Jack Campbell comes home to prepare for ‘prove-it’ year

Jack Campbell is entering a “prove-it” year with the Dallas Stars organization. So to prepare, he came home.

“I love being back home in Port Huron, it just helps my mind so much,” Campbell said. “It’s so relaxing. I’m never in a rush. I’m just kind of hanging out and enjoying the beautiful scenery, so it’s good.”

The 23-year-old goaltender said he’s spent more time in Port Huron this summer than he has since 2010, the summer before his first Ontario Hockey League season in Windsor. It’s not just about relaxing, either. He’s teamed back up with strength and conditioning coach Mike Pearson to prepare for the Stars training camp, which begins on Sept. 19.

“Every time I come out here, I’m getting stronger, faster, more flexible,” Campbell said. “I’ve been really working on my body this summer. More importantly, I come out and work with coach because it really helps my mind. I’ve never felt more at ease and confident at the same time. It’s been a great summer.”

Campbell, who was drafted No. 11 overall by the Stars in 2010, is entering his fourth full professional season, and doing so on a one-year, two-way contract he recently signed with the organization. After this year, he’ll be a restricted free agent.

The Stars made a move in the offseason for Antti Niemi, pairing him with Kari Lehtonen to give them a veteran duo of goalies at the NHL level. That likely means the plan for Campbell is to remain at the American Hockey League level this season as the No. 1 for the Texas Stars. He’s not approaching it that way, however.

“I’ve never had this work ethic before,” Campbell said. “I’ve always been a hard worker, and known for that, but this summer it’s a whole ‘nother level, and a lot of that is because I want to prove that I can beat one of them out, or both of them. I have a lot of work to do, and right now I’m just focused on myself, but I feel really good with where I’m at.

“It’s more of a competition. I’m competing with them, but at the same time learning from them. I’m always trying to absorb that. I’m excited to get to camp and kind of see what it’s all about.”

Campbell has had his ups and downs at the AHL level, and most of the inconsistency can be linked to injury. The 2013-14 season was a brilliant one for him, and even included his lone regular-season NHL game. He had a 1.49 goals-against average and .942 save percentage for Texas, but that year was derailed by an injury and he played just 16 games.

He’s doing all he can to avoid that going forward.

“That’s what (Pearson) preaches, is muscular balance,” Campbell said. “If I’m strong in all areas and flexible, then I’m not going to have injuries, at least nothing out of this world. Knock on wood.

“I feel really confident as far as the whole injury thing goes. My body feels good and I’m just ready to go.”

This past season, Campbell was sent to the ECHL but made the most of it with a dominant seven-game stretch. When he came back to the AHL level, he won 11 of his last 14 games.

Still, because of where he was drafted and the bumps in the road, Campbell said that he “absolutely” believes that people are doubting him.

“I get that all the time,” he said. “I’ve gotten that since I was picked where I was. It’s part of the game, and it’s part of why I come out here and work so hard, because I just want to prove to everybody what I can do. I’m confident in my abilities, but more important, I’m just ready to show that I can win at all levels.”

One level Campbell has consistently won on is the international one, and it was his outstanding performances at the 18-and-under World Championships and the World Junior Championships that helped vault him to 11th overall.

This past spring, he was able to get another taste of that, joining the United States at the World Championships, where he won a bronze medal.

“I had a really good second half in Austin, and that was probably the reason why I was able to go to the USA,” he said. “Going there, it was just awesome. I worked with Connor Hellebuyck, the other goalie, he’s actually a Michigan kid, too. We’ve been skating a bit and I’m learning from him.

“It was a good experience and I learned a lot, so it was an awesome trip.”

Campbell has some momentum, and he needs it as he enters camp looking to give Dallas a reason to keep him at the NHL level. While not everything is in his control, he plans to succeed with everything that is.

“This is a great year coming up for me as far as an opportunity goes,” he said. “Whether I’m in Dallas or Austin, I just want to play a lot of games. I know if I take care of business, I’ll be playing a lot of games, and it will be good to prove that I can do that.”

Contact Paul Costanzo at (810) 989-6251 or pcostanzo@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulCostanzo.