scrimmage dev notebook

The New Jersey Devils Development Camp will run from June 30 to July 2, 2025 as the club gets a look at some of the youngest members of the organization.

The camp, run by the team's development staff, is headlined by Meghan Duggan, the Director of Player Development, who will keep a watchful eye on the prospects this week.

Fresh off of joining the Devils organization on Saturday, several 2025 draft picks will be in attendance, including both second-round selections, Conrad Fondrk and Ben Kevan.

Development Camp Roster

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July 2

The Devils prospects are holding a scrimmage between split squads this afternoon. It'll be Red vs. White. The format will be two 22-minute running clock periods, followed by a 5-round shootout.

TEAM RED

Lachance - DiGiuliah - Kevan
Filmon - Dupuis - Pikkarainen

Edwards - Diotte
Player - Holmgren
Barabosha - Hurtig

Malek
Bennett
Brennan

TEAM WHITE

Rozsival - Melovsky - Squires
Fitzgerald - Moe - Hillstrom

Van de Leest - Cheslock
Hanzel - Leddy
Dowd Jr. - Reid

Yegorov
Louhivaara

White 2, Red 1 SO

Luke Reid opened the scoring for Team White and Shane LaChance tied the game for Team Red. It would take an extended shootout to determine the winner, with Chase Cheslock getting the deciding goal.

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      Chase Cheslock discusses his Development Camp experience.

      July 1

      The Devils prospects will be split into two practice sessions for Day 2. The first group will feature defensemen and goaltenders. The second group will feature forwards and goaltenders.

      For all the highlights from today, stay tuned. You can also get caught up on yesterday's action from Day 1 below.

      Tall Dreams

      Devils’ fourth-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft was goaltender Trenten Bennett. He’s the type of playing that others on the team look up to.

      Literally.

      Standing at 6-foot-8, Bennett is by far the tallest player in Devils Development Camp this week. So much so, that even the NJD.tv cameraman had to stand on his toes to get an interview shot.

      “Size is the key to my game,” Bennett said. “But athleticism, the ability to move with all my weight and size, I feel I do a good job of that. (Trying to have) active hands. Making sure every puck that comes at me is a dead play. Upping my intensity in my movement would be a good goal.”

      After getting drafted, Bennett received a text from hockey legend Martin Brodeur. He got to meet him at this development camp and it’s been a “pinch me” moment for Bennett.

      “If I told myself a year ago, I’d be talking to Martin Brodeur, I wouldn’t believe it. It’s insane,” he said. “When he speaks and gives you advice, you listen and take it all in.”

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          Trenten Bennett speaks on the second day of Devils Development Camp.

          Cawlidge Hockey

          Development camps bring together prospects from throughout a team’s organization. And sometimes, it brings together rivals.

          Defenseman Jimmy Dowd Jr., attending camp on a tryout, played the past five seasons with Penn State in NCAA hockey. Fellow defenseman Ethan Edwards, the Devils’ fourth-round pick (120th overall) in 2020, played for Michigan and faced Dowd the last three years.

          “Those big school rivalries, us and Michigan hate each other, all the teams hate each other,” Dowd said. “It breeds competitiveness every single night.

          “I played against Edwards and we’re both here now. I can learn stuff from him even though he’s younger than me. He’s an unbelievable player, unbelievable skater. He sees the ice super well. It’s funny, we were beating the heck out of each other in playoffs and now we’re here, teammates at this camp. It’s super cool.”

          Two Devils 2025 draft picks will be attending college this fall in the Big 10. Second-round pick Conrad Fondrk will attend Penn State while third-round pick Mason Moe will attend Minnesota.

          “Being at Penn State for half a decade, like Moeser and Conrad going into their freshman year, answering their questions,” Dowd said. “They’re going to be pumped when they get to Pegula (Ice Arena). I was telling Moe my favorite place to play was Minnesota.”

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              Jimmy Dowd Jr. speaks on the second day of Devils Development Camp.

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                  Ethan Edwards speaks to the media on the second day of Devils Development Camp.

                  Quote 'Em

                  Cam Squires on playing AHL games last season with Utica: "It was good to get up there at the end of the year and test out the skills. It's a stronger league. Those are grown men, professional hockey players, they've been at it for a while. It's bigger. It's faster. To get that experience at the end of the year was huge, get a taste and be ready to go next year."

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                      Devils prospect Cam Squires speaks with NJD.tv about camp, his development and the future

                      Gustav Hillstrom on his game: "I'm a two-way centerman who can play all ways, power play, pretty reliable."

