The 18-year-old center from Regina, Saskatchewan (he turns 19 in August), has improved his offensive output in each of his three seasons with the Western Hockey League's Moose Jaw Warriors. Included in that ascension was a superb 2005-06 season, when he finished fifth on the team with 19 goals and 38 assists in 64 games, with a remarkable plus-35 rating. He then proved instrumental in the team's march to the WHL Finals, scoring 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 22 playoff games.

He raised his game again during the 2006-07 season despite playing on a team that had 10 rookies and seeing both of his line mates from the previous season leave Moose Jaw for the pros. The 5-11, 185-pound center carried more of the load offensively, leading the team with career highs in goals (39), assists (43), points (82), and power play goals (17), while playing in a career-high 72 games.

The respect Holzapfel has earned as a scorer is added to the praise he was already receiving for his work ethic and play-making,

That respect is a double-edged sword, as it will likely earn him extra attention from the opposition's top defenders and hitters during the 2007-08 season, when he will surely be the center of attention in Moose Jaw. Atlantathrashers.com was able to slow down the fleet-footed center long enough to ask him a few questions during a break in the Thrashers Prospect Development Camp.

1. This was your second Prospect Development Camp. What has been the biggest difference between this year and last year?

HOLZAPFEL: Coming into it I kind of knew what to expect a little more than coming into it my first year last year. I knew it'd be a tough camp so I just came in ready and better prepared than last year. You don't realize how tough it is until you've been through one. This year is kind of the same thing as last year. All the guys are here to compete and battle in practice. The drills are tough and you just have to work through the week here and get it done.

2. Last season you scored more goals (39) than in your previous two seasons combined (15 in 2005 and 19 in 2006). How do you build off that success this year?

HOLZAPFEL: I always try to beat my point totals and individual stats from the past year. This year was a successful year for me. The team lost a lot of guys from the year before going pro and playing in the NHL (including Moose Jaw's top three scorers from 2005-06- Troy Brouwer, Dustin Boyd and Blair James), so I knew, being a third-year guy, that I'd have to take on more of a role and I tried to put as many pucks in the net as I could. Things worked out well for me. After this past year I proved to myself that I can score and I can also set goals up. So I can do both just as well.

3. How does it feel to have earned a reputation in the organization as an up-and-comer?

HOLZAPFEL: It's a great feeling, obviously. Coming into this camp I'm probably still one of the younger guys here (NOTE: For the record he is the second youngest draftee behind Spencer Machacek). It's my second year in the camp, so I just try to work hard every time I come to Atlanta or camp. I'll work hard wherever I play during the season, whether it's here or back in moose Jaw playing junior hockey. Wherever I end up I just have to work hard and prove myself.

4. What is the strength of your game and where would you like to improve?

HOLZAPFEL: Obviously my strength is scoring. I'm more of an offensive type of player so that would be the stronger part of my game. I have to work harder on getting bigger and stronger (NOTE: Holzapfel has added 15 lbs of mostly muscle since being drafted at 170 lbs. in 2006). To play at the next level, play pro or NHL, you have to be a lot stronger and have to be a lot better in all parts of your game. So I'm working on improving my all-around game.

5. What are your goals heading into the 2007-08 season?

HOLZAPFEL: This year we should have a pretty good team back in Moose Jaw. We have a lot of offensive power. Hopefully I can improve my individual points and if I do that it should help the team win even more games. I'll try to beat my totals from last year and improve on every year.

There are plenty of young prospects to keep an eye on over the next week at the Thrashers' annual Prospect Development Camp. There's AHL rookie sensation Brett Sterling who piled up 55 goals with the Chicago Wolves, or 2006 first-round pick Bryan Little, who also projects to be an offensive star. Or Chad Denny- the defenseman with a blistering slapshot who loves to hit. Then there's Ondrej Pavelec, who was at the dangerous end of many of Denny's rockets from the point as a goaltender in the QMJHL this past season.

But one of the rising stars who didn't necessarily stand out last season might have one of the best chances of actually making the Thrashers roster in September.

