Jack Malone, former Delbarton hockey standout, impresses at Devils camp. What he said

NEWARK − The first time Jack Malone ever walked inside Prudential Center, he was a 7-year-old kid and his family had season tickets to Devils games. Malone has been back plenty of times over the years due to his love of hockey, both as a fan and as a player.

Wednesday capped a special couple of days for the 23-year old, completing Devils development camp with the team he grew up admiring.

"It's special to be here," Malone said after wrapping up camp. "I'm here in the same spot and the same locker room of some of those guys I looked up to. I remember being 8 or 9 years old watching Jamie Langenbrunner and Zach Parise in the beginning of his career. To be wearing the same jersey as them now and be here is very special for me and for my family."

Malone's hockey journey has taken him to a number of places. Born in California, Malone and his family came to the east coast. He lived in Madison and played for the New Jersey Colonials 14U before playing two seasons at Delbarton. Malone was part of two of the best teams in program history, winning a pair of state titles with the Green Wave before shifting to the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL.

In addition to multiple USA Hockey Select camps and a gold medal in the 2019 World Junior A Challenge, Malone had built quite the resume when the Vancouver Canucks drafted him in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Draft. He was selected 180th overall in the same draft that the Devils chose Jack Hughes first overall. Also a part of that draft was former Delbarton teammate John Farinacci, who went on to be an opponent of Malone in college while at Harvard and is currently in the Boston Bruins organization.

"It's really cool to have your buddies going along with the same journey as you are," Malone said. "You get to have someone to share in your struggles when they come and people just as willing to support your successes when they come."

Malone opted for college hockey at Cornell, missing only two games across three seasons while losing his sophomore campaign to the COVID-19 pandemic. He had 18 goals and 27 assists in 93 games with the Big Red. As a graduate student, Malone transferred to Boston College and had his biggest hockey moment to date, scoring four minutes into overtime to lift the Eagles into the Frozen Four for the first time in eight years. Malone suited up one final time for Boston College in the National Championship game on April 13.

Four days after his final college game, Malone signed an amateur tryout contract with the Utica Comets, the AHL affiliate of the Devils. Malone also signed a two-year AHL contract with the Comets set to begin this fall. He shared development camp with Charlie Leddy, a teammate in Boston College that was sure to bring Malone's nickname of "Posty" into camp, a name inspired by singer Post Malone.

Malone, who now lives down the shore in Spring Lake, said he felt comfortable back in his home arena, and put on a show during three days of camp. In front of friends and family during Wednesday's three-on-three tournament for season ticket holders, Malone scored multiple times to put his team into the championship round.

"I try to stick to the things that I can control, which is bringing energy to every shift," Malone said. "I try to focus on attention to detail and offense comes when it's there. Not trying to force anything and above anything else, it's just having an effort out there and energy just trying to make a play."

No stranger to Prudential Center as a member of a men's league that plays in the building and winning his first high school state championship on the main arena ice, Malone added another chapter to his hockey journey and hopes to have an opportunity for an NHL debut in a Devils jersey in his future.

Before even making his debut, Malone knows he's contributing to the rise of professional hockey players who grew up in the Garden State.

"It's really cool to look back and see guys from around here succeed at things you hope to be doing yourself one day," Malone said. "The opportunity of being one of those guys that could inspire a young kid in the area the same way is very rewarding and a reminder to set the right example."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Jack Malone, former Delbarton hockey standout, impresses at Devils camp. What he said