Matt Gellatly is the first player born in Raleigh, N.C., to be drafted by an Ontario Hockey League. He is blogging for WRAL.com.
Aug 20, 2008
Matt Gellatly is the first player born in Raleigh, N.C., to be drafted by an Ontario Hockey League team, the Saginaw Spirit. Gellatly will tell us what it is like to try to make the team from practice to filling the hours in between. The 17-year-old forward will be competing against some of the top junior players in North America to make the squad. Gellatly attends Enloe High School and has been playing organized hockey for more than 12 years.
Hi, my name is Matt Gellatly. I am 17 years old, and have lived in Raleigh, N.C., my entire life. I began playing hockey when I was about two or three years old, and began skating lessons when I was three years old. I think I began playing organized ice hockey when I was about five years old.
I have so many great memories from playing at such a young age. I can still remember when I was just beginning hockey, getting to skate at Dorton Arena, which is where the Ice Caps used to play. Way back then, the Ice Caps were the biggest hockey team in the area, so I was very fortunate to watch many of their games.
As I continued to grow, I played house (or recreational) ice hockey in Raleigh for several more years. It was not until I was about 10 or 11 that I began to do travel ice hockey. I made a lot more friends through travel hockey, and I think that really got me more focused on hockey, as well as allowing me to play against a higher level of competition.
I continued to play travel hockey at the AA level until this past year, when the opportunity to play AAA hockey in Raleigh became available. I was very excited about the opportunity to play AAA hockey, because it would be the first season that I would have the chance to showcase my abilities against a higher level of players, and at bigger tournaments.
My season with the Junior Hurricanes AAA Midget 16U team was a lot of fun, and I got to travel to a lot of new places and meet a lot of new people. This past year was easily the most traveling that I have ever had to do, including trips to Pittsburgh, Chicago, Rochester, Buffalo (twice), Toronto and Jacksonville (Fla.). While the team had an average season as far as wins and losses, it was a very fun experience.
The biggest disappointment of the season was definitely when I was diagnosed with mono around Thanksgiving. I missed around 15 to 16 games with the sickness. As if not missing a quarter of the season was bad, I pretty much could not do anything for about a month, as a result of the enlarged spleen that comes with mono. I could not lift weights, run, ride the bike, or participate in any form of exercise during that month. The rest of the season went smoothly, with my team finishing our season with a 6-1 loss in the Southeast District Tournament.
As far as Saginaw goes, I have been putting in a lot of time into preparing myself for the tryouts. I have been to three hockey camps this summer, to keep my skills sharp for the camp. I have been to camps in Gorham, Maine; New Hanover, New Hampshire; and East Lansing, Michigan.
When I have not been at camps or visiting friends and family, I have been working out with the Carolina Hurricanes strength and conditioning coach, Mr. Pete Friesen. Working out with Mr. Friesen has been an enormous privilege; with the expertise he has in regards to training, as well as the positive attitude he brings to the weight room everyday. I knew that with the opportunities that lay in front of me, it would be in my best interest to obtain some professional help in regards to training and nutrition; and Mr. Friesen has exceeded my expectations.
In previous years, I have trained at home by myself during the summers, so having professional instruction has greatly improved my strength and conditioning. I have also had the privilege of working out with Jack Friesen and Mac McMurphy, who have helped me to push myself much harder than I would by myself. When I have free time, I enjoy shooting on my hockey goal in my drive way, stickhandling in my garage, running, and playing baseball with my neighbor.
I am extremely excited to get up to Saginaw, and I can't wait to compete against some highly skilled players at the training camp. The Rookie Camp begins on Monday the 25th, with all of the returning veterans arriving on Wednesday to begin the main camp. I will have a medical examination on Monday the 25th, along with a practice and a game, too.
On Tuesday, I will participate in a practice in the morning and a scrimmage in the afternoon. On Wednesday, the rookies will have one final ice session in the morning, followed by physical fitness testing in the afternoon. The fitness testing is for all players (rookies and returners), and includes push ups, sit ups, and a two mile run. To continue on and participate in the main camp, everybody must complete 75 push ups in 2 minutes or less, and 100 situps in 2 minutes or less. The two-mile run must be completed in under 13 minutes, as well.
I am very excited to have this opportunity, and am looking forward to make the most of the whole experience!
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