Waterford native Alex Globke talks cooking, Red Wings development camp

Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey
Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey

 

By @StefanKubus –

TRAVERSE CITY – Alex Globke is something of a chef.

He enjoys cooking, watches the Food Network a lot with his brothers and even used to grill for teammates during his time at Lake Superior State. So naturally, he felt right at home when the Red Wings’ prospects participated in cooking and other off-ice activities at development camp in Traverse City on days when the players did not scrimmage.

And his favorite meal to prepare is fitting for that of a hockey player.

“I would say chicken… and pasta because it’s easy; pasta only takes ten minutes,” Globke said.

Cooking aside, he can definitely play, too.

The 22-year-old Waterford native, a forward, signed a one-year deal with Grand Rapids in April following his junior season at LSSU.

“It’s an honor,” Globke said. “I talked to my brothers last weekend. I mean, we watched [the Red Wings] my whole life. I’ve been watching the Wings since I was three years old, going to games, so it’s truly an honor to say I can wear the winged wheel here and hopefully one day wear it in Detroit.”

Globke amassed 31 points in 36 games during his freshman campaign at LSSU. He finished his three-year collegiate career with 21 goals and 49 points.

“Discipline was the biggest thing, going to classes, getting schoolwork done, making sure you’ve got everything taken care of before you go to the rink, so I’d say that’s the biggest thing,” Globke said of what he took away from his time at LSSU. “I like the small school, you get to know your players, your teachers, your coaches a lot better, and so it was definitely something I learned from a lot and I love Lake State, so it’s sad not to go back, but at the same time, I look forward to the opportunity.”

Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey
Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey

 

He had participated in the previous two Red Wings’ development camps, but 2016 marked his first as a member of the organization.

“It’s been really good, learning a lot, getting used to the coaches and see what Detroit’s all about and the organization, so it’s good to get comfortable here and sort of try to work my way through,” Globke said.

While Globke is constantly trying to add experience, he said he took on a bit of a leadership role at the latest development camp, being one of the older guys in attendance.

Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey
Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey

 

“I feel like I’m working my way up; I’m trying to learn,” Globke said. “There’s guys here, [Zach Nastasiuk],  (Tyler) Bertuzzi, guys like that that have been in Grand Rapids before. They definitely have shown what it takes to compete there, so I’m sort of learning from them a little bit, so I’m trying to work my way up and sort of leading I guess because I’m one of the older guys here, so it’s definitely a little bit of both, learning and leading in the same.”

And as part of working his way up, Globke – at 6-foot-3, 203 pounds – said the biggest thing he plans to work on in the offseason for the future is his mobility.

“I think the mobility testing here definitely showed me a little bit I need to work on my movements and things of that nature. I feel like I’m pretty good shape relative to some of the guys here, but at the same time, there’s always room for improvement. I’m definitely looking forward to getting prepared to play here. I know what it takes and I know what I need to do, so it just comes down to doing it and competing with everyone else.”

Globke knows there’s plenty of work still to be done; he said he doesn’t think that spending each day of development camp on the ice with his future coach in Grand Rapids (Todd Nelson) is helping his chances of cracking the Griffins’ line-up.

“I don’t know if I’m getting a leg up – I think everyone’s competing pretty hard,” Globke said. “Everyone wants to play. It basically just comes down to competing and willpower and playing as well as you can.”