from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

He’s represented the United States three times at the World Championships. His most recent experience might come up during a question-and-answer session at the ceremony honoring the best high school athletes in the metro Detroit area. Larkin didn’t play after getting hit in the groin area by a puck during the last game of the preliminary round. He’s OK.

“It was a tough way to end it, very painful, but I’m all good,” Larkin said. “I should be back working out next week.”

That’ll be the start of June, more than three months before the Wings meet for training camp. It comes back to what he’ll tell high schoolers looking for advice.

“You always hear about what that special athlete does when no one is watching — the little sacrifices that athlete makes,” Larkin said. “You work on your craft extra. If you love the game and you want to go far, you’re going to have to do it through work ethic.”

more including his interview process at the NHL Combine...