WILMINGTON, Mass. — The Bruins' annual development camp is first and foremost a team-building experience, a chance for the organization's young prospects to get to know each other and forge some camaraderie while getting a taste of what professional hockey is like.
For at least a few of this year's participants, introductions won't be necessary, but that camaraderie may take a little work. Forward Tyler Randell has already met two of his potential future teammates, getting involved in fights with both Anthony Camara and Jared Knight during the course of the past season. Despite trading blows just a few months ago, Randell isn't worried about any bad blood spilling into this camp.
"We know our roles," Randell said Thursday after the camp's first on-ice session. "On the ice we're enemies, but when you get to know them off the ice they're great guys, but no matter what you still need to do what you need to do."
And what Randell needs to do to be at his most effective lead to some rather nasty disagreements on the ice. Randell returns the Bruins development camp having finished second in the Ontario Hockey League with 19 fighting majors this past season. Camara was tied for seventh in the OHL with 16 fights.
Not surprisingly, the two crossed paths and dropped the gloves on Jan. 15. But rather than holding on to any lingering animosity, the two shared a laugh about the battle as they met again under more pleasant circumstances at Ristuccia Arena.
"I actually fought Randell," Camara said. "We were talking about it, it was pretty funny."
Who has the bragging rights? "Me right now," Camara said with a smile. The video does show that Camara threw the bulk of the punches in the quick bout, though it's not clear how many actually landed.
"We had a little tussle this year," Randell said, offering his recollection of the scrap. "It didn't last too long, but he's a strong kid and we both play the same type of game. He's a strong power forward and hopefully we can work together one day.
"From the beginning it was a pretty weird fight," Randell added. "He got tripped up by one of my teammates. I wouldn't say it was much of a fight, but he's a strong kid."
Camara's strength and toughness helped convince the Bruins to draft him in the third round this past year, and he's hoping his rambunctious style will make him a hit in the Hub if and when he reaches the big club.
"That's the first thing everybody said to me, 'It fits you perfectly, your type of game,'" Camara said of being drafted by the Bruins. "It's just a hard-nosed town and I'm kind of like that, so it should be a good fit."
Knight is a scrappy player, but not known for fisticuffs like Camara and Randell. In fact, the only fight he had all year was against Randell on Nov. 4. Randell was certainly surprised to find himself locked up with the London scoring star.
"I know his stick was in my mouth," Randell said of how the fight started. "His gloves did end up coming off."
Knight, sitting one stall over in the Bruins' dressing room in Wilmington, picked up the tale from there.
"They were up like 8-2 and nothing was going right," Knight said. "It was kind of a frustrating game and I think he hit me and I cross-checked him in the mouth. My gloves went off and his gloves went off. It wasn't a very long fight, but I did drop the gloves."
Like Camara, Knight was able to share a laugh about the bout with Randell, and was happy to note that no hard feelings remain between them.
"We're still good friends," Knight said. "We're sitting right by each other and he hasn't tried to hurt me yet."
Randell won't be looking to hurt anybody this week, but he's learned that he has to play a physical game to be effective when the games count. He applied that this season in Kitchener, as his 19 fights this year matched the combined total he had in his first three seasons in the OHL combined.
"I know my role now a lot better and I know what it's going to take to get to the next level," Randell said. "I know I have to be a power forward, battle in the corners, take pucks to the net and that's going to lead to some fights. And obviously sticking up for my teammates and getting the team up when we're down [will lead to other fights]. I'm willing to do that, this year a lot more than the other couple years. I wish I would have started earlier, but this year was really good and I'm going to try to take it up to the next level."
Randell didn't ignore the rest of his game while adding more toughness to his repertoire, and his increased physical play actually created more space and offensive opportunities. He more than doubled his goal total from the previous season, going from nine to 20, and was rewarded when the Bruins signed him to an entry-level contract in April.
"When you're playing a physical game, your momentum follows you, your adrenaline is always flying and it opens up space," Randell said. "So when you go to the net you get those rebounds and dirty goals."
Randell, a sixth-round pick in 2009, is eligible to play in Providence this season, and he hopes to apply his new-found aggressive approach to the pro game in the fall. In the meantime, he'll just try to avoid any more dustups with his new buddies this week.
