Outgoing Flin Flon Bomber forward Caleb Moretz has had a whirlwind year, parlaying his play in maroon and white to an NCAA Division I scholarship. Now, he’s earned a shot at an NHL development camp.
Moretz received an invitation to the Buffalo Sabres’ development camp, according to an announcement from the Bombers June 23. The camps provide prospects and highly touted junior and college players a chance to train, practice and play in a small tournament in an NHL environment.
At the camp, set to be held at the Sabres’ practice facility at the Harborcenter in Buffalo from June 26-29, Moretz will join several of the NHL team’s top prospects, including recent first-round picks Dylan Cozens and Ryan Johnson.
According to a media release from the SJHL, Moretz encountered a scout with the Sabres during a southern road trip last year.
"I was at a loss of words when I got the call that said I was invited to development camp. It took me pretty much the entire phone call to process what was actually happening," said Moretz in a release by the Bombers.
"I just want to soak it all in and learn a little bit about what it's like to play for the Buffalo Sabres. I want to play confident and fast and show everyone that I deserve to be there."
In two seasons with the Bombers, the 20-year-old Fairbanks, Alaska native scored 92 points, including 21 goals and 51 points in 45 games last season. Moretz signed a scholarship agreement with the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers last fall. As part of the Tigers’ roster, Moretz will be playing about an hour’s drive from the Sabres’ practice facility.
It’s not the first time a Bomber has received an NHL development camp invite. In recent years, former Bomber leading scorer Alex Smith received invitations to development camps with the Calgary Flames, while forward Andrew Johnston and goalie Carsen Chubak attended a similar camp with the Philadelphia Flyers. Jesse Mychan, who suited up with the Bombers for parts of the 2009-10 season and the 2010-11 season, joined the Vancouver Canucks for a development camp. Former Bomber forward Cole Wilson attended a Washington Capitals development camp in 2014, while Bomber captain and defenceman Michael Young attended camps with the San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets.
