Adam Brace heads to Minnesota and Carolina while Eric Levine skates with the Rangers.
Moon Township, Pa. – Two members of the Robert Morris University men’s ice hockey team will be participating in NHL Prospect Camps. Seniors from the 2012-2013 season Adam Brace and Eric Levine both received invitations to prospect camps that started last week.
“We are very proud of what Eric and Adam have accomplished and this is a great opportunity to show NHL teams their talents,” stated head coach Derek Schooley.
Levine (Wheeling, Ill. / Pembroke Lumber Kings) skated with some of the New York Rangers top draft choices and promising prospects over the past week at the Rangers’ Prospect Development Camp. Stepping in to the net for his first full season as the Colonials’ number one goaltender, Levine would lead RMU to a program-record twenty victories and a spot in the national rankings during the season.
“Participating in the New York Rangers development camp was a dream come true for me,” said Levine. “I’ve always wanted to play in the NHL, so for me this was an important step – all-be-it a small one – towards reaching that goal.”
Starting 35 of 38 games for Robert Morris, Levine posted a record of 19-12-4 with a goals-against average of 2.55 along with a .929 save percentage and four shutouts.
Levine added, “I enjoyed the competitiveness the camp brought every day and at the end of the week, I left everything I had on the ice. Whether or not a future opportunity arises within the Rangers organization is still uncertain, I immensely enjoyed the opportunity and ultimately wanted to represent where I came from – Robert Morris Hockey – with pride.”
Levine participated in five days of on-ice training with multiple members of the Rangers’ staff while also participating in multiple scrimmages against other attendees.
“I got some great advice heading in to the week from the coaching staff and my former teammates which goes to show you that we are really more than just a team, we’re a family,” Levine said about those at Robert Morris. “Coach Schooley regularly checked up on me throughout the week and gave me some advice that helped me have what turned out to be my best day on the ice. I felt an enormous sense of support and wanted to represent the strength of the program and the university above all else.”
Brace (Cobden, Ontario / Canisius College / Pembroke Lumber Kings) will be attending his first of two prospect camps this week when he skates with members of the Minnesota Wild prospect pool. Brace will participate in on-ice and off-ice activities under the direction of former Wild players Brad Bombardir and Andrew Brunette while also receiving strength and conditioning along with nutritional education and instruction. The developmental camp will conclude with a three-day three-on-three tournament at the Xcel Energy Center starting on Thursday.
After spending time in Minnesota, Brace will then head south to take part in a similar camp with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes’ Player Development Camp is scheduled to start on July 16 at PNC Arena with direction from the Carolina coaching staff. A prospect game and skills competition will conclude the camp on July 20 as a part of the Hurricanes’ Summerfest.
Levine also commented about Brace’s accomplishments by saying, “Congratulations to Adam on attending not one, but two development camps this summer. It’s a testament to the extremely hard work he put in this year and an appropriate reward for a tremendous season.”
The Colonials will set out on their tenth season with an exhibition contest against the University of Toronto on October 6. Senior captain Colin South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) will lead Robert Morris after the record season from a year ago.