A Portage la Prairie hockey player was among a select group of NHL prospects put through rigorous physical testing at the 2017 Scouting Combine in Buffalo, N.Y., May 29 to June 4.

Regina Pats forward and former Portage Terrier Nick Henry was one of 104 draft eligible skaters invited to the combine to perform different exercise challenges and interview with NHL clubs.

The 17-year-old, who recorded 81 points (35-46—81) in 72 games with the Pats during the 2016-17 WHL season as a rookie, embraced the opportunity to take part in the testing. It included many different physical challenges ranging from core strength exercises, to pull-ups, and — of course — the dreaded maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) test bike ride.

Fortunately for Henry, he was one of the prospects who managed to avoid reaching for the barf bag following the famously demanding test.

"That was probably one of the toughest things I've done," Henry said of the VO2 max test. "In a game, you're going 45 seconds on, then a minute on the bench. There, I went for just over 13 minutes ... and you're working as hard as you possibly can."

"By the end, really it's your legs that give out. I think I had a lot of wind left, I would have been able to go longer," continued Henry. "But my quads shut down and I couldn't even walk after. I needed help because you're light-headed from working so hard. It was a really, really tough bike ride."

Aside from the physical testing, NHL teams interviewed prospects they're interested in selecting in the upcoming draft. Henry sat down with 17 different clubs.

"Obviously there are some teams that are harder on you, cause they want to try and see who you are as a person and see how you react," Henry recalled. "But I think all my meetings went really well, because I know myself as a player and know my strengths and weaknesses. So they didn't really have to address that, because I know what I have to do about it."

"There was a lot of positive feedback, but obviously there's things I have to work on to push myself to the next level."

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound winger was rated No. 25 among North American skaters in the final NHL Central Scouting report released in April. With the 2017 NHL Entry Draft set for June 23-24 at the United Centre in Chicago, Ill., Henry's inching closer to realizing every hockey player's dream of hearing his or her name called by an NHL team. He plans to watch the draft at home in Portage la Prairie among friends and family.

And, to think, that's not the only major life event the 17-year-old has to prepare for that week.

"It's going on at the same time as my high school graduation," Henry added. "So it's going to be a pretty neat day."