With his first full year of professional hockey under his belt, Simon Denis is refreshed and ready to suit up with Walleye forwards Conner Crisp and Austen Brassard at the Detroit Red Wings training camp, taking place today through Monday in Traverse City, Michigan.
“It’s so cool,” says Denis. “I’m so lucky to have this opportunity to keep playing the game I love.”
After scoring 15 goals with 40 assists in 70 regular season games for the Walleye, and adding 2 goals with 3 assists in 9 playoff games, Denis decided to get far away from the rink during his summer break.
“Coming from college and playing around 40 games a year, to going to the pros and playing 80 games last season, it takes a toll on your body,” says Denis. “To take the summer and get away from it was good because I’m excited again to play hockey.”
His ‘Cruising America and Canada’ tour covered more than 7,700 miles, through 10 states and 15 cities.
“I took advantage this summer to drive from Toledo back to Vancouver and making some pit stops along the way,” says Denis. “It was nice spending time with my brother driving down the coast to Las Vegas, making stops in Oregon, San Francisco and LA.”
Denis says he even got to cross off a few items on his bucket list, as he’s trying to catch a game at every MLB ballpark.
“I love to travel because for me, making memories are more valuable than possessions.”
Walleye head coach Dan Watson and assistant coach Andy Delmore will assist the Red Wings with training camp coaching duties.
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