By Jeff D'Andrea

Warkentine learning lots for NHLers at Mentorship Camp

Aug 10, 2011 | 7:39 AM

It’s not every day a 15-year-old can share the ice and pick the minds of former and current NHL players.

But last week, Miles Warkentine had that honour as he was selected to be with one of the 42 best bantam-aged players in the country to train with at the first annual All-State All-Canadian Mentorship Camp Aug. 2 to 6 in Mississauga, ON.

Warkentine talked hockey, nutrition and psychology with 21-year NHL veteran Gary Roberts and current NHLers Jason Spezza and Luke Schenn.

“It was a real great experience there, learning from Gary Roberts and all those NHLers and some of the top nutrition and psychological people in the world, it was pretty awesome,” said Warkentine.

“It was a pretty special experience, for sure, something that I will remember for a long time.”

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The biggest thing Warkentine will take away from the camp will be the importance of nutrition and sticking to an organic and healthy diet.

“You don’t really think it’s that important until you hear everybody talking about it … Roberts works with (NHLers Steven) Stamkos and (Jeff) Skinner so it shows that it really works for them,” said Warkentine.

“Hopefully you can get to the level they’re at and someday make it to a higher level.”

Warkentine said that Roberts’ diets were very specific and that salads didn’t have traditional, bottled dressing. Dishes like carrot salad with orange juice as dressing, or cucumber salads were served instead. In the four days he was there eating the new diet, Warkentine said he could already feel a difference.

“Just from eating the food there, I felt like I had more energy and felt stronger after doing a workout and eating that kind of stuff,” said Warkentine. “It helped a lot.”

The camp came at a good time as Warkentine got onto the ice before the Aug. 20-21 fall camp with the Prince Albert Mintos , the Midget AAA club he will play his first year for after winning a Bantam AA Provincial Championship with the Prince Albert Venice House Pirates.

Shortly after, Warkentine will be at the Moose Jaw Warriors training camp Aug. 24-27 as he was drafted in the first round by the Warriors in this year’s WHL Bantam Draft.

“I’m very excited and ready for those” said Warkentine. “I’m moving up to a higher level now, so I’m hoping to go into Moose Jaw and make a good first impression there, hopefully I can be there in a few years.

“Then with the Mintos, hopefully we can have a good year and repeat, maybe, as provincial championships. It will be a lot of fun.”

jdandrea@rawlco.com