It's the last time these four groups hit the ice at separate times before Friday's scrimmages, and the enthusiasm from the Blackhawks prospects couldn't be higher as players not on the ice piled onto the benches to watch their acquaintances get their work in for the day. 

Here's all the updates you need before Development Camp wraps up Friday. 

On a crisp April morning in South Bend, Ind., and Ryder Rolston glanced out the window onlooking the picturesque Notre Dame campus that had become his home over the past year. While he was sitting in class with his fellow Fighting Irish teammates, he couldn't quite keep his mind from wandering. It was the day of the NHL trade deadline, after all.

As if he'd dreamed it into reality, Rolston's phone started vibrating in his pocket, and the name he saw lit up across the screen prompted him to shoot up from his seat and walk out the door, leaving his buddies back in class curious and impatient.

Just a few moments later, Rolston calmly sat back down in his chair, holding back a smile as he woke up his computer screen and started typing as if nothing had happened. As he felt his teammates staring at him, looking for a glint in his eye or some sort of reaction, a simple one-worded message from Rolston came through: "CHICAGO!"

"Everyone was wondering what was up," Rolston said. "I come back in the room, and I just got traded, and I remember I was on my computer while everyone's taking notes. I just typed in all caps, 'Chicago,' it was hilarious."

Although that day it was difficult for Rolston, who was originally selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the fifth round at 139th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, to contain his excitement seeing as he'd be joining his fellow Fighting Irishman Landon Slaggert in the Blackhawks prospect pool, the elation was hard to contain even as he recalled that day from his locker at Development Camp in Chicago.

Rolston and Slaggert, a third-round, 79th overall selection for the Blackhawks from that same 2020 NHL Draft, however, are not the only set of collegiate teammates present at Fifth Third Arena this week. Three members from the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs squad are also suiting up in red and white this week in defensemen Wyatt Kaiser and Connor Kelley, along with this year's sixth-round, 173rd overall pick, Dominic James. 

For these prospects from two storied, well-respected college hockey programs--both of which made it to their regional finals in the NCAA Frozen Four Tournament this past spring--having familiar faces to lean on while at camp makes the experience even more memorable.

"It means everything to have them here," James said. "Connor is one of my best friends, so he's made it really easy, and then [Kaiser] is obviously one of my really good friends. He's my roommate, and we went to our World Juniors together. It's just awesome having them here, they make it so much easier. Getting drafted to Chicago is something special because it's Original Six and really close to home. It's all surreal."

While the dynamic at a professional development camp is somewhat difficult for these guys to compare to their college hockey life, they each said that this experience is something that's only added to these existing relationships and also creating new ones.

"It makes it a little easier on me," Kaiser said. "You get more comfortable because you know people here, and they already know people, so it's like a little chain. It's been a blast."

Whether the memories pertain to bus rides and team meals or like for James, getting texts and calls from Kaiser and Kelley immediately after his name was called at the Draft, having a close support system while preparing for a professional career is something each prospect values highly. According to Rolston, the unique bond that has only come with friendships on and off the ice speaks to the special brotherhood that hockey can provide as they collectively work towards the NHL.

"Just being together every day, going to school and going to the rink, that's what's created that bond," Rolston said. "But it's a pro feel here, obviously, there's no school, no campus. I mean, this is this is the dream: you're in an NHL dressing room, and in a sense, that's what makes it different. It's been awesome to be able to experience and see it and just get that taste because that's what's going to drive us to want to get here."

To round out Development Camp, the prospects will hit the ice at approximately 10 am for a 5-on-5 scrimmage consisting of two 25-minute periods.

Livestream links and team rosters for the scrimmage will be available at Blackhawks.com Friday morning, so stay tuned to see who will walk away with the Anderson Cup Trophy for the week.

Blackhawks.com is the official website of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Chicago Blackhawks and Blackhawks.com are trademarks of Chicago Blackhawk Hockey Team, Inc. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup and NHL Conference logos are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. Copyright © 1999-2020 Chicago Blackhawk Hockey Team, Inc. and the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.