Wells ready to take next step
Dylan Wells is doing his best to be prepared, regardless of what awaits him this season.
The 20-year-old St. Catharines native is working out diligently for training camp with the Edmonton Oilers this fall.
Wells, who could return to the Ontario Hockey League as an overager, is hoping to make the leap to the professional ranks.
“It changes your mindset a little bit. It adds a little bit of motivation with that bit of uncertainty,” Wells said. “You want to push yourself and make sure you find that spot.
“In pro, nothing is guaranteed. There are so many guys fighting for jobs, especially as a goalie. I’m just trying to prepare myself and go into camp with the right attitude and right mindset and play at the highest level I can next season.”
Wells was Edmonton’s fifth round (123rd overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
He spent the last four seasons with the Peterborough Petes and even got into a few minutes of action with the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL after the OHL season last year.
He is eager to move on to the next level.
“I’m just preparing for whatever happens and go there and play the best I can. I think everybody’s goal is to play at the highest level they can so that’s how I’m treating it. Wherever I end up, I end up.
“I’m going to give myself the chance to play at the highest level and whatever it takes, I’ll do it.”
That means a combination of skating and gym work. In addition, Wells recently spent a couple of weeks in Edmonton where he took part in the Oilers development camp and also did some on and off-ice training with the club’s strength and conditioning team.
“It was my third development camp. I’ve gotten familiar with the arena and the trainers and coaching staff and everything,” he said. “It helps you feel more like a professional and you really feel like you are in good hands when you are there. You trust in what they are doing with you.”
Wells, who took a week off to vacation in the Dominican Republic, is happy with balance he has achieved between working out and resting.
“As you play more and more and get older, you learn to apply that balance,” he said. “When you’re younger, it’s just go, go, go. I’m still like that, you want to do everything and be on the ice all the time and work out all the time, but recovery is just as important as the training itself. That’s when you make the most gains. It’s really beneficial and everyone needs it.
“I try to play golf and hang out with my friends and do things away from the rink too. It’s nice to have that balance. There is a balance of doing too much and not doing enough. I think I have found that balance and I’m happy where I am at now.”
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