Horton makes the most of every opportunity

CORAL SPRINGS — JakeHorton’s journey to his first development camp is full of almosts.

When he was playing juniors with the Waterloo Blackhawks of the United States Hockey League, he almost severed his Achilles tendon after being cut by a skate blade.

When he was deciding where to go to college, he almost chose to go somewhere other than Harvard, his dream school where he would go on to set the program record for most career games played.

And he almostwent to an internship with US Bank before his senior season with the Crimson. Instead he chose to quit before he started and dedicate his entire offseason to getting better at hockey.

It seems to have paid off for Horton. He got a player tryout contract with the Springfield Thunderbirds in theAHLat the end of last season, and nowhe’s inCoral Springs, the oldest player in the locker room at the Panthers development camp by about10 months.

So far this week, and through his time with Springfield last year, he’s shown something to his coaches.

“He’s one of those kids that just wants to get better and studies the game, studies the mental side, the physical side.” said Thunderbirds coach Geordie Kinnear, who runs the player development camp. “But he’s got a big motor, and you know, he knowswhat he is. He knows what his role is and how he can be successful at the levels above him. So he came in and made an impression, so that’swhy he’s here.”

Horton isn’t the most skilled player on the ice, but he works hard, which feels appropriate for a player who refused to give up on his hockey dreams.

On Friday, in a scrimmage at the player development camp, Horton’s rawness and tenacity were on display. In the second half, Horton took an extra long shift which ended with a breakaway opportunity that he couldn’t finish.

Eventually, Horton will have to develop the skills to finish off that kind of play consistently, but the effort it took to get that chance is emblematic of the theme of his career to this point.

And the intangibles are what coaches look for in young, undrafted players. Horton says he learned them in his time at Waterloo. “The coach [inWaterloo] was very stringent on details, so that was something I was kind of accustomed to,” Horton said. “But then I really noticed it was similar to thatwhenI got to Springfield. And it’s something, the type of player that I am, that really resonates with me, because I’m not gonna tear up the scoresheet, so I try and focus on doing things the right way every day.”

Who knows what will happen next forHorton?

Making an NHL roster is a tall task for anybody. That’s especially true for a player who was never strongly considered for the NHL Draft and has never scored more than 20 points in a season after high school.

Horton is a longshot at best. But if his past is any indication, he’ll do just about anything to make his dream a reality.

“Theguyjustwants to get better,” Kinnear said. “He’s the type of guy where, ‘Give me an opportunity, and I’m gonna make the most of it. And I’m not gonna go away until somebody tells me to go away.’ So we love that. That’s what it’s about.”