Development camps provide NHL teams an opportunity to give prospect players – many of whom are 
teenagers – a lesson in the sport at its highest level. It’s also the perfect time to turn up the heat in the kitchen, according to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
As has been the case in years past, the players took cooking classes during the recent development camp at Nationwide Arena, where Delaware North Sportservice operates food, beverage and retail services.
“We covered some basic kitchen safety tips before they went in the kitchen,” said Chef de Cuisine John DiGiovanni. “They were split up into three groups. Chef Frank Orcena taught a pasta class; Chef Ed Kowalski taught some bulk-cooking techniques; and I covered breakfast.
“And for fun, we created the Columbus Blue Jackets egg challenge, where a pan was fused to a hockey stick and you flipped an egg,” he added.
PHOTO CAPTION: Although the recent effort was about helping the players with practical cooking techniques, there was also a matter of flipping an egg…with a hockey stick fused to a pan…as demonstrated by Chef de Cuisine John DiGiovanni.