp running today through Saturday at Mellon Arena and
the Iceoplex.
"I need to go in to make a good impression and work hard all
week," Smigelski told the Berkshire Eagle. "We'll see where it goes
from there."
According to the Penguins’ Web site, the development camp
provides an opportunity for free agents, draft picks and top
prospects to learn about what it takes to become a professional
hockey player on and off the ice.
The players will spend four of the days on the ice at Southpointe
partaking in practices which are open to the public, There will
also be various training seminars and team-bonding experiences.
Penguins assistant to the general manager Tom Fitzgerald told the
team’s Web site:
“The whole idea of setting this camp up is to develop the
habits and the mindset of a pro hockey player and what is expected
from a pro hockey player in our organization,” Fitzgerald
said. “We also get to see our draft picks with the Pittsburgh
Penguins uniform on. It gives them that sense of family.”
“This allows us to look at these guys together. We also get
to show them what the city of Pittsburgh is all about. And finally,
we get to educate these guys on what is expected by having media
training, a nutritionist, a sports psychologist and NHL
security.”
In the 2009-2010 season, Smigelski led the Ephs — and the
conference — with 17 goals, while contributing 11 assists for
28-point season. The Ephs finished the season 15-6-3, and Smigelski
finished his career with 41 goals and 33 assists over 87 games.
In the process, he became then 5th Eph since 1971 to be named an
All-American, and drew the attention of several scouts out of
Pittsburgh. Upon graduating in June, Smigelski prepared for his
time at the Penguins’ development camp by training in Mount
Kisco, N.Y.
According to the Eagle, several of Pittsburgh's top prospects will
be attending the development camp, including defenseman Simon
Despres from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, who was the
Penguins' top pick in 2009.
