All of that hard work finally paid dividends this season as Verbeek enjoyed a career year offensively, setting single-season bests in goals (30), assists (31) and points (61) in 67 regular season games.
That represented a 30-point uptick in production from the 2016-17 campaign, which Verbeek attributed to a solid offseason workout regimen and an unwavering commitment to close out his time in the OHL ranks on a high note.
"In your last year, you want to give it all you've got. I worked out six times a week. I came in really strong and I came in a little bigger and faster. I worked on my shot a lot, too," explained Verbeek, who enlisted the help of a couple of experts to help him hone his skills back on home turf last summer. "I did private skating and shooting lessons with [skills coach] Chris Longo, and I did a lot of skills stuff with my dad, Brian. He played in the OHL and played pro in the IHL and Europe."
Verbeek's teammates clearly played a key role in his success as well, as this edition of the Greyhounds won a franchise-record 55 games before entering the OHL playoffs as the CHL's top-ranked team.
That all translated into Verbeek - the nephew of veteran NHLer and current Tampa Bay Lightning assistant general manager Pat Verbeek - signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Canadiens on March 24, just as the Greyhounds' postseason run got underway.
"It was definitely a surreal feeling. It's a dream come true," said Verbeek, on putting pen to paper on his first pro deal. "I'm really looking forward to next year. It's going to be a big challenge. I'm just going to have another big offseason and try to be ready for what's to come."
Verbeek, who previously attended camps with the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes, isn't ruling out making Montreal his training ground this summer in order to acclimate himself to his brand new hockey home.
Even though he hasn't really spent any extended time in the city, he does have fond memories of his one and only visit to the Bell Centre when he was 12 years old.
"I was really good friends with [fellow Kingston native] Kirk Muller's nephew Matt and I actually had the chance to go to a game when I was younger. It was a really exciting atmosphere. I was sitting right beside Henri Richard and Jean Beliveau, and I got to meet them in one of the lounges. I also got to see the dressing room. It was a really cool experience," recalled Verbeek, who likens his game to that of Brendan Gallagher in terms of work ethic. "It's definitely something I remember from my childhood."
