Gillies recently took part in the NHL Combine in Toronto. The South Portland native will attend Providence College in the fall. (PHOTO:John Wikman-Whiteshark Photography)

The South Portland netminder attended the NHL Combine last week in the Toronto, Ontario

Despite dealing with an injury to his hip, Gillies thought the experience was a positive one.

“I couldn’t do a lot of it because of a hip injury,” Gillies said. “The ones I did I thought I was right in the middle of (the pack).”

Gillies ranked second in wingspan among players who participated in the test.

The 18-year-old, who recently finished his career with the Indianapolis Ice of the USHL, graduated from Cathedral High School.

He committed to Providence College last month over playing for the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Of the 18 teams that Gillies interviewed with at the combine, most gave him a positive reaction to his commitment to the Friars.

“I would say it was positive,” Gillies said. “A lot of the teams saw it as an attractive point because of the fact it gives me an extra two years of development if I need it.”

Gillies won’t have much time to relax once he arrives back in Maine as he will travel to Michigan this weekend to take part in USA Hockey’s World Junior Championship goalie camp in preparation of the full team camp in August. He will be competing with six other goalies across the country.

“It will be fun and a good experience,” Gillies said. “It’s a tryout. It has no direct impact on my draft stock or anything. It won’t do the tryout justice if you look at it like that.”

Last summer he represented Team USA at the Ivan Hlinka Under-18 tournament as the USA finished in fifth place.