(Submitted photo by Matthew Perkins/Jeff Vinnick, Vancouver Canucks)

By Ben Tompkins

This is what it feels like

Perkins gets first taste of NHL-caliber hockey at Canucks rookie camp

Jul 12, 2023 | 4:07 PM

Matthew Perkins, a former Humboldt Bronco and newly drafted Vancouver Canuck, recently got his first taste of the NHL experience.

Selected 119th overall in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL draft, Perkins didn’t have much time to let it sink in, as he was off to his new club’s rookie camp the very next day.

“I was at home with my mom and she heard it through the TV and then kind of started to freak out. I actually wasn’t paying too much attention to the TV at the time and actually didn’t even hear my name get called, but I realized what was happening pretty quick when she reacted that way,” he told northeastNOW.

“The rest of the day was pretty surreal, and it was just hanging out with lots of friends and family who came over to say congratulations, so that was pretty awesome. Then, I was on a flight to Vancouver the next morning.”

It was then a jam-packed week of on and off-ice training, as Perkins just put his head down and started to get to work.

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The rookie camp included medical/physical testing, as well as fitness testing, before multiple skates and workouts a day, visits with the Boys and Girls Club and Ronald McDonald House, scrimmages, and ending with the annual climb up Grouse Mountain.

Perkins explained getting straight to camp with no real off hours wasn’t the worst thing, as he just got to get right to it and enjoy it while thinking later.

“Until the camp was over, I honestly didn’t have a full actual day or so to kind of let everything sink in and comprehend what had actually happened in the last week. The week in Vancouver was unbelievable and it was basically right back to it, which was good,” he added.

“It was awesome to meet a bunch of new faces, and a couple of guys that you’ve played against before, guys that are friends with buddies that you’ve played with. It’s a pretty small world, and it’s pretty crazy to see all that stuff come together.”

(submitted photo by Matthew Perkins/Jeff Vinnick, Vancouver Canucks)

The 5-11, 156-pound centreman only played one season with the green in gold, back in the 2021/22 season. In 57 games, the Balgonie native posted 59 points, courtesy of 23 goals and 39 assists.

Perkins said that year was as important as any in his career and really helped him get to where he is today.

“My season in Humboldt was absolutely amazing, and I’d say it’s definitely one of the biggest and most important seasons that I’ve had for my development and taking steps in the right direction. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the coaching staff and what they’re doing up in Humboldt,” Perkins said.

“Obviously, I also got my scholarship to Duluth out of the SJHL and that was a childhood dream come true, it was something I’ve worked towards for a really long time, and that was absolutely amazing.”

Before the left-shot-19-year-old becomes a legitimate part of the Canucks organization, the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (NCAA Division 1) will be where he has to prove himself worthy.

Perkins skates with one of the Sedin brothers behind him (submitted photo by Matthew Perkins/Jeff Vinnick, Vancouver Canucks)

Perkins is set to head there this fall, after spending this past season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL).

He can stay at the University of Minnesota-Duluth for up to four years without Vancouver losing his rights.

“I’m going there just to try to learn as much as possible and with the end goal of winning a national championship… I’m just really looking forward to getting my freshman year started and basically going from there.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8