LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES: Duke Preparing For NHL Draft

There is something to be said for second chances, and it looks like Reid Duke is getting his.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes Forward is one of 119 draft–eligible players gathering in Toronto this weekend for the week-long NHL Scouting Combine, the final chance to showcase himself prior to the June Draft.

“It is a little nervous, but I’m excited. It’s been a long off-season so far, but getting to the gym early so I know I’m ready and I’m pretty confident going in.”

A highly touted draft pick, the Hurricanes selected him 5^th overall in 2011. Duke had an outstanding rookie campaign with 24 points (8G, 16A) in the 57 games he played, but he improved his scoring stats in this, his draft year, with 15 goals and 40 points.

While Duke has been on Central Scouting’s watch list and draft rankings all season long, he did finish ranked 137^th overall, a drop from his mid-term ranking of 65, but that hasn’t stopped him from trying to prove that he has what it takes to get to the next level.

It was a season like no other in franchise history as the club finished with a disappointing 12 wins, but Duke finished third in team scoring and he still had lots to work for. The 18-year old admits to only taking a few days off once the season ended and then he was right back into the gym training with a group of friends including Red Deer Rebels forward Conner Bleackley who is ranked 35^th by Central Scouting heading into the draft.

“It’s great; I think there’s some healthy competition between all of us. It pushes all of us to do better so it’s nice. I’m good friends with them so going to the gym every day it’s a little easier.”

While the draft was on their mind, their daily workouts were also in anticipation of being named to Team Canada for the Under-18 Hockey Championships. Bleackley made the team (and won Bronze with Team Canada), Duke did not, and not surprisingly it was a huge blow.

“Of course I wanted to take part in that and represent my country, but when I didn’t get the call, getting called to the Combine was pretty big for me so going into the gym every day I just kind of have the motivation to do my best there.”

The U-18 snub is giving Duke his second chance, at least a step in the right direction in getting a chance to showcase himself in front of NHL team officials. He says it’s hard to gauge what to expect and how it will all go between the fitness testing, 1 on 1 interviews, and medical exams, but he’s ready.

“Everyone’s heard a lot of stories, but with the interviews just be truthful and honest and have a good personality and if you do those things everything else should fall into place.”