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jQuery(function(){ jQuery('#inbody-userquote-10c062').corner('6px '); });--Cam Fowler-Getting nastier in the defensive zone,- he said. -It's something I've worked on throughout my career. It's something that people have questioned, but I've proven, especially in the World (Under-18) Championship, that I can be a shut-down defenseman if I need to and help out in the offensive zone. I'm just trying d3 football to get better in the defensive zone every day and at the same time contribute in the offensive end.-He starred at that tournament as the U.S. team won gold. Fowler had 7 assists, 8 points and a plus-8 rating, and was named the tournament's best defenseman. He carried that high level of play into the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in August in Lake Placid, N.Y., where he had 2 goals and an a d3 football ssist in four exhibition games against Russia. -He was sound defensively, moved the puck when he should have,- U.S. coach Dean Blais told NHL.com. -At times I thought he could have been more physical, but there's plenty of time to work on that. He's got more skills to do more offensive things with the puck.- One USA Hockey official said Fowler, one of only two 2010 Entry Draft-eligible players to d3 football make the first round of cuts, was the second-best blueliner at the camp -- only John Carlson, a 2008 first-round draft pick of the Washington Capitals who has played in the American Hockey League, was better.The stellar play hasn't tailed off at all through a month's worth of games in the OHL, and he's doing at a far higher level of physicality than he's used to.-That (physical play) was definitel d3 football y a big adjustment for me, too,- said Fowler. -It was hard there in the first few games, I had to get adjusted to the style of play. It was kind of a reality check for me in my own zone. I just made it a point to make it the biggest thing I've focused on. In practice the coaches have been getting on me about it, and I've used it to fuel my play out there. I think I've transitioned well. The coache d3 football s know they can rely on me to shut down a team's top line and hopefully I can keep it up.-He's also adjusting off the ice to the expectations that come with joining a club expected to compete for a championship. Windsor returned the majority of the team that won OHL and Memorial Cup titles last season, and Fowler had to deal with the pressure of being imported to play a big role in an attempt to r d3 football epeat.-Coming into the locker room, I had to get used to all the guys, fit into their team chemistry,- said Fowler. -They all really welcomed me with open arms, the staff and the players. Just the city of Windsor itself really welcomed me. It's something I had to get used to, the atmosphere here, they expect a lot out of you. We feel we have the team to make another run at it. It's a winning atmos d3 football phere here. ... I've never really had a whole city behind me like I do in Windsor. I was able to adjust to it the first few games, they were a little nerve wracking, but I think I'm doing OK now.-Contact Adam Kimelman at akimelman@nhl.com d3 football
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