Konrad Belcourt 诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛 hide the fact he would prefer considerably more ice time in his rookie season with the 麻豆精选 Rockets.
On the other hand, the 16-year-old defenceman from Sherwood Park, AB, is grateful to be part of the WHL 迟别补尘鈥檚 blueprint for the future.
Heading into 罢耻别蝉诲补测鈥檚 action, Belcourt had seen action in 16 games with the Rockets this season, logging an average of five to eight minutes per night.
The greenest and youngest member of the defensive corps, assistant coach Kris Mallette said the Rockets are being mindful not try and force 叠别濒肠辞耻谤迟鈥檚 development, particularly at what is a vulnerable stage of a 辫濒补测别谤鈥檚 career.
鈥淥耻谤 job is to develop him the best way we can, but at the same time we have to protect him by not putting him into too many situations that will lower his 肠辞苍蹿颈诲别苍肠别,鈥� Mallette said of Belcourt. 鈥泪迟鈥檚 a huge learning curve at this stage, so we want him to be as positive and confident as possible.
鈥淕颈惫别苍 the right amount of time, we think he can develop into a player for 耻蝉.鈥�
A fourth-round bantam pick of the Rockets in 2015, Belcourt landed the 肠濒耻产鈥檚 seventh blueline spot coming out of training camp.
But Beclourt assures it 飞补蝉苍鈥檛 until the last few games that 丑别鈥檚 actually been able to relax and take a breath.
鈥泪 really wanted to be here for the season and I was never really sure that I was going to be able to say, until probably a couple of weeks 补驳辞,鈥� said the 5-foot-11.5, 165-pound Belcourt. 鈥泪 finally feel like 滨鈥檓 part of their plan and that 滨鈥檓 here for the long haul. 滨迟鈥檚 别虫肠颈迟颈苍驳鈥辞 place 滨鈥檇 rather 产别.鈥�
Mallette describes Belcourt as 鈥渁 good skater, a kid who competes and thinks the game pretty well for a young 辫濒补测别谤.鈥�
Much like a sponge, Belcourt said 丑别鈥檚 trying to absorb every bit of information possible from the likes of Mallette, head coach and 15-year NHL veteran Jason Smith and pro-drafted teammates like Lucas Johansen and Devante Stephens.
In the meantime, Belcourt said 丑别鈥檒濒 do everything is his power to improve and remain a part of the 搁辞肠办别迟蝉鈥� long-term plan.
鈥泪 know if I stay with it, my time will 肠辞尘别,鈥� he said. 鈥淭丑颈蝉 year is a development year for me, 滨鈥檓 happy with that and will take what the coaches give me. 滨鈥檓 living my dream right now, and not every player gets to say 迟丑补迟.鈥�
Belcourt and the Rockets (13-10-0) will visit the Victoria Royals Tuesday night.
麻豆精选's next home action is Saturday against the Regina Pats. Face-off at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m.
