Porter selected for national hockey development camp in New York

Contributed photograph
SHOWING HIS SKILLS — Payton Porter, son of Misty and Joe Porter of Houlton, will be showing his skills at the USA Hockey National Development Camp in Rochester, N.Y. July 14-20.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Houlton-Hodgdon Black Hawk goalie Payton Porter is getting extra pointers on his game through the summer, as he has been chosen to attend the USA Hockey National Development Camp in Rochester, N.Y. July 14-20.
    Porter attended two tryouts in January and was selected, as one of two goalies, to represent Maine at the New England Festival in March.
    “With Payton’s selection, he was also invited to attend the New England 15 Development Camp,” said his father Joe Porter.
    The New England 15 Development Camp was held on the University of New Hampshire campus in Durham June 18-21.
    At the New England District 15 Development Camp, participants were evaluated on their skills. From this camp, evaluators selected players to then go on to the national camp. The camp staff had a difficult time, as they could only select nine forwards, five defensemen and two goalies from a pool of 85 kids representing the best hockey players from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Porter was one of 12 goalies competing for the two spots at the National Camp from the New England District.
    “The purpose of the National camp is to identify, train, educate and evaluate our best athletes,” stated the USA Hockey press release. “During the week, players are evaluated by our national scouting program, college and junior coaches and professional scouts. The competition gives each player the opportunity to measure themselves against other his age, gain knowledge about his development and to be exposed to outstanding coaching.
    “The format of the program creates a very competitive atmosphere,”continued the release. “This is to provide a setting with which athletes will compete at their highest level. It is not a tournament, but rather a grueling week of training and competition meant to improve and showcase players.”
    “We are all excited and a little overwhelmed,” said Porter’s father. “But, hopefully Payton will have a fun and enjoyable experience.”
    Porter, along with Liam Darcy and Lucas Michaud of Berwick Academy will represent Maine.
    “This will be quite an experience for him because this brings the best hockey players from across the country together to participate in this camp,” explained his father. “USA Hockey has camps specific to their age, so he will compete with the best hockey players in the country that were born in 1997.”