Tom Wilson and Connor Carrick Join the Hershey Bears
Screenshot via abc27 sports
Friday night in the Eastern Conference finals of the OHL playoffs, the London Knights and Plymouth Whalers faced off in a game that London would win and eliminate the Whalers. On that Whalers team was Washington Capitals prospect, Tom Wilson.
After the loss, Wilson and teammate Connor Carrick were informed they were going to Chocolate town USA to join the Bears in their run at Calder Cup number 12.
The 19-year-old Wilson was drafted 16th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by Washington. Since then, he has been drawing a lot of attention. In 48 games with Plymouth, Wilson scored 58 points, with 35 assists. In the 12 games during the playoffs, Wilson also had 17 points for the Whalers, nine of which came in the series against London. “Played an awful lot every game. Great minutes for me and we had a pretty good run,” Wilson told abc27 after his first practice in Hershey Tuesday. “I had a pretty good individual series. London’s a great hockey team and it was unfortunate we lost. ”
Wilson would be joined by teammate defenseman, Connor Carrick. “I was excited when I heard he was coming, too. It’s always good to have a friend along,” said Wilson. “He’s great so far. We’re rooming together and it’s been a fun time.”
But Carrick isn’t the only guy this highly touted prospect knows on the Bears. “I roomed with (Cameron) Schilling at (Capitals) main camp. He’s a great guy and has been great.
“(Philipp) Grubauer I played against. (Michael) Latta has been great. I played against him when I was a rookie in the OHL. He has pretty much taken me under his wing these first couple of days.”
Caps fans got their first look at Wilson during their training camp right after the NHL Lockout ended. “I just wanted to go in there and lean as much as I could, and the guys were great with that. I played pretty well in the practices and the exhibition. It’s pro hockey. The NHL is a huge step. I was just happy to get up there an get the experience I got.
“That was unbelievable. I came back and had a pretty good run with Plymouth, lost in the conference finals, and now I have the opportunity to come here which is basically a win-win-win all year. I’m just looking forward to seeing around the new place and getting to know it.”
These two youngsters got their first taste of Hershey when they participated in Bears practice at Hersheypark Arena. “A couple of guys were saying it’s a pretty old barn. Definitely pretty cool to come in here. I’m pretty sure there’s tons of history. Definitely a cool arena.”
So what does Wilson want to accomplish in Hershey? “Be the best I can be, help the team in anyway I can, practice hard and we’ll see what happens.”
Wilson will wear the number 10 for Hershey’s playoff run.
The Bears are back home Saturday night, looking to close out their first round series against the Providence Bruins. Puck drop is at 7:00pm in Giant Center.