We'll be missing the pros on our team on Thursday. We have Dave Semenko on our team. We have Brenden Morrow, he is really strong; after all, he just retired a week ago. We also have Mike Krushelnyski, and he's been great for us. He gets the puck a lot. As a team, we just continue to get better.
These pros have been doing it for so long, they just get it. They don't play competitive hockey any more, if they play at all. Plus, Cap Raeder, our coach, is doing his job. But guys like Krushelnyski will pull the players over, and he tells someone to cut and then do a loop. The player doesn't know why, but he does it and tall of sudden the puck is on his stick and he has a breakaway. That's why you do it, because he sees it. He's always seeing something. He might wait a few shifts and then he calls you over and he lets you know what it is. On a faceoff, it might be the weak defenseman on the other team and he'll tell you to go at him because you are going to get the puck and then he'll send it and you have a breakaway off the faceoff and the puck never hit the ice. He just one-times it on the draw. It's awesome.
Plus, every team plays a game with and against Wayne Gretzky. We played with Gretzky during our first game on Tuesday. It's funny when you play with Gretzky on your team. Normally, when you rotate lines, guys just slide down the bench but everyone tries to squeeze in to be near Wayne. I've already done it at past camps so I let the newer campers have that chance. I've felt that experience and it is awesome. Wayne's good on the bench. He'll talk to you, but usually he is making fun of the pros that are out there.
Now, I'll probably have some dinner with my buddies that came in from back home and then shut it down. If we make it to the championship game on Thursday, we'll have to play three times. I'll need all the energy I can muster.
Wayne Gretzky Fantasy Camp diary, Day 1
