A self-admitted 'candy man' at heart, one of the toughest things Abbotsford's Kellan Tochkin had to do this summer was get himself off the sweets.

That is, if he wants to play in the NHL. The 19-year-old Tochkin will suit up for the Vancouver Canucks this weekend for the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton, and after a summer of training and self discipline, he said he's ready.

"I've been on a diet for the past five months," said the young forward. "I'll probably be on that diet for the rest of my hockey career, keeping bad food out of my diet and eating good stuff.

"I'm a big candy guy. I used to love eating Mike and Ikes, but I've been staying away from candy the whole summer, which was tough but it's what you have to do.

"Vancouver is taking a chance on me and I definitely took it for granted last year."

Tochkin was passed on in the '09 NHL entry draft. His height, strength and speed were all knocks against him according to the scouting report, despite averaging more than a point per game in his draft year.

But, as he said, the Canucks took a gamble. First inviting the former Everett Silvertip to prospects camp in July shortly after the draft, then signing him just days later to a three-year entry level deal.

Skill and craftiness, comparable to former Canuck centre Kyle Wellwod, got Tochkin through to main camp last September.

But off-ice habits, such as eating bad food - another comparable to Wellwood, who was well-known and mocked for his persistent pudge - and a fitness level that was not nearly where it needed to be to compete in the NHL, played a role in his being sent back to junior.

"The biggest thing for me was just [seeing] how dedicated NHL players are, and obviously it was a real eye-opener for me," said Tochkin.

"I was the only one who didn't look like a real hockey player there. I was the only one who wasn't in good shape, so there was obviously a little embarrassment that went along with that.

"That was the biggest thing I learned was that if I'm ever going to work in the NHL, or in the American Hockey League, I'm going to need to be in better shape."

The new eating program Tochkin eluded to and an intense Monday-to-Friday workout regiment seems to have done the trick.

With the Canucks skating this week at Rogers Arena and the prospects set to hit the ice at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton Sunday, Tochkin is a "new hockey player."

"I was doing a lot of cardio - running, biking and being on the ice a lot," he said. "I've lost a lot of bad weight. I'm taking the right steps . . . I'm a lot faster, a lot quicker."

Tochkin is not eligible to play in the AHL this season, but it's a league he hopes to grow into by next year.

"I'm going to go to camp and work my bag off and hopefully leave [the Canucks] with the impression that if I continue to progress that I can play."

w The Canucks prospects open their tournament Sunday against the Edmonton Oiler hopefuls. Puck drop is at 4 p.m.