SMU forward invited to NHL prospect camp

Before he hit the ice for his fourth season with Saint Mary’s University’s men’s hockey team,  Reid Valade got his second taste of NHL experience.

The 24-year-old winger was invited by the Utah Mammoth to attend their development camp in Sandy, Utah and competed in their rookie showcase in San Jose, Calif. — a tournament designed to give players with no NHL experience a chance to demonstrate their skills. 

Valade went to the Ottawa Senators rookie camp in 2022. This time around, his expectations were raised. 

“My first camp I was a deer in headlights and taking everything for what it was, but this one was cool because I knew what to expect and I went in a bit older, a little bit more mature.”

Valade says being around different players and seeing how they operated was a good learning experience.

“It’ll be a huge confidence boost,” says Valade. “Just going there, playing with some really great players and taking what I learned from that and coming back [to SMU].”

In his first two seasons with SMU, Valade put up 21 and 23 points, respectively. In his 2025-26 season, he scored 27 goals and 48 points in 30 games, and was named a U Sports second team All-Canadian. 

In the past 30 years, only one other player has had a higher goal-scoring season in Atlantic University Sport.

This year, Valade has continued his success by registering two goals and three points in SMU’s first four games.

Tyler Naugler, the team’s head coach for the last seven seasons, is confident in Valade’s future in the sport. 

“Reid will get a [professional] contract at the end of this year. It’s bold for me to say that, but I’m very confident given the type of player he is,” says Naugler. “The skating and the ability to score goals, [he’s] really got two things you can’t teach.” 

Katherine Brien, AUS president and CEO, said in an email to the Dalhousie Gazette that Valade’s experience displays and Naugler opportunities like this show how university hockey can play an important role in a player’s development pathway.

“It’s encouraging to see AUS student-athletes gaining recognition at the professional level while continuing to pursue both their athletic and academic goals,” said Brien. 

The Mammoth camp provided a glimpse of the NHL experience and professional lifestyle for Valade. A private jet was used to fly the prospects from Utah to San Jose, and a wide selection of food was always available.

“People make jokes that [the NHL] is called the ‘Never Hungry League,’ and it’s true,” says Valade. “We had steak dinner right after practice and then 20 minutes later you’re on a private jet with more steak dinners.”

SMU has high aspirations this season after their overtime loss in the 2026 national men’s hockey championship final last year to the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Patriotes.

“Last year’s nationals opened the eyes of a lot more people in this city as to how good this league really can be,” says Valade. “Just come cheer loud, and hopefully we’ll put on a good show.”

The Huskies took down the Tigers on Oct. 14, with Valade registering an assist on the game-winning goal. The Tigers will have a chance at revenge on home ice against Valade and the Huskies on Nov. 14.