| 12 January 2012
Sometimes you find out a particular player went undrafted in an NHL Entry Draft and you wonder why. Carter Camper is one of those players.
The rookie forward is headed to the AHL All-Star Classic to represent the Providence Bruins and is one of 13 rookies selected.
He says the selection is a “tremendous honor.”
“You want to be the best player you can be everywhere you go,” he said Friday night, “I’m excited to play with the best players in the league.”
Camper has been tearing it up for Providence while the team itself may not be doing so stellar. Prior to the selection, Camper had amassed 23 points in 34 games with eight goals and 15 assists; after this past weekend where the P-Bruins earned five points, he has tallied his ninth goal.
Amongst the rest of the league, the standout player from Miami University Ohio and Hobey Baker finalist for 2010-11 is listed as 11th in rookie scoring and ranks 64th for the rest of the league.
Making comparisons to Boston Bruins center man David Krejci, head coach Bruce Cassidy called Camper his “most consistent forward” and says his being named to the roster is a great reward.
“He generates it, it shows on the score sheet,” Cassidy said Friday, “He’s got a lot of composure, he’s strong on the puck.”
As a rookie, Camper is glad to have so many guys teaching him the ways of the pro game and gives credit to his teammates for his success.
“Any individual accomplishment obviously comes from a team game. Being a rookie, guys teach me the ways of the pro game and fortunately I’ve been able to do well,” Camper said.
The co-captain of his team at Miami his senior year where they reached the regional semifinal, Camper knows not to let success go to his head.
“Four years of college, I kind of learned a lot,” he said, “We were fortunate enough to be number one team in the nation a lot and if you let that go to your head you kind of lose sight of what get you better.”
With that in mind, there was no expectation the rookie would be the lone Providence Bruin on the All Star roster. “I knew the all star game was going on but for me it was just concentrating on everyday and getting better,” Camper said.
In addition to teaching him how to stay grounded, college also provided Camper with lifelong friendships as well as a few foes.
His old teammate Andy Miele who is now a part of the Phoenix Coyotes organization and plays for the Portland Pirates has also been named to the All Star roster and Camper named him as a player he is most excited to play with as well as other former Redhawks.
“Hopefully I can team up with Miele on a line like the old days and have some fun,” he said, “I’m excited to see those guys and I’m excited to meet the other players.”
Those other players are made up of a lot of rookies and of the 48 players, 34 will be skating in their first AHL All Star game. Each team will have 24 players each meaning that Camper may be on a team or even a line with old college rivals.
“Some of them you played against in college like Cam Atkinson for example. We played against him at Boston College. You play against these players and you kind of learn to dislike them a little bit,” Camper explained, “But I’m sure they’re all good guys.”
Camper continued, “I’m anxious to see the guys I played against in my college career, see what kind of players they are off the ice and maybe form new friendships with them as well.”
Does Camper expect to light it up in the All Star game? He says he has no expectations for it and that all he wants to do is have fun and play with a smile on his face.
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