“Treated like first class – it was a pretty amazing experience,” said former Salmon Arm Silverback, Shane Hanna, on Tuesday afternoon from Canoe, BC.
Hanna returned home from Winnpieg, Manitoba this past weekend after his first NHL development camp with the Jets. The 20-year-old defenseman scored four goals and 19 assists in 40 games this past season – his first season of Division One hockey at Michigan Tech. Univeristy.
Hanna was among 38 players and 13 defensemen who took part in the five day camp in Winnipeg that included on and off-ice workouts. “Lots of fun, real hard work. Kind of saw what it takes to play at that next level, good competition.”
Hanna wasn’t the only player from Michigan Tech. at the development camp, as well as he was familiar with others on the ice. “Practicing and playing against guys I’ve already played with in my league and watched play, it was a lot easier. A couple of guys on my team were there so it was nice to have that.”
Hanna had three goals and 19 assists in 40 regular season games in the back half of the 2011-12 season after coming to his hometown team in Salmon Arm from the Penticton Vees. He went onto score 12 goals and 35 assists for 47 points in the 2012-13 campaign, along with a goal and an assist in four playoff games.
“After every drill you got a little pointer or they complimented you on what they liked that you did on that play and then what you can improve on – great group of guys for sure.”
“When I went in and dropped my bag off, like just going through their dressing room and all their stuff, their big training room, real nice and then even when we're at the practice rink the stands were full for practices which was pretty cool.“
Hanna wasn’t the only one impressed by fans in Winnipeg, as Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was. “Crowd was nuts. Everybody was lining up for autographs and everything from all the guys; it was a pretty cool experience,” said Hanna.
Hanna is enjoying his summer in the Canoe and Salmon Arm areas, and is planning to make his way back to Michigan Tech. in the last week of August. He will be joined in the Huskies lineup this coming 2014-15 season by two former Silverbacks, Alex Gilles and Evan Anderson. "Great to have a couple Silverbacks in the line up.”