Jordan LaVallee quietly put together a respectable rookie season in the AHL, scoring 16 goals and adding 18 assists as he learned the pro game before going on a tear, potting seven more goals and an assist in Chicago's 14 playoff games. Not bad for a rookie.

Looking back on his season during the playoffs the Oregon native who grew up in Massachusetts was happy with how things had gone.

"It was a great season. I think I learned a lot. We had a lot of great veterans on this team that were able to teach me a lot of the little things and obviously Coach Anderson has been around the game a long time so he always knew how to lend a helpful hand. So I think I learned a lot this year."

As a 6-4, 210 lbs winger LaVallee has power forward written all over him, and he doesn't mind throwing his weight around in the corners or using his size to make some space in front of the net. All he had to do this year was learn how to take care of that body, which is still packing on muscle.

"It was my first year out on my own not being with a family or anything," said the rookie pro who was used to being billeted with a host family while playing junior hockey with the Quebec Remparts. "You learn pretty quickly that you've got to get the right stuff in you. You have to be sure you're getting solid meals and not eating too much crap in between."

Coming out of last summer's prospect camp the Thrashers were happy with LaVallee's progress after coming back from a serious concussion in 2005 and they knew he had the physical tools to succeed. But this is the new NHL and size alone isn't enough. That's why he was told by the Thrashers staff that he needed to focus on his skating.

"They wanted me to work on my foot speed and my skating stride. That's something I put a lot of work into last summer after that camp and all this year. I think just being in the pro game, which is faster than what I was used to in junior, has helped that a lot."

It helped enough that LaVallee has gone from being a blue chip prospect taken in the fourth round (116th overall) in 2005 to being one of the most talked-about prospects in the Thrashers' system. He has been mentioned as a player who can play in a variety of situations and who could play on an offensive line or be effective as a checking or defensive forward. He simply doesn't have any glaring flaws in his game, and that fact has led to strong reviews from Atlanta's scouts, coaching staff and management. While the praise has probably been higher behind closed doors than it has been in front of the young forward (lest he get the idea that he doesn't need to keep working hard), LaVallee has gotten updates on where he stands.

"I've been getting very positive feedback from the staff in Atlanta and this summer will be very important for me," he said back in May. "The fact that my name has come up (as someone who should compete for a roster spot) is a very good thing to me. It means I'm on the right path but it means I can't slow down at all."

And that's exactly the attitude the coaching staff will be looking for this week at the Prospect Development Camp.

On top of his size, strong two-way play and good hands LaVallee will have one more ace up his sleeve in training camp when it comes time to decide if he's ready to play for the Thrashers. He has a huge head start on learning Bob Hartley's system thanks to a year spent playing for Patrick Roy in Quebec. When Roy decided to take over the coaching duties of the Quebec Remparts QMJHL team which he owned and managed he needed someone to act as a mentor while he learned the ins and outs of coaching. He turned to his old coach from Colorado- Bob Hartley. As a result the Remparts played a very similar style of hockey to the Thrashers, and LaVallee may have an advantage over other potential new players as a result.

"I think it helps me a lot. "Patrick plays almost the same system that Hartley runs in Atlanta, so that really gave me a two-year head start with his system. I know it already so it won't be hard for me to adjust."

And the system isn't the only similarity between the Thrashers and Roy's Remparts.

"Playing for Patrick- he's a real intense guy," said LaVallee. "He loves to win. It's what he does and it's what he did his whole career."

Sound like any other coaches you're familiar with?

At this point in the off-season it's hard to know how many roster spots will be up for grabs in training camp in September, but as long as there's one slot for a winger Jordan LaVallee's size, skill, experience and hockey smarts should keep him in the mix.

Click here for the complete Prospect Development Camp roster and schedule.

