It’s been 453 days since Bradley Marek laced up his skates in a Bulldog uniform, and a lot has changed.
A few months after his final game at Ferris State, Marek attended a development camp put on by the National Hockey League’s San Jose Sharks. This camp included over 40 elite experienced NHL development players and prospects, but only two players coming straight from the college level: Marek and Denver’s Magnus Chrona. According to Marek, it only took a few minutes for him to be slightly starstruck.
“One of my first reps of this one-on-one drill we were doing (was where you) dumped the puck in and you go battle somebody for 15 seconds,” Marek recalled. “(When they blow it dead, you skate down, and you do it at the other end. The guy I was going against was Tomas Hertl, who’s got 15 years in the NHL and in playing pro. He’s a super nice guy.”
Marek stood out in the camp sessions, which led to him receiving a contract
The men s NCAA tournament semifinals are today in Boston, with Denver and Michigan playing first, before the Gophers vs. Minnesota State Mankato nightcap.