Duck, Duck, Wolf

Sudbury Wolves forward Chad Heffernan recently returned from the Anaheim Ducks development camp, held July 1 - 6 in Anaheim, California.

Heffernan was a junior invite to the camp which focused on both on and off-ice development. The Camp included off-ice fitness testing, daily team practices and workouts as well as power skating and scrimmages.

Invitees also got to take part in a number of group experiences outside of hockey including taking a cooking class, go-karting and as well as attending a Los Angeles Dodgers game.

“It was an unbelievable experience,” said Heffernan in a report on sudburywolves.com.

“I feel like I grew as both a person and player during my week with the Anaheim Ducks. It was definitely my biggest learning experience during my hockey career so far and they taught me things I can use on and off the ice in order to help me be successful.”

The 6’2”, 190lb left-winger helped give his team an early 1-0 lead in his second scrimmage of the camp, however they would eventually fall by a final score of 5-2.

“There really wasn’t one thing that stuck out the most,” said Heffernan when asked what his biggest takeaway from attending the Ducks development camp was.

“It was all very useful. It showed me leadership maturity and a whole new level of compete which I have already started putting in motion as I get ready for this up and coming season. I’m looking to strive for a higher level of play this season and to push all of the guys around me to do the best they can as well,” he added.

The 19-year-old Peterborough native was acquired by the Sudbury Wolves last season from the Belleville Bulls and will be counted on this year to provide some much needed leadership to the young Wolves’ squad.

In addition to Heffernan attending the Anaheim Ducks Development Camp, fellow Wolves players Pavel Jenys (Minnesota), Matt Schmalz (Los Angeles), Kyle Capobianco (Arizona) also each attended their respective NHL clubs' development camps.