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Caeden Herrington ’24 Participates in NHL Development Camp

Caeden Herrington ’24 Participates in NHL Development Camp
Max Paro '17

After helping the Holderness Boys Varsity Hockey team claim their first Lakes Region Championship as well as their second Elite Eight selection this winter, Caeden Herrington ’24 has continued to impress on the ice. The New England Hockey Journal, Neutral Zone, and U.S. Hockey Report NEPSAC Defenseman of the Year, recently returned from the Nashville Predators’ Development Camp. Development camp serves as an opportunity for an NHL organization to evaluate its prospect pool and provides younger players with a first-hand look into the world of professional hockey. 

The youngest undrafted player at the camp, Caeden found himself competing alongside and against current professional players from North America and Europe. “It was pretty eye-opening. It gave me a good sense of where my game is at and what it takes to become a pro,” said Caeden. 

Being surrounded by high-level talent allowed Caeden to work on and improve his own game. “The practices were fast and physical, there were a lot of teaching moments, and it was a really good time,” said Caeden “I just tried to be a sponge all week and absorb as much as I could.” As he looks forward to next season, Caeden hopes to continue to build on the habits he established during his time with the Predators. “My biggest takeaway from Development Camp was just consistency,” said Caeden “You have to be consistent in everything you do, whether it’s your work ethic, your skills, or how you eat and take care of your body.” Reflecting on his time at Holderness, Caeden highlighted the role his coaches played in helping him through the recruiting process.

“I was at a point entering my junior year where I didn’t know what the future held in terms of my hockey career, but both Coach [Alan] Thompson and Coach [Joe] Gaudet helped guide me through the process,” said Caeden. The coaches’ investment in his success continued in how they approached practice. “They’re both players’ coaches, they like to hear a player's perspective and really care about the team and their development as hockey players and as people.” As the team prepared for their season this past winter, they brought with them lessons learned from the previous year. 

“As a team, we carried a lot of moments from last year with us into this season,” said Caeden, “Those learning experiences and those losses helped us grow and establish our culture. Our team were huge proponents of being in the moment, being present, and doing your job.” The team's commitment to each other allowed their culture to flourish. “When you’re playing with your best friends, it becomes more important to you,” said Caeden “You spend every day with each other, in the dorm, at meals, at practice. We became so close and cared about each other so much, we wanted to do our best and win for each other.” Caeden treasures his memories of the team, the time they spent together, and the opportunity to represent the Bulls.  

 “Playing hockey at Holderness is one of the coolest experiences you’ll have in your life,” said Caeden, “Playing in front of our students section, our teachers, our families, playing in Fiore Rink, when that place gets loud, there’s nothing like it.” 

When asked to give advice to incoming students, Caeden said, “Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can. Holderness offers so many different opportunities and it’s up to you to make the most of your time while you’re there. Whether it’s taking an extra art class or going for a hike, all of those little things help you build relationships and open doors for you.”   
As he enters the next phase of his hockey career, Caeden will join the USHL’s Lincoln Stars before eventually playing NCAA Division I Hockey at the University of Vermont.

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