Today was the final day of Bruins rookie development camp. In addition to the solid performances put on by Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Spooner, and Jared Knight. Fans were also treated to an outstanding performance from Justin Florek.
In the first intrasquad scrimmage of the camp, Florek had two goals and an assist to lead the Black team to a 3-1 win over the White team on Sunday.
Florek, 21, was drafted by Boston in the 5th round of the 2010 draft. He was (and still is) considered a long-term project, but Florek seems to be progressing and growing into his 6-foot-4 frame. He will enter his senior year at Northern Michigan University this fall. As a junior, Florek tallied 14 goals and 15 assists in 39 games, putting his second on the team in scoring. He was named the team’s MVP and its best defensive forward, and also won the team’s award for community service.
In 120 career games over three seasons with the Wildcats, Florek has scored 35 goals and 46 assists.
“That’s what I was looking forward to all week,” Florek said. “Those practices, they get a little repetitious and stuff. But obviously it’s great to be out here with guys like this and the coaches and stuff. But the scrimmages (are) what I’ve been looking forward to, just to show my style of hockey that I can’t show during practices.”
Bruins assistant GM Don Sweeney, who also directs the rookie camp, is impressed with the way Florek has developed his skill set, as well as gained strength and speed. Florek is much stronger than he was when the Bruins drafted him, and has packed a bit of muscle onto his 194-pound frame.
He still has some growing to do before he makes his pro debut, which will likely come sometime in March or April after his collegiate career ends.
“He’s grown quite a bit and he still has some growing to do to fill out that frame,” Sweeney said. “He has a lot of room for growth both physically and with his hockey skills, but he is progressing well. He struggles a bit with skating because he’s not a fluid skater, but he works hard and when he arrives where he is going, he’s heavy. And he’s heavy around the front of the net and then you see the release when he gets one chance. Some guys need two, three, four, five, right? But he gets one and buries it.”