Marcus Antonelli – Sports Editor
NORTH ANDOVER, Ma. – These past few summers, Zach Bookman has taken significant steps into the realm of NHL Hockey.
The Syracuse, New York native has risen to be a top defenseman at Merrimack, concluding his sophomore year as one of Hockey East’s leading blue line scorers with 28 points in 33 games.
Earlier this summer, Bookman was able to present more of that elite skill with the Los Angeles Kings at their 2024 Development Camp.
“It’s a great opportunity to meet with an organization that has an interest, …showcase your talent and what you bring to the table,” Bookman told the Beacon, “But it’s a good week to meet people that you’ve talked to on the phone and form relationships because hopefully down the road, I’ll play for one of those organizations.”
Even though he’s a college free agent, Bookman has an advantage in terms of getting NHL looks. Hockey East is a conference that consistently draws the attention of scouts, resulting in players like Zach receiving interest from pro teams and invitations to these camps.
“I think every night, there’s eyes watching. So it’s a great opportunity that I get to play in that league…and there’s so much talent. It’s pretty cool to play against those first-round picks and showcase what I have against those guys.”
Entering his junior year, Bookman has attended two NHL development camps. Alongside the Kings, he participated in the New York Rangers’ camp the summer prior, giving him a well rounded perspective on the NHL experience.
Despite the lack of sightseeing in Los Angeles, Bookman was still enamored with the facilities the Kings had to offer, which for him, is something that still stands out.
“We didn’t really do a whole lot of exploring LA, which was kind of a bummer,” said Bookman, “but it was still really cool. Just to see the facilities and the equipment they have, it was a really nice setup…It was tailored to development and I liked that. I learned a lot of key defensive tactics and stuff off the ice that I think will help continue to grow my game.”
What will also help grow his game is what he takes in from others. One particular seminar that resonated with Zach was led by Jarret Stoll, a two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Kings and now a member of the teams’ Player Development Staff.
“Hearing him, talk about all the different types of leadership from his cup teams and what it took…the different roles that every player has,…When you hear advice from those guys who won cups and have had success, their words mean a lot and they’re definitely good guys to listen to.”
Bookman continues to put his head down and push himself. He’s spent most of the offseason working on his craft, always seeking improvement to ensure more opportunities come his way.
“The stronger I get, the more plays I’ll be able to make, the more I’ll be able to trust my body. …I’m skating a lot so I’m never really satisfied with anything like that. I’m always trying to work on something, with either my hands or shot, like every summer but this summer I’m trying to push even harder to see more results.”
Without a doubt, he’s seeing results. Being invited to these camps is a huge accomplishment for any hockey player. While it gives him a glimpse of the NHL experience, Zach wants more. With his third college season looming around, that pro experience may come sooner than later.
“It definitely feels good to get recognized. But it also leaves a lot of room to keep going, a little bit of a taste of what it could be… I feel like I had a really good camp with LA…so I think I can build off of that. I feel really confident going into my junior year and I’m excited to show what I can do.”
Stay tuned this offseason! For more coverage on Merrimack Men’s Hockey follow Marcus (@antonelli7jr) on Twitter (X) for all things Warriors Hockey. Don’t forget to check out the Beacon Newspaper website for articles on games, players, and more!
