Red Wings prospect Carter Bear managed to recover from a partially-torn Achilles tendon to help lead the Everett Silvertips to a WHL title and a berth in this past spring’s Memorial Cup.
Bear posted 36 goals and 44 assists for 77 points over the course of 53 games this past season, and he shined in the playoffs, posting 22 points in 18 games.
After today’s on-ice sessions at the Red Wings’ Summer Development Camp, Bear spoke with the media, and the Hockey News’s Michael Whitaker reports that Bear is now focused upon turning pro with Grand Rapids this fall:
“It’s pro now, and it’s a whole new level of hockey,” Bear said. “It’s way different than juniors; it’s faster and you’ve gotta be smarter and stronger. Like I said earlier, I just need to work on my game that Detroit wants me to work on and focus on that, and trust Detroit on whatever their best development is for me, and just trust that. I think it’ll all work out.
As far as what aspects of his game he’d like to most work on, Bear pointed to his skating and strength building.
“My skating, I think that’s one big thing and obviously, my strength,” he said. “Everything strength – in the gym, off the ice, all that stuff. So, that’s the big focus I want to work on for sure.”
Bear checks in at 6′ and 179 pounds, though he plays bigger than his weight.
He also told Whitaker that he’s fully healthy as he’s training this summer:
The previous season, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in early March, but had recovered sufficiently to participate in Red Wings Training Camp later in the fall. Thankfully, he showed no lingering negative effects from the setback.
“I don’t really like to put any excuse on it, I just started playing, and it went away from my mind, and it started feeling normal,” Bear said. “It’s all healthy now for sure.”
