A Regimen for Would-Be Kings

Dave Steckel, a college sophomore, had to decide where to spend the past two weeks.

Los Angeles or Milwaukee?

Beaches or farms?

Sunshine or seemingly daily rainfall?

Tough choice? Maybe for a die-hard Cheesehead.

But when the Kings issued an invitation to the 19-year-old Wisconsin native, one of their two first-round draft picks this year, the talented 6-foot-5 center happily obliged.

“I’m enjoying the scenery,” he said. “Every day’s a perfect day.”

Steckel and 41 other prospects have been skating, lifting weights, and working on their conditioning in voluntary summer development camps at HealthSouth Training Center in El Segundo. The workouts concluded Friday with an intrasquad scrimmage and included Kings’ recent draft selections, young free agents and collegians.

Like most in camp, Steckel will not be on the Kings’ 2001-2002 opening-day roster. The 30th overall choice in June’s draft has not signed a professional contract and will begin his second season at Ohio State in a few months.

The Kings’ other first-round selection, right wing Jens Karlsson, 18, also participated. He will play next season in the Swedish Elite league.

“It’s a good way to integrate our young players into our system,” Coach Andy Murray said, “and to show them what it’s like to be an L.A. King.”

Adam Mair already knows.

Until this spring, the Hamilton, Ontario, native had spent his entire junior and professional career in Canada, but on March 13, Mair, a forward with the Toronto Maple Leafs, was dealt to the Kings for defenseman Aki Berg.

During the Kings’ late-season turnaround, Mair played in 10 games but did not see action in the playoffs. After the Game 7 loss to Colorado in the second round, he went home for two weeks, then headed back to work.

Mair arrived in Los Angeles in mid-June for daily sessions with 2000 third-round choice Yannick Lehoux, free-agent signee Mike Pudlick, and 1999 fourth-round selection Noah Clarke. Lehoux, Pudlick and Clarke are all top prospects but have not played an NHL game.

Dave Good, assistant speed, strength, and conditioning coach, led the small group. He designed specific programs for each player and monitored their progress.

In early July, the remaining prospects joined the quartet at the second development camp.

For the majority of players, the training provided valuable one-on-one instruction and insight into Good’s system.

For Mair, who has spent most of his career in the minor leagues, it was another way to try to establish himself as an NHL regular.

“It’s been pretty intense,” said Mair, who sat on the trainer’s table after a recent practice with ice packs on both knees and stitches in his left cheek, thanks to a high stick during practice. “I’m looking to relax a little bit.”

So is Steckel.

But instead of hanging around Hollywood, Steckel flew home Friday night. He will be off the ice for a few weeks before reporting to the U.S. World Junior Championships training camp in Lake Placid, N.Y.

In September, he returns to college. To inferior competition. To classes.

And to Midwest winters.