EXETER – With National Hockey League training camp around the corner, Montreal

Canadiens prospect Michael McCarron spent some time honing his skating skills in Exeter last week when he trained with Power Blades Skating School coach Kathy McLlwain.

Speaking with the Times-Advance, McCarron says he was looking to work on his skating this summer. His agent, Newport Sports and former London Knights teammate Bo Horvat recommended he work out with McLlwain.

“What we (the group that skates with McLlwain) do with her is edgework, tight turns, holding your stride longer and getting more powerful with your legs. She has a good track record so that’s why I came to her,” McCarron said of the training and McLlwain who has been working with hockey players and skaters for 26 years.

“I will always start with the basic fundamentals of skating,” said McLlwain about training hockey players. With the players she breaks down the bio-mechanics of each of their skills and once the player understands and trusts their edges, then McLlwain adds speed to their training.

“Every player has a story, a goal and their own journey. I want to make a difference for them on and off the ice,” McLlwain said. “Every player is different and I try build a relationship and create a positive learning environment so we can reach their goals together,” McLlwain added. The longtime trainer has coachs the likes of Horvat (Vancouver Canucks), Ryan O’Reilly (St. Louis Blues) and others.

This offseason was the first McCarron spent training with McLlwain and he says he feels like he’s improved already. McLlwain had nothing but praise for McCarron’s work ethic and drive when asked about training the Canadiens prospect.

Asked about his offseason, the Grosse Point, MI. native says it’s been long but good. McCarron has had time to take a couple of trips with family and his girlfriend Olivia, who he lives with in London.

The Canadiens drafted McCarron 25th overall in 2013 after he’d played with the U.S. National Development Team and U.S. National U18 team in the 2012-13 hockey season. From there, McCarron joined the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights in 2013-14 and played with the club until he was traded to the 2015 Memorial Cup champion Oshawa Generals. He had 42 goals and 102 points in 122 OHL games.

Upon turning pro, the 6’6” forward joined Montreal’s American Hockey League affiliate in St. John’s (IceCaps) in 2015-16. That same year he made his NHL debut with Montreal and appeared in 20 games, registering one goal and one assist. McCarron has remained within the Montreal farm system and since 2015 has played 144 AHL with St. John’s and Laval (Rocket). To date McCarron has played 69 NHL games – all with Montreal – and has eight points.

Last season McCarron and the Laval Rocket (AHL) missed the playoffs which made for a longer offseason. “It’s tough when you don’t make the playoffs…it makes you want to get better and once again that’s why I gave Kathy a call at the beginning of the summer and I think it’s helped,” said McCarron referencing his improved skating and his team (Laval Rocket) missing the playoffs last season.

McCarron says he picked London as his summer home because he trains with Total Package Hockey (TPH) and there is “great hockey knowledge all around London.” TPH is a hockey development group based out of London. McCarron says the training with TPH really prepares him for hockey season.

Entering his fourth pro season, McCarron is hoping to make the big club and stick with the Montreal Canadiens. McCarron signed a one year, two-way contract with the Canadiens on Sept. 10. He and the rest of the Canadiens’ brass will report to training camp on Thurs., Sept. 13.

“I feel like I have the skill to play in the NHL. My conditioning and footwork is what’s going to keep me there,” he said about his goals to remain with Montreal this year.

McCarron says he hasn’t had a lot of contact with the Canadiens but he’s excited about the addition of Max Domi, who he played two seasons with in London. He also said he’s excited about the new coaches who’ve joined the club (Dominique Ducharme, Luke Richardson and Joël Bouchard) and he expects they will bring a new mindset to the team.

Asked about his experience playing professional hockey McCarron said it’s hard, the game keeps getting faster and players are not guaranteed spots with their respective clubs. “It’s fun and I want to play in the NHL full time,” he said.

“I want to play in the NHL all season long. I want to make the team and make a name for myself even though it’s already out there. I want to be better than I have been in the past and see where it takes me.”