The Toronto Maple Leafs prospects didn't know what they were getting themselves into when they rolled into Exhibition Place [https://x.com/MapleLeafs/status/1941197349856084321] on Friday morning. Maple Leafs assistant GM Hayley Wickenheiser revealed a day earlier [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/i-ll-let-you-know-if-it-works-can-inviting-a-horse-to-development-camp-help-maple-leafs-prospects-overcome-pressure] that the organization was bringing Toronto's players to meet world-class horse trainer Jeff Davis and a horse, brought in from Oklahoma. "Last night my dad texted me, he was like, 'What's this horse about?' And I responded with like a question mark as I no idea," Maple Leafs 2022 third-round pick Nick Moldenhauer said on Friday afternoon. Wickenheiser and the Maple Leafs hoped the players would learn more about managing their emotions and handling pressure in challenging situations. "We all think it's a good idea, but I'll let you know tomorrow if it works or not," she smiled [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvIi98-1mpg&pp=ygULbWFwbGUgbGVhZnM%3D]. It's a unique scenario for anyone, let alone hockey players who are spending a few days in Toronto at a development camp. However, it appears all of the players who spoke on Friday enjoyed the experience. "We first walked in and it smelled horrible. So we were like, 'Okay, what are we in for here?'" Moldenhauer laughed. "We kind of just gathered around, he explained what he was going to do, and just took notes really of what we were learning and how he approached teaching that horse how to become one that he'll be able to ride in a couple in a week. I think he said eight days it usually takes them. So, that was cool to see, but yeah, it was definitely a cool experience." It was important, too, for the prospects to experience something different during the week [https://www.instagram.com/mapleleafs/reel/DLsiIe6ijRA/?hl=en], rather than running through the usual cooking classes, seminars, and skating that occur during development camp. "Obviously, you're kind of focusing on hockey the whole year, and then you come to development camp, we were at the Raptors training facility, shooting some hoops there. That was fun," said Maple Leafs 2023 fifth-round pick Hudson Malinoski. "Then we go see this horse and see what they do. It's kind of just nice to not always be focused on hockey, and get your mind away from the game." 'I'll Let You Know If It Works': Can Inviting A Horse To Development Camp Help Maple Leafs Prospects Overcome Pressure? [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/9031d417-0073-4292-9bb9-f6bc5696ef40.webp] 'I'll Let You Know If It Works': Can Inviting A Horse To Development Camp Help Maple Leafs Prospects Overcome Pressure? There's been a lot of talk lately about how much pressure there is playing in a passionate hockey market like Toronto. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/i-ll-let-you-know-if-it-works-can-inviting-a-horse-to-development-camp-help-maple-leafs-prospects-overcome-pressure] Moldenhauer, who's participating in his third development camp with the Maple Leafs, agrees. "It's always cool to experience something new at dev camp and figure out a new way to learn what you're gonna be able to use in the real world," he said. "Just taking different approaches. I don't think you can ever have too many opinions, but just pick the ones you like and take the most information out of the stuff you like as well. But yeah, definitely a curveball, but I think all the guys liked it." The most fascinating part of the entire experience, at least to Toronto's 2024 seventh-round pick Matt Lahey [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-prospects-easton-cowan-and-ben-danford-highlight-2025-development-camp-roster], was when Davis was putting the saddle on the horse for the first time. "Once he got around ten feet away from him, the horse went absolutely ballistic," he said. "It's pretty weird seeing a horse jump up and down, the amount of force it can really throw on you." Fight Breaks Out at Maple Leafs Development Camp Between Matthew Hlacar and Rhett Parsons [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/463616ab-9273-44cd-ac73-04c558202d95.webp] Fight Breaks Out at Maple Leafs Development Camp Between Matthew Hlacar and Rhett Parsons We have a fight on day one of Toronto Maple Leafs development camp. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/fight-breaks-out-at-maple-leafs-development-camp-between-matthew-hlacar-and-rhett-parsons] The entire point of the exercise was to learn how to handle pressure and gain trust from the young horse, which, in the Maple Leafs prospects' case, would be a coach. "The horse trainer taught us a lot of things. I thought critical thinking in that situation, to be able to thrive under pressure, and I mean, just sticking to your process. He had a process that he goes through with every horse and kind of feels it out, and I think that could translate really well to hockey," Lahey said. "It was pretty cool. Like, not your average experience at dev camp, but I thought it was a different way to approach kind of that learning about leadership. Just how he taught the horse just little commands like staying still," added Moldenhauer. "I think it's like, honestly, a little crazy to say that you could apply it into a dressing room, but I think you could. Just the way you approach it, like you first want to gain respect from the horse and then build that trust with them. And that's something you can try and do with your teammates that's definitely going to be beneficial in the long run. "So, definitely a cool experience, but a lot to learn as well." (Left photo of horse: certifiedclinician.com, right photo of Moldenhauer: Nick Barden / THN)
