New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon hosted his 7th annual Brenden Dillon Five (BD5) Hockey Camp this past week.
The camp, held in partnership with Impact Hockey Development, ran from July 14 to July 17 and focused on developing young defensemen between the ages of 11 and 13.
According to the program’s website, “This program enables defensemen to target the imperative skills of the game, specific to playing defense. Too often, D cannot work on the parts of their game that they need to."
Combining dryland and on-ice training, the camp helps attendees improve skills like backward stride, pivots and transitions, and lateral mobility.
Specialized drills include:
- Gap control
- Angling
- Defending 1-on-1
- Defending 2-on-1
- Breakout pass variations
- Point shots
- Battle drills
While the week-long program focuses on skill development, it also serves a larger purpose. All proceeds benefit Dillon’s charity of choice: HEROS Hockey. HEROS (Hockey Education Reaching Out Society) is a volunteer-driven charity that empowers marginalized youth through hockey, offering free programs to students from grade four through post-secondary.
The camp was held in Dillon’s hometown of British Columbia, Canada, where he first launched the initiative in the 2017–18 season while playing for the San Jose Sharks. Since then, he has continued the tradition, no matter which team he played for.
Following his time in San Jose, Dillon played with the Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets before signing with the New Jersey Devils for the 2024–25 season.
Last season, the 6-foot-4, 34-year-old appeared in 82 games, recording 16 points (2 goals, 14 assists).
He is currently in year two of a three-year, $12 million contract, carrying a $4 million cap hit. He is expected to remain with the Devils through the 2026–27 season.
On and off the ice, Brenden Dillon continues to make a positive impact, and the BD5 Camp is a clear testament to his commitment to developing the next generation of defenders.
Photo Credit: © John Jones-Imagn Images