When the Thrashers open training camp in September there should be plenty of competition for spots on the blueline. Some players from the past season will inevitably have signed with other teams, leaving openings for some new blood. While it's entirely possible that some holes could be filled via free agency there are plenty of prospects in Chicago hoping that the Thrashers opt to go with a youth movement. If they do, two of their options are capable 24 year-old blueliners who had big years with the AHL Wolves. Mark Popovic has been in the Thrashers system since the 2005-06 season after coming over from a trade with Anaheim and already has 359 AHL games under his belt. The Stoney Creek, Ontario native has impressed the coaching staff in Atlanta when called up for brief stints and is billed as a solid defender who can both skate with the puck and make crisp outlet passes. Then there's first-year pro Nathan Oystrick who played for four years at Don Waddell's alma mater- Northern Michigan. Oystrick would have been a strong contender for AHL rookie of the year honors in any other year after picking up 15 goals and 47 points, but he was overshadowed by teammate and rookie sensation Brett Sterling who set a new AHL rookie goal-scoring record.

Both players have NHL talent and despite being the same age they are at different points in their careers and are looking at their situations in very different ways. Oystrick spent the past season adjusting to life as a pro while Popovic settled in as a veteran and hoped for a chance to get called up.

"I've just been trying to have fun and try to get better in all aspects of the game," said 6'1", 210 lb Popovic during the AHL playoffs. "Just being more professional on and off the ice, whether it's my diet, working out during the season or maintaining my weight. Those are things you learn as you go along in your career. This year I just wanted to have fun. If I was going to be in the minors this year- it's not exactly where you want to be when you start the year when you set your goals- but if I was going to be here I wanted to make sure that when I finished the season I was a better player than when I went in and I think I've done that."

Meanwhile the 6'0", 215 lb. Oystrick made the adjustment from college to pro hockey look effortless, despite the differences.

"I think I've had a pretty good year and adjusted to the game pretty quickly. The guys are a lot stronger" according to Oystrick, who hails from Regina, Saskatchewan. "And I don't want to say they're a lot more skilled, but they're definitely more skilled. The pace of the game is different. Not so much the speed, but a lot more guys coming down one-on-one. They'll pull up instead of driving down the wall. And just a lot of little things like stick on puck and better positioning."

The ability to adjust to the AHL earned Oystrick (right) plenty of quality ice time which led to his impressive point totals (Oystrick's 47 points are nine more than any Thrashers defenseman has ever scored in a season). Even he was surprised with his success though.

"I was expecting to score some but maybe not as many as I did. Obviously playing on a team like this it's pretty easy to put up points. You just get the puck to guys like Sterling and (Darren) Haydar and (Jason) Krog and they'll find the back of the net."

Oystrick may have led Wolves defensemen in points, but Popovic wasn't far behind him. He scored one more goal than his rookie counterpart and finished the season wit 16 goals and 40 points. Popovic provided valuable leadership on the blueline and was able to focus on rounding out his game in order to be prepared for a future in the NHL.

Heading into what promises to be a competitive training camp Popovic is confident that he has the tools Atlanta is looking for.

"My skating has always been one of my strengths. And I think I've shown a lot of poise in all situations here in Chicago. I played on the power play, penalty kill and against the other team's top lines. I've learned how to do all of that. And looking at Atlanta, there are role models there to look up to like Nic Havelid. He's so consistent night after night, 82 games a year and into the playoffs. I'd hope that I could do that at the next level."

Popovic's confidence will be a huge asset for him in camp, but Oystrick still feels that he has a lot to prove, especially after missing most of prospect camp last summer with a bout of mono.

"Last year was a pretty big letdown. But I came back and had a pretty solid season and I think that with a hard-working effort this summer I can go to into camp prepared. It's going to be huge. I want to get in the weight room and get running and stuff like that before camp. Hopefully I can go to Atlanta in the summer and maybe open a couple eyes up and see what happens from there. Obviously there are going to be a lot of guys battling for a spot and I'm going to have to have the biggest summer of my life to make the team next year."

Having been through a few pro camps already Popovic is much more relaxed, albeit determined, about the process.

"I'm under contract for next year, so I'm not too worried about it. It's out of my control right now. I'll worry about it when the time comes. All I know is that I'll be ready."

