Braeden Bowman isn't looking back and dwelling on the fact he was overlooked in this summer's NHL draft despite scoring 27 goals for the Guelph Storm last season.
Instead the 19-year-old winger is looking forward, using it as motivation, working at getting better and being part of a team that should be top four in the conference this season.
"I can't do anything about it now," Bowman said of the NHL draft. "Just keep moving forward, work with my teammates and have a really good season and don't worry about it."
Bowman scored four times Saturday as Guelph improved to 2-0 on the pre-season with a 7-3 win over the Mississauga IceDogs.
He worked on a lot of things over the summer, including doing a lot of power skating, on the ice several times a week.
"Hands. Skating. Working on my pace. Getting stronger," he listed off when asked about his off-season regimen. "I was on the ice four or five times a week. It was a big summer for me."
He knows it's a special group in the Storm dressing room and is excited about what's to come.
"A lot of the younger guys are one year older now and we're really happy with Scott (Walker) behind the bench. I think he's going to keep us all in check. We're going to be working hard every night and I'm really excited with this group," the Kitchener native said.
"I'm really excited about what the season holds."
Also scoring Saturday for Guelph were Matt Poitras with a pair and first round pick Jett Luchanko, who banked one in off a Mississauga skate in the third period.
Poitras, Danny Zhilkin and second round pick Hunter McKnight all had two assists.
Jacob Oster went all the way in net, making 19 saves as Guelph outshot Mississauga 42-22.
Oster and Dixon Grimes will be the team's two goaltenders this season as the roster has already been reduced to its near-final status.
There are 24 players still in the picture, including Russian Valentin Zhugin, who is set to arrive in camp on Tuesday, and Sasha Pastujov, who is a team-sanctioned late arrival as he does some with with the Anaheim Ducks, the team that drafted him.
The four players signed from this year's draft are all still in camp.
Next up for the Storm is a game against the Kitchener Rangers on Monday to be played in Ayr.
The regular season starts Sept. 30 at home against Hamilton.
