Coyotes Prospects Relish New Relationships, Lessons Learned

Some of the prospects at the Arizona Coyotes' rookie development camp this week were just drafted a little over a week ago, and others already had NHL appearances under their belts.
Once the dust settled after the annual Black and White scrimmage, though, it was clear all the prospects were united by a common bond.
The scoreboard in front of the standing-room-only crowd at the Ice Den in Scottsdale on Friday showed the White Team with a 3-2 win at the final horn, but the scrimmage was really a culmination of an entire week's worth of work.

Players like No. 3 overall pick Logan Cooley, who was just drafted by the club a week ago, were competing just as hard as players like Jack McBain, who played 10 games for the Coyotes in the NHL last season.
No matter the background, they were all there for the same reason.

"It's really about learning," Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong said. "They think they know what it's like to work hard and to eat right, and to train properly, and all that stuff, but actually when they get in here, their eyes get open, and you have a little bit of a chance to open their eyes a little bit and get them a little bit of knowledge.

"It's a great place for them to learn."

Miko Matikka, who the Coyotes drafted 67th overall in this past year's draft, went through his first rookie development camp this week. It was the Finnish winger's first taste of North American hockey, and he said he learned a lot while skating with his fellow Coyotes prospects this week.

The adjustment to the Arizona heat - compared to the Finnish rain - was the least of his worries. He said he learned that he needs to develop his skating even more, something he'll focus on as he heads to play at the University of Denver this fall.

"It's hard competition to get to the top," Matikka said. "I knew it was going to be hard, but this hard was a surprise. I like the challenge, I enjoyed it a lot."

Cooley, meanwhile, generated the most buzz heading into Friday's scrimmage, and the 18-year-old didn't disappoint. He said he relished the opportunity to meet and bond with his teammates throughout the week, and also took the opportunity to gauge where his skills are vs. what still needs to be developed.
Though there were plenty of surprises along the way, Cooley said he was happy with how camp went - even if a few exercises, such as the dreaded "bike test," were so difficult his legs were still sore days later. Most importantly, though, the time he had to bond with his fellow prospects was something he said he'd cherish more than anything else.

"You just meet them, and then you're best friends with them the next day," Cooley said. "I think that's just hockey in general, and the guys are always so close together, and for my roommate to be Josh Doan, we had a lot of good laughs, too, so it was fun."

That newly formed friendship with Doan, who was participating in his second rookie development camp, may take a brief pause when the two face each other in Tempe on Nov. 25 and 26.

"We were talking about a little bit of a bet going on for that game," Cooley joked. "It will be a fun game playing, especially in that new rink, and I'm really looking forward to it."

McBain, who logged three points in 10 NHL games with the Coyotes last season, said his previous experience with Arizona didn't impact his approach to rookie development camp whatsoever.

"Going through this camp again, it shows you again what you have to get better at, and continue to work on my skating, and little stuff like that," he said. "Guys are a lot bigger at the next level, so I continue to fill out my frame, put on some weight, and just getting stronger overall."

The week culminated with the scrimmage, which was in front of a crowd that filled the stands 20 minutes before puck drop. Cooley said he wasn't sure what to expect in terms of turnout, and he was pleasantly surprised by the support he felt on Friday.

McBain agreed.

"It was great, it was a fun atmosphere to see the fans out there," he said. "They were awesome, and we appreciate them coming out."

Now that camp has wrapped, each participant has a different path ahead. Cooley, for example, will head to play for the Golden Gophers, a team he said has a "shot at the national championship." McBain, meanwhile, will continue workouts while trying to make the Coyotes this upcoming fall.

Their first experiences together, though, are ones that won't soon be forgotten.

"All of the experiences have been a dream come true to be here," Matikka said. "The whole week is going to be a memory for me."