As far as learning experiences go, it doesn't get much better for Nicholas Jeffs.

Just finishing high school and with college on tap for next year, Jeffs is one of three Ottawa Fury U20 Academy players - and the only goalkeeper - getting the opportunity to practice with the Fury's pro squad during training camp.

"It's been unbelievable," said the 19-year-old Ottawan after Thursday's session. "I didn't really know what to expect going into it. The guys have all been great, the experience ha been great.

"I think it's a big step (for him) moving forward."

That's what the Fury wants out of the academy guys getting a shot. Not only does it help them with their own game by training with professionals, but it should load them up with added knowledge and wisdom to bring back to their home club and other young players.

"The big advantage for him (is) to play with men," said goaltending coach David Bellemare. "The speed of play is not the same "¦ so you have to be a lot quicker with your decisions. It's going to be a big plus for him."

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Jeffs is in good company in camp, surrounded by talented, experienced keepers in Marcel DeBellis and Devala Gorrick, as well as fellow young Ottawan Chad Bush. The four have gotten on well in camp, often chatting between themselves during breaks.

"I'm just trying to hear stories," Jeffs said of his conversations with the other keepers. "They're all pros. And that's my goal after university, to go pro.

Jeffs has made a strong first impression, said Bellemare.

"He's been doing very well," he said. "He adjusts quickly, he's making the right decision."

He'll sometimes make the safer play, the coach said, but "every day is growing and he's getting better."

ROSTER FILLING OUT

Expect the Fury to have three goalkeepers under contract in the next few days.

Gorrick, in camp as a trialist, has impressed the coaching staff and he'll likely sign a contract soon.

With DeBellis and Bush already signed, the Fury will have a good setup in goal to start the season if Gorrick does sign. While DeBellis is likely to be the game one starter, Gorrick will push hard for playing time. He said early in camp that his goal is to be the go-to guy, and that attitude can't do anything but help a young team.

"It's going very well, we're talking," head coach Marc Dos Santos said of Goricck on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the team is also finalizing contracts with two other players, whose signings will likely be announced in the next few days. Dos Santos wasn't naming names on Thursday, but said one of them is a Canadian who is currently playing in Finland, while the other played under Dos Santos with the Montreal Impact in 2009.

"They're going to bring experience, these two," Dos Santos said.

WALKING WOUNDED

Thursday's training session saw a few Fury players hobbling around wearing ice packs or getting tended to be the team's training staff.

Tommy Heinemann, Andres Fresenga and Richie Ryan were each nursing minor injuries. Dos Santos said Fresenga and Ryan got banged up at different points Thursday, while Heinemann is nursing a soft-tissue injury to his foot suffered Tuesday.

All of them just need an a day or two's rest and will be good to go, said Dos Santos.

"It's the type of situation for all of them that if we had a championship game tomorrow they would all play," the coach said. "At this point it's good to get everyone at 100 % for the Florida game."

FINAL TRYOUT

More cuts are expected following Saturday night's exhibition game at the Branchaud-Briere complex in Gatineau.

After the team bid farewell to trialists Sandro Rajkovic, Edmund Amadeo and Felipe Da Costa last weekend, only four trialists (plus Gorrick) are left in camp. They are Jean Philippe Etienne, Adrian LeRoy, Kevin Cossette and Kenny Caceros.

Saturday's game will be there last big shot to make a case for themselves, said Dos Santos. A number of the team's signed players, including Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, Ryan, Carl Haworth and Heinemann, won't play in the exhibition.

"(Saturday's match) is to have the last answers on the guys trying out," he said. "It's going to be more geared towards the guys trying out than for our actual squad."

SIDELINES

The players are ready for a trip south to open the season, especially after the mid-march snow dump Wednesday "¦ Haworth said the excitement has been building since last weekend's intersquad game. "Everyone was buzzing," he said "¦ Howarth was the latest player to use the oft-quoted buzz word from camp. "The theme has been the intensity," he said. It was then pointed out how often that word has been used so far. "It should be posted on the walls here," he said.

chris.hofley@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @chrishofley