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                          Devils prospect Gustav Hillstrom speaks with NJD.tv about camp, his development and the future

                          Cole Brown on choosing to play at Notre Dame: "I'm super excited for the opportunity. I'm super excited to get started. I've been there the last couple of weeks, getting to know the guys, getting to know the program, getting to know the facilities. I think it's going to elevate my game and make me become the player that I want to become."

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                              Devils prospect Cole Brown speaks with NJD.tv about camp, his development and the future

                              Matyas Melovsky on his growth: "I improved my skating a little bit. I got more goals than the year before. I'm happy how I improved last year."

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                                  Devils prospect Matyas Melovsky speaks with NJD.tv about camp, his development and the future

                                  June 30

                                  The Devils prospects took to the ice on Monday for the first of three on-ice sessions at Development Camp. The roster consists of 14 forwards, 12 defensemen and five goaltenders.

                                  All the team's 2025 draft picks are in Newark this week: Conrad Fondrk, Mason Moe, Ben Kevan, Gustav Hillstrom, David Rozsival, Sigge Holmgren and Trenten Bennett.

                                  Fondrk, who broke his fibula in March, will not take the ice.

                                  Photo Gallery:

                                  Prospect Fun

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                                      Shane LaChance and Mikhail Yegorov were teammates at Boston University and now they're here.

                                      Big Goaltender Yegorov Arrives in Newark

                                      Mikhail Yegorov—affectionately known around the rink as “Big Mike”—was all smiles as he took the ice at Devils Development Camp for the first time. Fresh off a standout year at Boston University, Yegorov talked about his excitement to finally be in New Jersey, highlighting the thrill of getting to know new teammates, working closely with Martin Brodeur, and adapting to life in the Devils organization.

                                      “I didn’t get a chance to be here last year when I got drafted, so it’s great finally meeting everyone,” Yegorov said. “There’s so much attention to detail here—both on and off the ice—and it’s exciting to imagine my future with this organization.”

                                      Known for his athletic style between the pipes, Yegorov brings both energy and charisma to the rink, which fans at BU came to love—especially when celebrating wins by slamming into the glass. But it’s not all smiles and celebrations; he’s laser-focused on improving his consistency and stick-handling skills, areas he’s identified as crucial to reaching the NHL level.

                                      You can read more about Yegorov here.

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                                          Goaltender Mikhail Yegorov speaks following the first on-ice day of Devils Development Camp.

                                          LaChance Ready to Prove Himself

                                          With Devils Development Camp underway, one of the new faces making an immediate impression is Shane LaChance. After signing his entry-level contract earlier this spring, the big winger is officially feeling a part of the organization. Speaking on Day 1 of camp, LaChance acknowledged the different mindset he carries now that he’s under contract.

                                          “It definitely feels different,” he said. “It’s nice to be under contract, knowing you’re coming in here trying to make a good impression, and knowing you could be standing in this locker room. That’s the goal.”

                                          That new sense of belonging and stability is fueling LaChance’s drive. He described this phase as “being that much closer to your dream,” which has clearly sharpened his focus.

                                          “There’s obviously a ton of work left to do, but just tasting that next step in my career motivates me even more,” he explained.

                                          Development Camp is as much about learning as it is about showcasing skills, and LaChance is embracing the experience fully. He emphasized the importance of meeting new people and absorbing as much knowledge as he can from coaches and staff.

                                          “It’s nice to just go around, shake as many people’s hands as you can, introduce yourself, and make your presence felt,” he said.

                                          LaChance also touched on the benefit of having a familiar face at camp—Mikhail Yegorov, his goaltender from Boston University. Their friendship, complete with plenty of good-natured chirping on the ice, adds an enjoyable element to the intense environment. LaChance praised his teammate’s competitive nature.

                                          “He’s always pushing himself to get better, and that’s why he’s had so much success.”

                                          It’s clear from Day 1 that LaChance is embracing the journey and is eager to continue proving himself to the Devils organization. His attitude, work ethic, and personality bode well as he takes these important next steps in his career.

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                                              Shane Lachance speaks following the first on-ice day of Devils Development Camp.

                                              Quick Hits

                                              Rozsival on attending Development Camp: "It's a dream come true. I'm super excited to be here and compete with these guys. There's a lot of talent here. I got drafted then found out I had a flight in seven hours. I slept and then went to the airport. It's been pretty tough but that's what it takes."

                                              Filmon on his growth and development last season: "The biggest adjustment for me was learning how to hold onto the puck longer and learning how to protect it. And learning how to be more physical."

                                              Pikkarainen on his goals this upcoming season: "My skating and my shot. Those are the things I want to improve. They have, but I want to continue to improve."

                                              Prospects Visit Hospitals