Holistic hockey development: Minnesota Wild prospects don skates and aprons during rookie camp

Prospects don skates and aprons during Wild camp

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Wild prospects have been picking up tips for the kitchen as well as advice on the ice.

The Wild hosted 37 players last week at their annual development camp, with several days of drills and scrimmages.

The instruction didn’t stop when the skates came off, though. Players sat through daily sessions on strength, conditioning and nutrition. They even took a cooking class one evening.

It’s part of a well-rounded approach that has become more prevalent in professional hockey and other sports in recent years. Wild director of player development Brad Bombardir says the program is “far beyond” what he was taught as a prospect in the mid-1990s.