He better be. If you assume that recently-signed Tobias Enstrom and hulking defenseman Boris Valabik will also be competing for spots in September then things could get very interesting. Throw in Niclas Havelid, Alexei Zhitnik who are under contract for next season as well as restricted free agents Garnet Exelby and Steve McCarthy and things get downright crowded, and that's without even looking at free agents. If nothing else we know that the Thrashers will have plenty of options.

In his end-of-season interview Thrashers Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell mentioned that some of the Thrashers' prospects will be given the chance to make the jump to the NHL this year. One of the players who he mentioned by name was gritty forward Colin Stuart.

The 6'2", 205 lb Colorado College product potted 18 goals this season in Chicago and added 11 assists, improving on his previous season's point total of 27 points. Stuart will be 26 when arrives at training camp in September and he'll have two full pro seasons and 15 playoff games under his belt. He'd be an NHL rookie if he made the Thrashers squad, but he brings plenty of experience with him as both an AHL regular and a former Colorado College captain.

I caught up with Colin Stuart a while back and asked him about his year and his hopes for next season.

Q: How would you describe this past season with the Wolves?

A: It's been pretty good. I kind of got off to a rough start thanks to a fluke accident in practice. I got a puck in the face. A bit of a  weird deal off a tipped shot. I broke my jaw and had surgery the next morning. I ended up missing 13 games or so, so it  could have been worse, but it took a while to get my weight back up and my strength back up. Being on a liquid diet for 10 weeks really doesn't support a hockey player's body too well. So it was a slow start there but I think I came on pretty strong in the second half of the season and achieved some of the goals I'd set for myself and played a little bit better hockey down the stretch there.

Q: As a guy looking to make the jump to the NHL what would you say your biggest strength is?

A: I'd say my skating. From what I've been told and what I know personally, if I'm going to be an NHL player I'm going to be a
third or fourth line guy. A guy that needs to be strong on the puck and strong along the walls. A guy that can be a good solid
penalty killer for an NHL team. So it's just working on a lot of the little things to round out my game.

Q: At the end of the Thrashers' season Don Waddell said he expected some Chicago guys to challenge for roster spots and he mentioned you by name as someone who could bring some speed and energy to the lineup. Were you aware that your name had come up?

A: I heard that through the grapevine and it's a nice compliment I guess, but it doesn't change my game. If it anything it strengthens it and backs up what I've been trying to do this year in Chicago. It's good to see that I'm getting noticed and I would love the opportunity to show them what I can do at the next level. I'd work incredibly hard, and like you said, I'd bring a lot of energy.

Q: What has it been like to have your old teammates from Colorado College (Brett Sterling and Joey Crabb) here with you in Chicago?

A: It's good and bad. Actually, it's been good. I've joked around that they keep following me wherever I go, but the hockey world is a small world and they're two good guys. Two good people. It's nice to be able to extend our playing careers together.

Q: Did you expect Brett to do this well (55 goals and 97 points) his rookie year out of college?

A: I knew that with his talent around the net and the quality of players that Chicago usually recruits that he'd be playing with some pretty talented linemates. I knew early on that he was gong to get the opportunity to be playing on the first power-play unit. And obviously playing with Darren Haydar and Jason Krog- I told him I could've scored 50 with those two. But he did an unbelievable job. It's not easy no matter how old you are to score that many goals in this league. So it's a tribute to his game and his preparation. You can't argue with that many goals and I'm pretty proud of him.

Q: Thanks for your time, and have a good summer. See you at training camp.

A: Thanks.

He hasn't played in an NHL regular season game yet, but Brett Sterling already has Thrashers fans talking, and when they talk they understandably have some questions. Is he big enough and strong enough to compete in the NHL? Can he come anywhere near his AHL-leading 55-goal rookie season if he's up against NHL caliber goaltenders and defensemen? Can he hang with players like Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa and be an NHL scoring winger?

