Haden Kruse is one of 20 Minnesota Hockey players his age to get invited to the CCM High Performance National Camp in Amherst, New York.
This camp is filled with the top players born in the year 2003 around the country.
"It's going to be a really cool experience and I get a chance to prove what I can do in front of more people," Kruse said. "I'm hoping to get noticed. I want to play hockey after high school and this is a great opportunity to get my name out there."
The tryout process for CCM High Performance leaves no room for error. In mid April, Kruse played with his district team in the High Performance Festival. After advancing through the festival, he played in the regional camp in St. Cloud where the best players in Minnesota competed for one of the 20 spots on the national camp team.
"It was a really cool feeling when I found out I get to go to New York," Kruse said. "I'm excited to take advantage of the whole camp and what opportunities can come of it."
ADVERTISEMENT
Kruse is one of two area players in the last decade to get this far in the tryout process. The other was his brother Mason.
"He told me about the level of play and all of the important people that will be there," Kruse said. "It's nice to know a little bit of what I'm walking into."
Brainerd High School boys hockey head coach Dave Aus is impressed with Kruse's level of play at such a young age.
"His hockey sense is what separates him from the rest of the kids his age." Aus said. "He has so much natural talent, but I know that he works very hard as well. I'm excited for him to get to the high school level."
Kruse is looking forward to playing his first year of high school hockey this season, but not after he gets the chancer to advance in the High Performance system one more time. Kruse has the chance to get picked to play for the team USA 15-U team in Europe later this summer. Nobody from Brainerd has ever made it that far in the High Performance circuit.
While he's done himself many favors on the ice, Kruse attributes his early success to the people around him.
"I think my family and my teammates are really what motivate me," Kruse said. "In the winters, I skate at Loren Thompson Park with my friends and I think if I didn't have these people around me I wouldn't be going to New York."
