It's been a typical off-season for Prince George Cougars forward Troy Bourke.
"I've been training and hanging out with friends and playing a little ball," said Bourke. "I've been active. It's good to get away from the game a bit during the summer when I come home."
The typical summer routine for many junior hockey players in Canada, except for one thing.
The native of Onoway, Alta., was also drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in the third round, 72nd overall - two rounds higher then he was projected to go.
The 18 year old made the trip to Pittsburgh for the draft party on the advice of his agent who had arranged interviews for the Cougars' leading scorer with seven NHL clubs including the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks.
"I think that actually ended up helping me a little bit," said Bourke. "Colorado was actually the last team that I talked to and I had a really good meeting with them."
Bourke said it was kind of ironic that he was selected by the Avalanche.
"I've got a baby picture of me with an Avs' shirt on which is kind of cool," he said. "It's kind of weird that it actually turned out that way."
The left-winger became the second member of the Bourke family to hear his name called at the NHL Entry Draft, and the second to be drafted by the Avs' franchise. In 1992, Bourke's cousin, Paxton Schulte - who played with the WHL's Spokane Chiefs from 1991-93 - was selected in the sixth round, 124th overall by the Quebec Nordiques, who moved to Denver after the 1995 season.
"I actually keep in pretty close contact with him - he's a real cool dude - and he was just kind of encouraging me to go down to [the draft in Pittsburgh] because it's a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Bourke. "It doesn't matter what round you go in. It doesn't matter what happens. But just to go for the experience. It turned out pretty good for me and it was a pretty fun experience."
Schulte's NHL career lasted just one game during the 1993-94 season when he recorded a minor penalty for the Nordiques. He hung up the skates after the 2005-06 season.
Denver bound
Before Bourke had time to unpack from the Pittsburgh trip he hopped another flight to Denver in mid-July where he was introduced to the Avalanche's coaching staff and was given a tour of the sights of the Mile High city.
"Going to Denver was awesome," said Bourke. "It's a cool city. We were only there for a couple of days but it was pretty cool.
"I met the coach and just kind of went and toured a little bit of the city, visited the [NFL Denver] Broncos dressing room and their practice centre," he added. "We saw Colorado's practice rink and their playing rink. I did a little bit of fitness testing as well."
He'll return to Denver in September for his first NHL training camp. He expects to arrive back in Prince George about a week prior to the Cats' training camp starting Aug. 24 at CN Centre.
Bourke's main goal for the upcoming season is to continue to improve his own skills while helping the Cougars earn a playoff spot. After a slow start to his sophomore Western Hockey League season, Bourke wound up leading the Cougars in points with 56 (18 goals, 36 assists) in 71 games.
"Last year, I think I learned a lot because it wasn't the best year for me and team-wise we weren't good at the start of the year," said Bourke. "As long as I just focus on the small little details everything will be all right."
He said after the Christmas break he switched his internal mindset.
"I just thought to myself that I've got to bear down and I can't feel sorry for myself because no one is feeling sorry for you," said Bourke. "You've got to do things on your own and worry about the team, not about yourself."
He gave credit to Cougars' captain Jesse Forsberg for helping him put everything about his draft year into perspective.
"I now realize that he was right about most of the stuff," said Bourke. "He was actually right about all of it. You can't really worry about what's going to happen; you've just got to play your game.
"I think over the [next] year I'll try to talk to all those kids and try to help them out," he added about his Cats' teammates heading into their draft year. "I think I've got a really good relationship with all of them. They respect me. I respect them. I'm looking forward to next year and hoping lots of them get drafted."
Another change for Bourke in the upcoming season is he'll have more time to concentrate on hockey now that he's graduated from high school.
"I've just got to worry about developing my game more each day and getting better," said Bourke. "I think it'll be a little less pressure but on the same note you've got to keep getting better."
He said he's added about half an inch to his five-foot-10 frame and is about 10 pounds heavier than last year at 170.
"I'm a little more mature and will have a little more leg strength this year," said Bourke, adding the Avalanche counseled him to work on his legs. "Even though I've been working hard this summer you can always get stronger in the legs, but mainly it's just whole body maturity.
"I'm still a pretty young looking dude," he added. "I think over the years I'll develop a little bit more and get a little bit bigger frame. I think that's kind of what they're looking for."
Bourke, who wore an 'A' for the Cougars last season, said he's looking to get off to a good start to the 2012-13 season and lead the team back into the WHL playoffs, after that, the future is looking good.
"It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next few years," said Bourke.