All of those questions will have to wait until at least training camp where sterling is expected to compete for a spot on the Thrashers' 2007-08 roster, but so far Sterling is showing that he has what it takes to succeed at he pro level as he exceeded even his own expectations in his first season as a professional player with the Thrashers' AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves.

"I put up better numbers than I thought I would," said the 5-7, 180 lb sniper before the AHL's Western Conference Finals. "But you never know who you're going to come in and play with your first year and I was fortunate to play with guys like Jason (Krog) and Darren (Haydar). I definitely exceeded my expectations. I wanted to come in and contribute right away but I didn't want to set any numbers because I didn't know what to expect my first year. But I was able to break some records obviously, and that only happened with a lot of help from my great linemates. It's been unbelievable.

The end result was that Sterling picked up 55 goals and 42 assists for 97 points in 77 regular season games before scoring another seven goals and five assists in 15 playoff contests. All of that was good enough to earn Sterling AHL Rookie of the Year honors. Not bad for a fifth round pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Sterling (#29) in action with the Wolves against the Hamilton Bulldogs

Making the adjustment from NCAA hockey at Colorado College to the quicker-paced AHL game wasn't necessarily easy for Sterling though and he struggled early on as he tried to meet Coach John Anderson's expectations.

"I got sat about the third or fourth game in and it kind of woke me up and let me know how I need to play at this level."

One of the biggest adjustments for the native Californian was the way infractions are called in the AHL compared to at the college level.

"In college you can use your stick a bit more to hook and hold a bit here and there. You can't do that here though."

The difference paid off for Sterling and he didn't hesitate to credit the open space in the AHL for giving him time to get in scoring position and rack up gaudy goal totals.

"Absolutely it helped. I got extra time and space and guys can't drape all over you which made my life a lot easier as a smaller guy. Things can take a toll on your body, so these rules certainly help."

Now we'll just have to wait and see if the smallish but strong winger can thrive in the NHL like he did with the Wolves. If Sterling found the players to be bigger, stronger and faster in the AHL he can expect more of the same when he makes it to the next level. It's not as if he'd be the first player under 5-8 to thrive in the big league. New Jersey goal scorer Brian Gionta is also 5-7 and he came up just two goals short of 50 in 2005-06. Then there was Theo Fleury, the scrappy pest who notched 455 goals in his NHL career that included eight 30-goal seasons. He was listed at 5-6. Or how about Steve Sullivan- the perennial 20-goal scorer who might have an inch on Sterling but who tips the scales at just 165 lbs? Sterling has proven his detractors wrong at every level so far, and the Thrashers organization is hoping he can do it again come September. In the mean time he'll be working hard to make sure he shows up to prospect camp in the best shape possible.

The Colorado College product celebrates after scoring in a 2006 pre-season game.

That's one of the biggest keys for a young player transitioning from college to the pro game. The sheer volume of games makes being in peak condition an absolute necessity and he was warned told by the Thrashers staff  to focus on keeping in shape.

"They told me to work on my conditioning. It's different playing about 40 games per year in college and then coming in and playing over 80 in the pro ranks."

He was also told to soak in the atmosphere and learn how to handle himself as a pro.

"They wanted me just to become a pro player- on and off the ice., said Sterling. "Luckily there were lots of veterans here in Chicago that have been around for a while to help me out. And they just wanted me to continue to play my game and not stray away from it. Just keep doing what I did in college."

Speaking of college, Sterling had some friends with him in Chicago who helped him make the transition to AHL life. Fellow Thrashers prospect Joey Crabb spent four years with Sterling at Colorado College and rugged winger Colin Stuart served as their captain in their freshman and sophomore seasons. Having them around made life a lot easier for the budding sniper.

"It was great having Colin and Joey here. Joey and I were together for four years and Colin was with us for two. They're great guys and I love being around them. When things get rough around the rink it's great to have guys like them that you can just go and relax with."

Looking back Sterling values his college career but can see why some players are torn between playing in college or playing junior hockey in Canada.

