Eric Florchuk is only 15 but mature enough to realize nothing is guaranteed at his level of hockey.
The native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., the Victoria Royals first-round pick in the 2015 WHL bantam draft, took part Wednesday in his first official skate of what likely will be many over the next five years at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
The five-foot-10, 140-pound centre’s quickness and fluidity stood out among the 2015 Royals bantam draftees as training camp opened with just the 15-year-olds skating.
“It was quite nervous but didn’t want to express that on the ice,” said Florchuk.
But he quickly added he felt “no pressure” coming in as the first-round bantam selection.
This franchise has had an uneven history with its first-round bantam selections. The poster boy is defenceman Joe Hicketts, a 2015 world junior champion with Canada and signed by the Detroit Red Wings. The other end of the equation is represented by forward Ryan Howse, now out of hockey.
Florchuk said his first-round status means little.
“The guys in that room [fellow 15-year-olds] want to get better and better. I need to continue to get better and better just like them,” said the Albertan, who played both hockey and lacrosse while growing up.
Since the franchise has been in Victoria, the Royals’ first-round bantam draft picks have been Hicketts, 12th overall in 2011; forward Tyler Soy, eighth overall, and defenceman Chaz Reddekopp, 13th overall (by trade) in 2012; forward Dante Hannoun, 11th overall in 2013, rearguard Scott Walford, 18th overall in 2014; and Florchuk, the 13th overall selection this year.
As the Chilliwack Bruins, the franchise took defenceman Keegan Kanzig as the first-round selection in 2010, forward Steven Hodges in 2009, defenceman Mitch Topping in 2008 and forwards Kevin Sundher in 2007 and Howse in 2006.
Third-overall 2006 bantam selection Howse is no longer playing and now coaches bantams in Prince George; Sundher was traded to Brandon and has played pro in the AHL and ECHL; Topping was traded to Tri-City and plays for the University of Alberta Golden Bears; Hodges signed an NHL contract with the Florida Panthers and has played in the AHL and ECHL; Kanzig was signed by the NHL’s Calgary Flames but traded by the Royals to the Hitmen; Reddekopp, selected 187th overall in the seventh round of the NHL draft by the L.A. Kings., and Soy are currently on the Royals; Hannoun is entering his sophomore season with the Royals; and Walford is expected to skate as a blue-line rookie for Victoria this season.
Since 15-year-olds are limited to five regular season games in the WHL, until their Midget clubs are eliminated, Florchuk will play this season for the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers of the Alberta Major Midget League.
“I am an offensive, two-way player,” said Florchuk, when asked to describe his style of play.
He scored 24 goals and added 22 assists for 46 points in 33 games last season for the Rangers of the Alberta Major Bantam League.
There are no on-ice sessions today as the 15-year-olds go through orientation.
Walford and the 16-year-olds join the mix in rookie camp starting Friday, with practices from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and scrimmages from 2:15 to 7:15 p.m.
On Saturday, scrimmages run from 10 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., while Sunday scrimmages are from 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Main camp, when veterans report, is Monday and Tuesday with the annual Blue-White intrasquad game next Wednesday night. The first pre-season game is Sept. 4 in Everett against the Silvertips.
