WILMINGTON, MA – Skating for a premier Division-I hockey program can be a rewarding experience, but collegiate hockey doesn’t carry the same weight or intensity as the NHL. So when Lake Superior State University forward Colin Campbell received a call from the Boston Bruins in early January, he jumped at the opportunity.

Campbell

“Yeah it was great,” Campbell recalled of the Bruins’ invitation. “They saw me play a couple times and then they called me and invited me to their camp and within the next couple of days, I gave them a call back and I accepted and here I am today.”

The fact that Boston was the team on the other end of the line made the moment all the more thrilling.

“Boston’s a great organization,” Campbell said. “I knew it’d be a good camp and...it has exceeded all of my expectations.

“It’s a great development camp and I’m excited. Every day is exciting.”

While his time in Wilmington wasl be short-lived, the Pickering, Ontario native made sure to leave a lasting impression on the B’s coaching staff.

“I’ve been working hard all summer for this and obviously every guy’s dream in here is to play for the Boston Bruins and be in the NHL," he said.

“So you do want to stick out and show exactly what you got out there.”

At the Bruins Development Camp this week, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound forward showcased his gritty style of play, going after loose pucks and using his physicality to win battles in corners.

“I think I’m a hard-checking forward,” Campbell said of his game. “I like to get my nose dirty and just get pucks on net and get some dirty goals.”

Considering those qualities, it comes as no surprise that the B’s brass felt Campbell would be a welcome addition to their sixth annual Development Camp.

However, while the collegian's style may seem like a great fit for the Black & Gold, he knows that more opportunities will come after he finishes his time at Lake Superior.

“I hope to go to school for another year or two and then sign a contract with an NHL team,” Campbell said. “Who knows what happens from there.”

---Travis Basciotta