Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread
NMU Incoming Freshman Defenseman Rylan Yaremko Talks Rangers Development Camp
July 7th, 2016
NEW YORK - Incoming NMU (6'3" 205lb) Freshman Defenseman Rylan Yaremko (Spirit River, AB) spent five days training and skating alongside elite prospects at the New York Rangers' development camp. Yaremko sat down with NMUWildcats.com to talk about his time in the Big Apple.
Walk us through a typical day at the camp.
In the morning, we'd wake up around 7:30, and we'd bus to the rink. It was just your typical camp. We were in the classroom for a little bit, we had off-ice sessions, and we had about two ice sessions a day. We'd get out around 5:00 so it was a long day, but we learned a lot of stuff. Overall, it was a great experience.
How will the lessons you learned at the camp help you transition to the college game this year?
It was good to see how far along those guys are in their development. I realize how much harder I need to work, and I learned a lot of little things that will help me improve my game.
The camp was a mix of college, major junior and professional guys. What was it like competing against those different groups?
There was around five other college kids, and you could tell they were strong because they get to be in the gym so often. The pro guys are at a whole new level. You can tell they deserve to be where they're at based on their game and all the little stuff they do right. They're all very good players. Every guy in that camp was a very good player.
Many NHL teams incorporate crazy team-building exercises, like blindfolded basketball, or cool field trips into their development camps. Did the Rangers do anything like that?
We were lucky enough to tour Madison Square Garden. After that, they took us to the One World Trade Center, which is the tallest building in New York. We got to go up to the highest floor, and it was amazing to get to see how big the city really is. It just never ends. After that, they took us out for a nice meal right on the water. It was a great experience, and a good way to see the city.
What was the highlight of the camp?
I would say the overall experience of getting to see how players are treated. I've never experienced anything like it because this was my first camp. To go through the training NHL players do was invaluable. It was good to see what they do, how they do it, where they practice, how they practice. It's an experience I won't forget.
The Rangers' development camp was held June 27 to July 1 at the MSG Training Center. In 2015-16, Yaremko won the RBC Cup, the Western Canada Cup and the Fred Page Cup with the BCHL's West Kelowna Warriors.The Spirit River, Alta native recorded his best offensive numbers in every major statistical category, recording 34 points (13g-21a) in 56 games.