Crocker shares his first NHL development camp experience
After a season that saw him set career highs in goals, assists, and points, it was just a matter of time before Niall Crocker received an invite to an NHL development camp. The question was, where would he go? The answer: Ottawa. Crocker attended Senators camp, and we caught up with him to talk about his experience in Ontario.
“That was my first development camp, so I got to meet a lot of new people, a lot of new coaches and trainers,” he said. “It was an awesome experience. The lacrosse was pretty fun, too. I played a little bit when I was younger but not too much, so I wasn’t the greatest out there. It was definitely a cool experience.”
“The talent at those camps are pretty good. Just watching the other guys do drills and learning from them was huge. All the coaches were awesome too, giving us tips and drills off the ice. The trainers helped us with techniques as well. Just a super cool experience overall.”
Over the past two seasons, there has been a distinctive improvement in Crocker’s game. From a 2021-22 season that saw him score three goals and record three assists in 64 games, the difference in 2022-23 and 2023-24 was drastic. The 2022-23 campaign was a big step up, as he scored 17 goals and added 14 assists for 31 points. 11 of his goals that season came on the powerplay. Looking back at the 2023-24 season, it was an even bigger step, as he scored 23 goals and registered 34 assists for 57 points in his 19 year old season. Once again, he scored 11 powerplay goals, while four of his 23 lamp lighters were game winners.
Crocker explained what has changed that has been able to give him the ability to find the back of the net.
“Definitely just confidence, and I can thank my coaches and teammates for the opportunities I’ve been given. As a younger guy looking up to guys that I played with when I was 16 and 17, all the older guys were great to me and I learned a lot from them. When you turn 18, 19, 20, you turn into that older guy which is crazy to think of now. I owe a lot to them, and I’m pumped for the year coming up.”
With a boat load of young talent coming through the system, with 16 year olds Daxon Rudolph, Riley Boychuk, and Ty Meunier poised to make their WHL debuts in 2024-25, as well as recent draft picks like 2024 first rounders Brock Cripps and Ben Harvey a year away, Crocker says heading into his final year in the WHL, it’s a matter of becoming that leader the young guns need.
“I’m just going to repeat the same thing that the older guys did for me. The guys like (Kaiden) Guhle, (Ozzy) Wiesblatt. It’s tough coming in as a 16 year old, just with the size and pace of the game, but I’ll just help them get their confidence up, keep things simple. Eventually it all comes around.”
In terms of goals for the 2024-25 campaign, Crocker is looking past his own personal goals. He says the team is hungry to make it past the first round of the playoffs, and to make the step to be a contender.
“Obviously we got knocked out in the first round last season, so as a team we’re definitely looking to push forward in that category. We just have to get off to a good start, and continue that for the rest of the season.”
Prince Albert kicks off the 2024-25 season on Friday, September 20 at home against the Regina Pats.
