When it comes to elite young hockey players, GMs, scouts and coaches have to project. And hope.
Eric Florchuk was five-foot-four in the summer of 2014. He was five-foot-nine less than a year later when the Victoria Royals made the swift-skating forward their first-round selection, taken 13th overall, in the 2015 WHL bantam draft.
He arrived at Royals rookie training camp last year a mere wisp of a 15-year-old kid at five-foot-nine. This year he comes into Royals camp as a young man just a shade under six-foot-one and also 25 pounds heavier than last year.
The physical changes can be that dramatic in young players.
鈥淢y dad [Steve Florchuk] checks my height regularly,鈥� said the younger Florchuk, with a chuckle.
Also growing is his talent on the ice. And the floor. In the latter, he helped lead sa国际传媒 to the 2016 world U-16 ball-hockey championship in Sheffield, England, this summer.
鈥淕ood cardio,鈥� he described it.
A week after he arrived back home in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., Florchuk was summoned back to the ice version of the sport and to the Canadian U-17 development camp in Calgary. He is a candidate for either Team sa国际传媒 Black, Team sa国际传媒 Red or Team sa国际传媒 White for the 2016 World U-17 Hockey Challenge from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Asked about his chances of making the U-17 World Challenge, Florchuk replied: 鈥淚t all depends on what they [sa国际传媒 coaches and team management] are looking for.鈥�
Whatever that is, Florchuk seems to have it.
鈥淸Florchuk] played extremely well this summer [at national U-17 camp]. I expect him to push for a spot on our team,鈥� said Royals head coach Dave Lowry.
Florchuk resumes that quest as the Royals rookie camp continues through Sunday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Scrimmages today run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Scrimmages Sunday are from 8:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
It鈥檚 a forgone conclusion Florchuk will be moving on to main camp, which opens Monday when the veterans join the mix. Make no mistake: This guy is going to be a big part of the Royals鈥� future. He has prepared well for it 鈥� literally grown into the role.
鈥淭he biggest thing I鈥檝e added is strength, which really helps with my shot, speed and battle/compete level,鈥� said Florchuk.
There aren鈥檛 many spots open on a Royals team that won the WHL regular-season championship in 2015-16 with a fairly young roster. There will be a new goalie required to backup returning Griffin Outhouse. Of the rookie skaters, forwards Florchuk and Dino Kambeitz have stated their cases the best in the early part of camp.
鈥淚 play a fast-paced, very smart game,鈥� said Florchuk.
With that as his basis, he knows the fastest route to the Royals roster this season.
鈥淚 just have to play my game,鈥� said Florchuk.