"It's a double edged sword. If you stay for four years you're bigger and stronger than a lot of the junior guys and you have a couple years than them, and in the long run you've been playing longer than a lot of them so that certainly helps. But at the same time your clock is a little bit shorter than those junior guys. So yeah, you've got a step up on them in development, but they have a few years to catch up to us, explains Sterling. So what does it come down to?

"The big thing for us college guys is that we wanted the education. We want to have our college degrees and that counts for a lot. Hopefully a lot of the junior guys keep working on their education as they go a long or they go back and get it, because the sad thing is that you never know when hockey is going to end and you have to have something to fall back on."

While that line of thinking shows a lot of maturity on Sterling's part, there are a lot of people who will be hoping he doesn't need to fall back on that college degree any time soon.

Sterling (grey) challenges fellow college product Colton Fretter (yellow) to a dance-off at Jillian's during the 2006 prospect camp.

The Thrashers goalie woes of 2005-06 are the thing of hockey legend now. Five starting goalies in the first ten games of the season. Two goalies (Mike Dunham and Steve Shields) had to be signed due to injuries. When both of them went down the team leaned on rookie call-ups Michael Garnett and Adam Berkhoel who shared goaltending duties through the fall until Garnett emerged as the steadier of the pair. When both Kari Lehtonen and Mike Dunham returned from injuries by late December Garnett went back to the Chicago Wolves, returning only at the end of the season for spot duty when Lehtonen's ankle was injured. Garnett's 10-7-4 record in Atlanta helped the team stay in the playoff hunt right up until the end of the season, even if his 3.44 GAA and .885 save percentage weren't sparkling. When Garnett was on his game he was unbeatable, as his back-to-back shutouts in late December showed. When he wasn't sharp? Let's just say that it's hard to keep your GAA down when you give up five or more goals in 20 percent of your games.

Two weeks ago I had the chance to catch up with Michael Garnett as the Chicago Wolves prepared for Game One of the AHL's Western Conference Finals. Here's what the 24 year-old netminder who  had to say about his 2006-07 season in Chicago and his time in Atlanta with the parent club.

On his year with the Wolves:

"I thought that over the course of the year I was pretty consistent. I feel like every month my record was pretty close to being the same. I was happy with that- it was one of my goals for the year. Everyone really turned it up in the playoffs and our team goals against has gotten lower. It reflects a personal stat for me but it's really our team playing better defense than anything."

On his NHL experience:

I look at my time in Atlanta and it was a bit of a learning curve for me but in my last ten games I was 7-0-3 and it was definitely disappointing being sent down last year (Note: Salary cap restrictions didn't leave the Thrashers room to carry three healthy goalies, forcing Garnett's reassignment to the AHL). I think looking at the big picture though, knowing that I can go up there and compete up there and be at the top of my game playing at the NHL level has really given me a lot of confidence. I know it's a place that I can play and that I can fit in."

On sharing goaltending duties with veteran Fred Brathwaite:

"He's a guy that just kind of understands where I'm coming from. He's been playing the game for so long that anything I could possibly be going through during the year- he's been there and done that- and he can relate to that and help me out. If you know Freddy he's a real fun guy with a great personality and real positive. He's been great to have around."

On the stability of staying in Chicago all year versus being called up and sent back down multiple times:

"Your whole life kind of gets tossed around when you go to a different team, whether it's a trade or a call-up or whatever. Your whole life gets thrown for a loop. Having that consistency has definitely been nice. Consistency off the ice translates to consistency on the ice."

Garnett's strong play at the end of the regular season earned him the starting role for the Wolves heading into the AHL Calder Cup playoffs where he went 7-0 in his first seven games before going 1-3 in his final four appearances and giving up the starting role to Brathwaite as the Wolves fell to Hamilton in the Western Conference Finals. The big challenge for Garnett as he continues his pro career is to find a level of stability that allows him to keep giving his chance to win even when he isn't at the top of his game.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone. Things will be pretty quiet around here for the next few days, but if you haven't been keeping up on your reading make sure you check out this collection of prospect stories.

