Return from Los Angeles training camp has Alarie looking for big things with Warriors
Veteran forward hoping plenty of success in the cards in fourth season with team Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express
After going through opening weekend with a total of seven high-level players missing from their line-up, the Moose Jaw Warriors saw reinforcements arrive fast and furious over the past seven days.
$PRQJ WKH ¿UVW WR UHWXUQ WR WKH :HVWern Hockey League squad from National Hockey League training camp was forward Eric Alarie, who was back in Moose Jaw after going through rookie and main camp with the Los Angeles Kings.
It was the second taste of NHL action for the undrafted 19-year-old prospect after he skated with the Florida Panthers prospects last season, and he once again found the whole experience to be equal parts fun and eye-opening -- especially having a chance to skate in main camp this time around.
“It was really awesome, I really enjoyed it,” Alarie said. “I know last year I wasn’t able to make it to main camp, so to be able to go there and go against the top dogs like [captain Anze] Kopitar and [Drew] Doughty was a great experience, and I really enjoyed my time there.”
Alarie spent most of his time in California playing with the Kings in their rookie tournament, much like he did with the Panthers last season.
As is the case with any player making the jump from junior to the NHL, the pace of the game was the most noticeable change -- especially when it comes to decision-making.
“There’s an adjustment at the start for sure,” Alarie said. “You have more time
with the puck in junior, but even going through the rookie tournament, you almost have to know what you’re going to do with the puck before you even get it. And then main camp was even faster.
So I was prepared, it was just a matter of getting used to that speed of play.”
One major difference was how Alarie dealt with the whole NHL experience itself. Where he admitted to being a bit awestruck during his 2021 run, things were a lot more ‘normal’ this time around, at least as normal as can be when you’re playing alongside the best in the world.
“We’re all here to play hockey and do
our best and I can’t be scared of those guys when I go against them,” Alarie said. “It’s the same game whether it’s junior or those pro guys, you play your best and that’s it, that’s all you can do.”
Alarie received a similar message prior to leaving for Moose Jaw as most players -- have a good season, play to your strengths and they’ll be keeping an eye on him through the campaign..
And if things go according to plan, it’ll be quite the season indeed for the Winnipeg product.
Alarie is coming off a campaign where he put up 25 goals and 58 points while playing all 68 games in 2021-22, and as solid as those numbers are, he’ll be looking for even more while also taking other aspects of his game to the next level.
“I just want to be a more reliable player, this is my fourth year in the league and I’ve seen a lot of stuff, so I just want to be reliable in all three zones and especially be good defensively,” Alarie said. “I want to be able to play when we’re down a man and that kind of stuff. So I’m just super excited for the season.”
As one of the team’s veterans, he’ll be looking to as a leader on and off the ice, a role he admits will feel a bit unusual.
³:KHQ , ZDV ¿UVW FRPLQJ LQWR WKH league, we had a young team, and now just being older feels a lot different,” Alarie said. “Back then we had ‘99s and ‘98s and this year we have ‘06s and even some ‘07s, so it’s a huge age gap from when I ¿UVW VWDUWHG EXW LW¶V SUHWW\ QHDW EHLQJ RQH of the older guys for sure.”
And an older guy on a winning team is even better.
“Our goal as a team is to win a championship,” he said matter-of-factly. “We KDG D WRXJK FRXSOH RI \HDUV P\ ¿UVW WZR years in the league and I think now we’re ready to make the jump to be a contender and one of the best teams in the league. So we’ll be working hard and we’ll be going for a championship this year.”
The Warriors are back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 5 when they host the Saskatoon Blades. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.