When junior defenseman Sam Piazza got the invitation to Chicago Blackhawks prospect camp last week, it was an exciting time for the native of Darien, Illinois. For Piazza, his first NHL development camp -- which is designed to give rookies, prospects and invitees the experience of an NHL training camp -- would be in the jersey of the team he grew up watching.
Piazza's invite comes off a solid sophomore season in which the mobile defenseman played his best in the biggest games of the year. With Michigan down to five healthy defensemen heading into the Great Lakes Invitational, Piazza played a starring role, notching a goal and two assists in wins against Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech to help the Wolverines earn their 17th GLI title.