AJC.com: Bryan Little
The Province: Chad Denny
AJC.com: Nathan Oystrick
AJC.com: Brett Sterling
Blueland Blog: Bryan Little
NHL.com: Jordan LaVallee
AJC.com: Mark Popovic
AJC.com: Boris Valabik

If you're out relaxing on the weekend, whether it's in Atlanta or on the road somewhere, make sure you snap a picture of yourself in some Thrashers gear and send it in to us.

How a player reacts when things aren't necessarily going well says a lot more about their character than how they act when they're at the top of their game. That's why the comments from Bryan Little- the Thrashers' first-round pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft- after the Chicago Wolves' loss to Hamilton in the opening game of the AHL's western Conference Final were so refreshing.

Fifteen minutes after just the second professional game of his career Little was grounded.

The first comment out of his mouth when asked about the game wasn't a complaint about his limited ice time or lack of time on the power play. Instead he talked about defensive side of the game.

"Our line had some good shifts and had some bad shifts. I came out a minus one so I'm not to happy about that. I don't like being on the ice when we get scored against."

When was the last time you heard a high draft pick that's supposed to be a future offensive centerpiece talk about defensive responsibility?

As a talented center used to playing top line minutes and accustomed to being the go-to guy on the power play Little could have grumbled about his diminished role. After all- it took him several games just to get in the lineup after he signed try-out contract with the Wolves so he could join them for the playoffs. Bigger egos would have been bruised. Not Little's. He looks at his time with the Wolves (no matter how brief it might be) as a stepping stone and a chance to learn the pro game.

"It's good to experience and I just want to get better each game and be able to contribute something to the team."
 

Asked about the biggest difference between the AHL and OHL, where Bryan Little spent the season with the Barrie Colts he responded that it was all about speed.

"It's a lot faster and a lot quicker. You've go to make decisions quick because every time you have the puck there's a guy on you. You have to be a lot quicker for sure."

Little at last summer's prospect camp in Duluth.

It's no coincidence that at the end of last year's Thrashers Prospect Camp foot speed happened to be one of the things Little was told to work on over the course of the season. By no means is he a slow skater, but every pro player can use an extra step or two.

"They basically just said to get a bit stronger and a bit faster. Obviously to make the jump, things are faster and you have to be as fast as the guys around you. They just said go back to junior and work on the little things like skating and make sure you work hard off the ice too."

How does he fell about how far he has progressed since being drafted 12th overall last June?

"I feel pretty good. I feel a bit quicker and I think I had a pretty good season. Now I'm just looking forward to training this
season. I'll train as hard as I can and come in to camp in shape. I just have to work hard and work at what I'm good at."

Speaking of camp, Little says he's looking forward to getting off to a strong start this year when he shows up for prospect camp in July- especially since he knows what to expect having been through it last year.

"Now that I've got a feel for it I want to go there and do really good. Last year I was kind of tentative and I didn't really know
what to expect and stuff. This year I want to go there and be a really good player."

And having that extra year of experience will make all the difference in the world.

"You know what to expect now and you know how fast it's going to be, so now I know what I need to do in the summer to get to that level."

That will include training back home in Ontario with 2005 Chicago draft pick Evan Brophey. Little has been using the same trainer for four years now, and Brophey is his training partner. The duo works with the brother of a local boxer and Little gives him credit for getting him to where he needs to be.

Where Little will end up in October once prospect camp and Thrashers training camp are in the books is the big question. There's speculation that he could be given a chance to make the big club, but the 19 year-old pivot is trying not to worry about.

"I have to go to camp not thinking about when I'm going to get cut or how long I'm going to be around. I can't worry about it. I've got to go with the attitude to compete and try to earn a spot. If I can make it that's great and if I'm back here then I just have to keep working hard."

Knowing Bob Hartley's approach to the game, that hard work will go a long way. It's probably a good sign that the OHL coaches named him the league's best playmaker, best faceoff man, most dangerous player in the goal area, and- most telling all of all- the OHL's hardest worker. If Bryan Little is any indication the near future is looking good for the Thrashers.