Jamie Oleksiak, a 6-foot-7, 241-pound defenseman chosen 14th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars, is one of 22 players within the organization attending the NHL Prospects Tournament this week in Traverse City, Mich. Oleksiak has agreed to provide NHL.com with a daily blog that will offer an inside look at the tournament both on and off the ice.

Hi everyone. Well, we lost our final game, 4-1, to the Minnesota Wild today. I think as the tournament went on, I got more accustomed to the pace and everything. This wasn't the outcome we wanted, but I think I did pretty well with this opportunity to kind of prove myself; it was a tough game. We came out hard and Soupy (goalie Jack Campbell) stood on top of his head. They got a couple good chances and buried their chances and worked hard in front of the net. We weren't able to capitalize on our chances so I think it was frustrating. At times I think I had a tendency to do too much when that pressure got me down … you just get frustrated at times.

I think with more maturity, I'll learn to stick to my game and stay calm in times like that and just take it shift by shift. I think the boys battled hard the whole tournament but penalties really killed us and a couple of bounces went against us; that's really what it comes down to.

After the game the coaches called us in for a meeting and gave us their thoughts of the tournament and how some of the guys did … just some feedback. I think Dallas has done a great job with giving guys opportunities and every guy got a chance to prove himself in this tournament so we'll see what happens.

Overall, the tournament was huge for everybody and to be out here at an event where a lot of guys once started off and advanced pretty well in their careers to do phenomenally well, is special. To be out here with future Dallas Stars prospects is a real honor for me and obviously some of the games didn't turn out well, but you have to look at the positives. It was fun to get to know the guys and get that pace and play that fast game. I learned a lot and got used to the game and was able to see where I need to improve and get better and hopefully earn a spot.

So, now that it's over, it's training camp. You always want to set the bar high and really push yourself so I'm taking it one day at a time. I plan on going to training camp and going there to prove myself and prove I can earn a spot. You have to realize you might be taking someone else's job so it's going to be a real battle, so my mentality is to take it day by day and work my hardest. I won't be satisfied with just going back somewhere else while at training camp.

Well, just finished up our third game of the tournament -- a 6-1 loss to St. Louis. We got into some penalty trouble there and discipline issues early on in the game and that really hurt us.

Personally, I'm not too happy I got a delay of game penalty in the third that created a 5-on-3 for them, but that's what it really came down to. We never really got momentum, got a penalty or a call against us and that kind of killed it for us. They capitalized on their chances and played a great game. They found a way to bury. It was tough for us because it seemed like whenever we got going there was always something knocking us back.

Their goalie (Jake Allen) played well. They came out to play hard. It was the same situation on Sunday night when we lost; they got us early and we got down on ourselves. A couple guys stepped it up with fights there, (Brenden) Dillon and (Oliver) D'Aoust, and I think we battled hard but they got on top of us early.

'Besko' (goalie Tyer Beskorowany) played a pretty good game but we didn't really give him a lot of help defensively and he stood on his head a couple of times on 2-on-1's and 3-on-1's. It's upsetting because it's not the result we wanted. There are some things we'll have to work on, especially disciplined.

I want to say that Brenden Dillon is a phenomenal player. I've had the pleasure to room with him as well, so I get to see how he carries himself and I think he's a real natural leader. He's got a lot of positive things that he does on the ice, he moves the puck and plays the PK and works it in on the back end on the PP, and is able to get some shots on net. He also stepped up for a teammate and got in a big fight (in the second period) so he's a player I definitely try and watch and learn from.

Overall, after three games, I think I'm getting used to the pace of the play and everything but the schedule is starting to get to me a little bit … three games in four days. With guys battling for spots, everyone is bringing their 'A' game every night on a consistent basis and I'm starting to feel it in the legs. It's a matter of fighting through it though and sticking to my game. I don't want to do too much; just play through it.

Hi again. We didn't play on Monday so it was a good day to relax and kick back and get to know the guys a little bit better; get to know the team.

We had a dinner with Stars management and some of the guys on the team and Joe Nieuwendyk, Stu Barnes and many others were there with us. It was a great opportunity to meet the whole organization and get to know everyone, get a feel for the Dallas Stars and bring that unity together. I didn't skate in the morning, but just warmed up with a few of the guys on Monday.

