By Ryan Horne
Guelph Tribune
Brody Milne has the extra incentive to really “give’r” at this year’s Guelph Storm training camp.
“It would be a dream come true to play for the Storm and an added bonus being the hometown kid,” said the 17-year-old Guelph native.
“It would be the best part of my life so far.”
Milne, along with 45 other players, including 20 returnees from last year’s team, are all battling it out tooth and nail at training camp to make the 2012-2013 version of the Storm.
Milne said that he needs to a keep up a consistent work ethic to make the team, which is something head coach, Scott Walker, and the entire coaching staff preaches.
“The skill is there for me – I know that,” said Milne. “If I work my tail off, I’ll be in the mix.”
Milne thinks that coach Walker – a former NHLer with the Canucks, Predators, Hurricanes and Capitals – has already had a major impact on him in the short time they’ve been together.
“In my opinion, he’s the perfect coach. He can be hard at times, which is what an OHL coach has to be,” he said.
The left winger came into camp signed by the team, but not a guarantee to be slated in as one of the top 12 forewords for the start of the season.
Milne was signed late in the season last year and got some experience practicing and following the team around during their playoff run.
“The tempo of practices is very intense, you can’t get away with things like soft passes,” said Milne.
With the possibility of another NHL lockout on the horizon, Milne knows that even more eyes of scouts and hockey fans will be
on him and the rest of the OHL.
“There will definitely be an extra incentive to give one gear harder,” he said.
Milne was drafted by the Storm in the fourth round of the 2011 draft.
He was also drafted 11th overall by the Junior A lacrosse Burlington Chiefs last year.
Storm general manager Mike Kelly thought that he should take this summer off from lacrosse because of the amount of weight you lose from sweating in the humid arenas.
Milne said that the stick skills and coordination are transferable between the two sports and still wants to remain active in lacrosse.
“I’m not hanging up the lacrosse stick,” he said.
