The Bloomington Prairie Thunder opened training camp on Tuesday at the Pepsi Ice Center. One skater is wrapping up his playing days and transitioning into a new career.

Jarrod Skalde and Derek Booth grew up together playing Midget Hockey in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Prairie Thunder player coach Jarrod Skalde said, "Derek always had the big hard shot. We never let him shoot on goalies when we were younger. We always thought he had the hardest shot in the world. Come to think about it he was the same size in midgets that he is now so that's why it was an unfair advantage for us little guys."

Now the two are back on the same team again. This time as coaches...
Skalde is getting his first experience on the Bench as a player–assistant.

Skalde said, "As a player as you get older you knew there was more to coaching than standing behind a bench or running a practice."

Prairie Thunder coach Derek Booth said, "He picks my brain on the offensive forecheck or the D zone coverage. Just the little things how to communicate with the players as a coach because to go from a veteran player to a coach. It's a different feel in that change room."

Skalde said, "It's a fine line when I step on the ice I'm a player, I'm going to be myself as a leader as I have in the past and I'm not wearing two hats on the ice I'm a player."

Skalde's played in over 100 games in the NHL with 8 different teams over his 20 years in professional Hockey. And will draw his coaching style from the coaches he's played for.

Skalde said, "Darryl Sutter in San Jose, of course people in this area know him with the Chicago Blackhawks back in the early 90's. Darryl's approach a no nonsense type approach. He was fair but he was hard and I think as an ex–player he brought that player's mentality to his coaching."