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For EJ Emery (Compton, Calif.), June 28 will be a night that he never forgets.
The New York Rangers selected Emery in the first round with the 30th overall pick at the 2024 NHL Draft. He was one of three USA Hockey National Team Development Program players selected in the first round, along with Zeev Buium (No. 12 to the Minnesota Wild) and Cole Eiserman (No. 20 to the New York Islanders).
“It was awesome,” Emery said. “The best part was seeing my parents’ reaction and they were super happy for me. I’m going to be honest — I do not remember much about it after that. I think I blacked out when I was walking down there to the stage to get my photo taken.
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“Being selected by an Original Six team and getting an opportunity to play in a place like New York will be super awesome.”
Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings selected Max Plante (Hermantown, Minn.) with the 47th pick overall. Plante joins his dad, Derek, and brother, Zam, in being selected in the draft.
Unsurprisingly, the draft was a family affair for Plante.
“To hear my name called on the second day early by an Original Six team was really cool,” Plante said. “It was great to be in Vegas with my family and they were able to share that whole experience with me. It’s something I will never forget.”
Brodie Ziemer (Hutchinson, Minn.), who captained the Under-18 team this past season, saw his name come off the board in the third round, as the Buffalo Sabres took him with the 71st pick.
It took a while for the emotions of the night to fully sink in.
“It didn’t really set in that it was draft week for me until a couple of days after I got picked. It was a good week for my family in Vegas,” Ziemer said. “It really didn’t hit me when I heard my name called. I hugged my mom and dad and brother and sister before walking to the stage and getting my jersey.”
All three players credit their NTDP experience in helping them improve their skills and prepare for the NHL combine.
Ziemer credits the program for helping him mature.
“You really grow up at the NTDP,” Ziemer said. “You come in as a boy and really mature and almost leave as a man. It was the best two years of my life. We were really tight as a team. The training on and off the ice and learning from coaches and the weightroom helps you grow a ton and develop your game.”
Emery agreed with that assessment and credited the team’s staff for getting him ready to be a pro.
“Nick Fohr and the other coaches, and the training staff, they are all a huge part of how much we matured in the program and got us ready to be a pro and the pro lifestyle,” Emery said.
Emery posted top marks in the vertical jump (27.23 inches) and the no arm jump (23.57 inches) at the 2024 NHL Combine. He said he prepared for the event extensively at the NTDP.
“I was preparing for them with the USA program. Brian Galivan and Joe Meloni from GVN really helped me,” he said. “I was super prepared going into it. I was ready to take it on and that is what I did.”
In addition to the physical tests was the team interviews. Ziemer had a packed schedule of meetings, but he felt like they went well.
“It was a stressful week meeting with all the teams,” he said. “I had 23 total interviews, but my interviews were pretty laidback.”
After hearing their names called at the draft, the players had a chance to participate in their first development camp with their new teams. The camp normally consists of both on-ice and off-ice testing, video sessions and some team-bonding activities.
Plante saw some familiar faces in Detroit.
“We had a lot of former NTDP players there, including Austin Baker and John Whipple,” he said. “It’s good to see how hard everyone has been working to be a part of the franchise. We definitely are getting little tips and feedback to use over the summer and new year.”
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Ziemer also had an opportunity to connect with former NTDP head coach Seth Appert, who is currently an assistant coach with Buffalo. Ziemer’s camp experience also helped him realize what he needs to do to be successful in the pros.
“I’m a little way away from the NHL. I definitely learned how to focus on treating my body right to be able to play an 82-game schedule,” Ziemer said. “A few of the players and myself went to dinner with coach Appert. We definitely talked about (Under-18) Worlds and what I went through at the program.
“I know that I need to keep getting faster and stronger for now, especially the rest of the summer and next year with the [University of Minnesota].”
For Emery, it was an opportunity to soak in all kinds of knowledge from the Rangers including a conversation with former NTDP head coach Dan Muse, who is currently an assistant coach with the Rangers.
“I had a great time,” Emery said. “You are going against the best of the best and making that push into the NHL. It was super exciting to play and practice with those guys. You definitely learn what it takes to be a pro and see how far you have to go.”
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
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