Ken Appleby, seen at the Chicago Blackhawks summer prospects camp in 2014, is heading back to Chicago this week to take part in a prospects conditioning camp. FILE PHOTO.
While mom and dad were helping to raise a Durham Region Police flag at North Bay Police Headquarters, Ken Appleby was busy hopping on a plane for Chicago.
The Memorial Cup champion had a few days to celebrate the Generals 2-1 overtime win over the Kelowna Rockets on May 31st, but on Monday he was on his way for his second NHL conditioning camp as he will take part in a prospects camp in Chicago.
Late last week Appleby went through another conditioning stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Appleby was invited to a pair of summer NHL prospects camp (Arizona and Chicago) last year but was overlooked in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Thanks to the amazing run and being named the Memorial Cup top goaltender, the 1995 birth year goalie is getting more looks by NHL teams and his father Brian says the family will make the trek to Sunrise, Florida for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
“I’m thinking kind of early like the middle of the second round, maybe middle of the third, somewhere in between there,” predicts Brian Appleby.
“His agent is figuring somewhere after the fourth round but we are excited and pretty sure it’s going to happen.”
North Bay’s last player to be selected in the NHL draft was Matt Marquardt, who was selected in the 7th round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Role Model
Regardless if or where Ken Appleby goes in the draft, his parents realize he has become a role model for North Bay hockey players who aspire to do the same thing one day.
Kenny’s young nephew Jack McKay is a goaltender who proudly wears one of Ken’s old goalie masks while his most recent mask has been taken by the Hockey Hall of Fame to honour the last victory in the Pepsi Colisee in Quebec City.
Memorial Cup for the day
Just like the Stanley Cup, Ken Appleby will have a day to spend with the Memorial Cup in his hometown this summer.
However, the Appleby’s say they have heard of no plans as of yet of any public Memorial Cup event.