We did a little mini-putting on Monday night and I did pretty well. I know (Jack) Campbell and (Stephen) Schultz were playing each other. I was out there for the first time, so I was playing for fun and just wanted to get the feel for it. I think Campbell won against Schultzy, so he's waiting to collect. Maybe I'll have to be the big body to step in and collect for him.

We had our usual practice on Tuesday and are getting ready for St. Louis. I'm feeling good and ready to go now.

Hi all. So the two games over the weekend were like night and day. On Saturday, we defeated Carolina, we came out and got off to a good start early and I think from there we really took off. On Sunday against the Rangers, I think they kind of got on top of us early and got an early goal and some momentum. I think with us being a young team, it's something you work on gradually. The guys aren't used to playing with each other and going through that kind of battle, but I think we handled it pretty well.

I think we battled all the way to the end and (Matt) Fraser had another big night with another goal and he's playing a phenomenal tournament. All the guys really battled the entire game and, obviously, it's not the result we wanted but all we can do is look at the positives and work on what we need to for the next game.

The Rangers came at us really fast (on Sunday) and I think we gave them a lot of help there in the beginning and (goalie) Jack Campbell was a little overwhelmed with all the odd-man rushes. After a little bit, I think we got it together defensively and Jack finished off a great game. Obviously, Jack's a proven goalie and it's just a matter of giving him the help defensively and really stepping up to help him out. It was a tough game, but we finished hard and I'm proud of all the boys for how they battled and never gave up.

The difference between this rookie tournament and college is that the players are a little bit bigger and stronger and they are more consistent … it's a high pace. In college, the game was up and down and it sometimes slows down a bit. It's a great pace and definitely great for conditioning and getting. Really, you just have to be on your toes and really moving.

I think eight or nine guys will be practicing on Monday. We'll probably play some mini-putt, which seems to be the popular thing around here. Also go-carting is big, and a lot of boys are pretty good at it.

It's a great group of guys. Campbell, who plays for Team USA, was angry that I left Team USA for Team Canada, but he's been good about it. Once in a while, we'll chirp back and forth about it. He's a good kid and he leaves it on the ice so everyone is definitely nice to hang out with.

The day off will be huge because it's not very often you get back-to-back morning practices and games both nights. So we'll take a day off, take a day to recoup, see Traverse City a little bit because it looks like a beautiful city. We'll have the opportunity to roam around a little bit and pause and look back at these games and figure out what we need to work on as a team and hopefully come out flying on Tuesday (against St. Louis).

Jamie Oleksiak, a 6-foot-7, 241-pound defenseman chosen 14th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars, is one of 22 players within the organization attending the NHL Prospects Tournament this week in Traverse City, Mich. Oleksiak has agreed to provide NHL.com with a daily blog that will offer an inside look at the tournament both on and off the ice.

I want to start off by first saying that my thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those lost in the plane crash in Russia. Also, I know a lot of people are being affected by fires in Texas and I want to wish them the best. We're all thinking of them.

I know (Sunday) is also the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and we're all thinking of those families who were affected on that day. My step-sister actually lived in New York at the time of the attacks, so it was scary for us since she was working in New York and pretty close to the whole thing. It was definitely a tragedy, but it brought the world together.

Jamie Oleksiak, a 6-foot-7, 241-pound defenseman chosen 14th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars, is one of 22 players within the organization attending the NHL Prospects Tournament this week in Traverse City, Mich. Oleksiak has agreed to provide NHL.com with a daily blog that will provide an inside look at the tournament both on and off the ice this week.

It's nice to be here in Traverse City for the start of the Prospects Tournament. I'm looking forward to donning the Stars' jersey and working hard this week. I just finished up a lot of hard work preparing for the season in Saginaw and am really looking forward to this since I've heard so much about it.

We have a practice Saturday morning (Sept. 10) and then will play the Carolina Hurricanes in the afternoon, so there's a lot going on the opening day.

Dallas is very supportive of my decisions and obviously they want to me to continue my development curve. It's been pretty steep, so they want me to continue on that path and when they say I'm ready, I'm ready. They're not pushing a certain deadline or really rushing my development. They understand it'll come and they've been supportive the whole way, willing to provide any services I need to get out there.

Thanks for reading and keep checking back with more updates.