Mitch Calvert
Emo native Luke Judson is getting his first taste of an NHL training camp up close in San Jose this week.
But if you think the 18-year-old right-winger is overwhelmed by the prospect of staring down Joe Thornton or newly-acquired Dany Heatley one-on-one, think again.
“I’m just taking it in stride and trying to enjoy the experience,” Judson remarked. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, I’m still 18, so I’ll just go out there and do what I can.”
Doing what he can was enough to nab an invite to the Sharks’ main camp (which got underway Sunday) after impressing at the club’s rookie camp last week.
“I guess they seem to think I’ve played well enough to move on to main camp, anyway,” Judson said. “They sent five-six guys home and now we’re going to start skating with the big guns here.”
Judson still had a plane ticket booked to southern Ontario today to rejoin the Belleville Bulls’ camp (OHL), but he might have to re-arrange those travel plans depending on whether he survives the next set of cuts.
“I could be sent down [today] if I don’t perform in practice, or I could be sent home on the 20th,” Judson noted.
“It all depends on where you’re at and if they feel you still belong, or if they feel you need to develop more with your college or junior team,” he explained.
The Sharks’ rookies swept a pair of exhibition games over the Anaheim Ducks’ youngsters last week, with Judson contributing to a win in Game 1 on Sept. 7 with a third-period fight against Scott Valentine, who suits up for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL.
“It just seemed like a good time to get the boys rallied up a little bit and everyone seemed to like it,” Judson recalled.
“Every player has their thing.
“I’m not much of a goal scorer so I do what I can to contribute,” he continued. “Whether it’s doing that [fighting], blocking shots,
being strong defensively, or grinding down in the corners, that’s more my game.
“I can contribute a little bit offensively, but by no means am I going to make a name for myself by putting the puck in the net,” he admitted.
Despite being in California for two weeks, the hectic on-ice schedule hasn’t exactly afforded Judson the opportunity to lounge poolside with a pina colada.
“I’ve been to the mall and out to San Francisco a little bit, but we’re mostly at the rink and when we’re not [at the rink], we’re just trying to take it easy,” he noted.
Regardless of how the next few days of practice go, Judson no doubt will have benefitted from the experience when he does return to Belleville for his second full season in the OHL.
“They know everyone can shoot and pass, so they are more focused on the little things here, whether it be stick position or other subtle things the average fan may not notice,” Judson said of the Sharks’ coaching staff.
“There’s a lot of different things you need to learn to be a pro player and I’m just trying to take in all I can.”
Judson had been off to a good start offensively at the Bulls’ camp before heading to San Jose—and should expect to take on an expanded role this season upon his return.
“When I left, I was on the top line but you still have to prove yourself every day and just keep working hard,” he stressed. “I’ll try to stay on that top unit and get some power-play time, but I don’t think you can rely on the past to keep yourself there.
“You have to keep working at it to earn the ice time,” he reasoned.
The Emo product recorded 10 goals and 14 assists in a two-way role with the Bulls last season.
“We’re losing a lot of goals this year with [Eric] Tangradi, [P.K.] Subban, and the list goes on, leaving, so there’s going to be guys that need to step up and I hope to be one of those guys,” Judson said.
