Stuart starts work on job hunt

WILMINGTON -- It's not easy being Mark Stuart's parents, back home in Minnesota. There are too many hockey teams to root for because their three sons are all in NHL training camps, with 21-year-old Mark making his case to win a job on defense for the Bruins.

Mike, a 25-year-old blue liner, is heading to the St. Louis Blues' camp, and Colin, a 23-year-old wing, is going to the Atlanta Thrashers' camp. Both were fifth-round draft picks -- Colin by Atlanta in 2001 and Mike by Nashville in 2000 -- and each spent four years at Colorado College before turning pro.

Mark followed a different path. He was taken by Boston with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2003 draft and elected to leave Colorado College after three seasons to compete for a job with the Bruins. His brothers' advice to him was simple.

''They just said, 'Do what you're good at and don't worry about doing too much and don't get too nervous,' " said Mark Stuart, whose father, Mike, is an orthopedic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. ''They're excited for me and they told me to be excited and enjoy every minute."

He isn't here just to get his feet wet. He has a legitimate shot at sticking in Boston.

Yesterday, during the first day of rookie training camp at the Ristuccia Center, Stuart participated in his first scrimmage and although he admitted to having butterflies, he still stood out.

''It was cool to put on a Bruins uniform for the first time," said Stuart. ''They're all good players out there and that makes it a little easier. The first session my legs were a little bit heavy. But I felt a lot better the second. You've got to get everything going, your hands, your legs, because everything is kind of shaky because of the nerves, but I felt better as I went along. I think it's very, very exciting. Obviously, my work is cut out for me. I'm going to have to work extremely hard and play extremely well to reach this level. I'm going to do my best, hopefully continue to play well, and hopefully there's a spot."

Stuart and Andrew Alberts appear to have a shot at making the roster, especially with restricted free agent Nick Boynton unsigned. Assistant general manager Jeff Gorton said he was impressed by both Stuart and Alberts yesterday.

''[Stuart] was really solid," said Gorton. ''He stood out. He looked like he'd been through it before. He's a good skater, he's strong, he moved the puck and kept it simple. Pretty much the way he's been in his career he played today. He didn't look like he was rattled at all. He looked like an old pro.

''Obviously, it's early, but when you look at him and Alberts out there, you're looking at two guys we'll be looking at closely to try to make our team. Alberts, obviously, has an advantage. He went down and played pro at the end of his BC career, and you can tell. He looks on the ice like he's played pro before. I thought him and Mark looked really good."

Though they may be competing for only one job, Stuart said he and Alberts have a terrific relationship.

''I've been hanging out with him since I got here," said Stuart. ''He's a great guy and he's obviously a great hockey player. I'm excited about the challenge. There are a lot of good guys competing for spots, so it's going to be very tough. I've got my work cut out for me; I like the challenge."

Stuart said he was conscious of not trying too hard to impress at his first pro camp.

''Coming in, you usually want to do all you can to prove to them that you're good enough, but you can't really do that," he said. ''You have to play the way you've played your whole life and do what you can and stay positive."

Stuart said it's easy to be positive when you know there's a legitimate chance to make the team.

''That's why I feel fortunate to be here," said Stuart. ''In the past they've done that, given guys a shot and given them an opportunity to show them they belong. I'm happy to have the opportunity, and, hopefully, I can take it."

That is why he elected to leave school a year early, although he said he plans to finish work toward his English degree over the next couple of summers.

''I thought that I really wanted to leave and to sign," he said. ''I was glad the whole lockout was [resolved] and they felt the same way [about having him turn pro]. I'm happy with the season I had last year. I had a lot of fun. I'm happy where I was at. I made some great friends but this is what I want to do and where I want to be playing, so I'm excited."

He believes the new rules, particularly having no red line, as is the case in college, will help players like him transition to the NHL.

''It's one less thing to think about," said Stuart. ''I would have had to deal with the two-line pass, but it's nice not having to change one thing. It'll be nice to be able to make that pass. If you see a guy streaking across the middle at the far blue line, you can hit that guy instead of having to make short passes. I think it will open the game up and hopefully get some more scoring chances."