(Centre Shane Prince of the Ottawa 67’s was a second-round choice by the Senators in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The native of Spencerport, N.Y., is attending his first rookie camp and tournament with the team and will share some of his experiences in a series of blog posts for ottawasenators.com).

I’m at my first NHL camp of any kind and I think it’s pretty cool. It’s something I’ve worked hard for my whole life. To be able to be here and compete with guys that are at the same level is pretty awesome.

It definitely makes me feel more comfortable that I’m in the same city where I play junior hockey and I know my surroundings a bit. I think it’s a great opportunity for me to get drafted by the team that’s in the same city where they play junior hockey.

At this camp, I’m just going to go out and do my best. I’m here to make the team and I’m going to do the best that I can do. I’m here for nothing else but that and I’m going to give it everything I have this weekend. We’ve got a great bunch of guys here and I got to know a lot of them at development camp. So it’s definitely pretty comfortable in that regard. I know pretty much everybody here, which is great.

The highlight of my summer was attending USA Hockey’s world junior team camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., in August. It went really well and I think I did a really good job there. They made some cuts part way through the camp and I got past that, but I still have to have a great start to the season. Hopefully, if I get the opportunity to play at the world juniors, I’ll do well. Any time you get to represent your country, it’s going to be a great opportunity. You don’t get that chance a lot, so it would be a great experience if it happens.

I’ve got quite a few people coming to watch me at the rookie tournament in Oshawa. There should be a decent crowd from back home. Immediate family, uncles, cousins … I’ve got a big hockey family. They all love it and really support me and they’re all going to be there to cheer me on.