By Andrew Chong /

Colorado Avalanche prospect Stefan Elliot just turned 19-years-old and is perhaps entering his most critical development period as a hockey player.

The Vancouver-native was drafted in the second round (49th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft and now competes as a top Western Hockey League defenceman with the Saskatoon Blades (his third season with the team).

Elliot was the WHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year in the 2008/09 season and has impressive stats through 59 games: 21 goals, 54 points, and a plus-34 rating (top 10 in the league).

With his minor hockey days not too far in the rearview mirror, and with the pro game in sights, the former Hockey Now B.C. Player of the Year represents an elite player in the midst of his transition from a player who pays to play, to a player who is paid to play.

Hockey Now sits down with Elliot to talk hockey schools, training, and where the development process goes from here.

1) What was your hockey school experience growing up?
Growing up I went to a few hockey camps. North Shore Winter Club (in North Vancouver), the club I belonged too, had a couple in the summers that were convenient and good.

2) How did hockey schools contribute to your development?
Hockey schools gave me a means of ice time during the summer and were a good way to get in a lot of hockey before the upcoming season started. They were a good way to hone my skills, improve, and prepare for the season.

3) Besides hockey schools, what other kinds of things helped your development?
Things like skills sessions really helped my development. It gave me a chance to really work on my skills with and without the puck and just little things that I thought needed improving in my game like stickhandling and shooting. Working on my conditioning and going to the gym to get stronger really helped my development, as well.

4) As someone who has recently made the step from Minor Hockey to the next levels of hockey, you are probably in the know of what’s out there—what kind of development options are out there for minor hockey players who want to get better?
I’d say hockey schools are a good means of development. Going to hockey schools would also expose you to different coaches and different levels of experience
I think that it is also important that you have fun and are enjoying yourself when you’re participating in hockey schools.

5) What should parents look for when deciding to put money down on a training session or hockey school?
When putting down money on a hockey school I think that parents should check for the competition. If there is good competition at the camp, then chances are, the kids will be getting the most out of the camp. Another thing to look for is the staff and what kind of people will be running things and giving instruction.

6) As an NHL Draft pick playing at a high-level in the WHL, explain to people what training and coaching you go through to continue to develop your game?
I’m on the ice more or less every day and I try to work on something every day. I also analyze pervious game videos to see things that things could have been done differently and to learn from my mistakes.

7) What do the Avalanche expect from you in your development?
The biggest thing the Avalanche would like me to do is to fill out my frame more and to put on some strength and muscle mass. To do this, I need to eat right and go to the gym and work out appropriately.