Podcast highlights: Jordan Harris

MONTREAL - After being selected in the third round (71st overall) by the Canadiens in the 2018 NHL Draft, defenseman Jordan Harris took his talents to the NCAA.

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Three years later, the Northeastern University Huskies' alternate captain and 2021 Hobey Baker Award candidate reflects on his development, his time as a student-athlete and the lessons he has learned along the way.
Read on for a few highlights from Harris' discussion with Marc Dumont, which is available in its entirety wherever you get your podcasts.
MARC DUMONT: I need you to describe yourself as a player. If you haven't had a chance to watch him play at Northeastern, you should because it's pretty fun.
JORDAN HARRIS:I'd say I'm more of a modern style, two-way defenseman. I like to use my skating and my mobility to end plays quickly in the defensive zone and transition the puck quickly up the ice. I also like to follow the play up and offensively be a part of that second wave and get pucks on net and contribute. I'm more of a two-way, mobile defenseman.
MD: I feel like there's a little more confidence, a little more poise in your game this year. Is that something you focused on?
JH: Definitely. I worked a lot over the summer on some little things in my style and my skill, and I think just being a captain in my third year, that comfort level that comes from the coaches, has helped me come a long way since my freshman year.
MD: Coaches aren't there to be your best friend. They're there to be motivators, but they can be mentors as well. What's your relationship like with your head coach, Jim Madigan?
JH: It's pretty casual. He gets honest with me because he wants to see us get better. He pushes us, like any good coach does. But he's a great guy. He's very easy to talk to. He's also pretty charismatic and he likes to joke around. We have a good relationship. He has a great relationship with all the kids.
MD: This has been a different year, so how has the relationship been with your teammates? Has it been tough? How has it developed through this ever-changing landscape of sports?
JH: It's been a really unique year. I feel for the younger guys. It's been so different for them. One of my roommates is a freshman and I'm like: "Dude, this is not how it usually is." I'd say at the beginning of the year, it was tougher to form relationships because we couldn't really spend time outside the rink together or go to class together. It took a little bit of time to get to know the guys and become tight-knit as a group. At the rink, though, is where we've been able to form those bonds.

MD: Is intelligence your greatest asset hockey-wise?
JH: I don't know, but I take a lot of pride in it. I try to watch as much NHL hockey as I can, and I'll rewatch our games afterwards. It's something that I try to work on. Honestly, I think it's an incredibly important tool of the game. Just like you work on shooting or stickhandling, it's another thing that you can be better at. It's something that has grown along with the rest of my game.
MD: You're an NCAA veteran now and a key part of your team. What has been the biggest lesson you've learned in your three years at Northeastern?
JH:Just playing an older style of hockey and making sure that you're honing in on those little details like your body positioning and hitting guys before you get to a puck. It's little stuff like that. Coming from prep school, the speed wasn't there, the physicality wasn't there. You could mostly just skate around guys. Everyone's a good player in college, though. It's like the pros in terms of the level of competition, so I've learned that the small details are important. Every shift matters. Every puck battle matters.
MD: What's it like being a student-athlete? What values does it instill?
JH: It's tough. Your time management has to be really good. As much as you would like to spend all your time at the rink and working on your game, you have to make time for your studies and getting your homework done and making sure you get to study hall. You really have to prioritize your time. It's a full commitment not only to hockey, but also the classroom.
MD: What was your biggest "learning moment" in the NCAA?
JH:During my freshman year, we had St. Cloud State come in when Poehling was playing for them. They were the second-ranked team in the country. I think it was my third game for Northeastern. You step out onto the ice and the whole rink is packed. I'm pretty sure that Mr. Bergevin was there and a couple of other people from the Canadiens staff. I knew it was definitely a step up. It was a great game. We ended up beating them 2-1 at home, and I realized just how cool it was.

MD: Did you ever watch old Canadiens games? Do you picture yourself at the Bell Centre someday?
JH: I honestly didn't watch many of Montreal's games growing up, but I've heard so many stories from players in the past about Montreal being the best place to play. They say it's like nothing else. I've heard nothing but great things. I've talked to Cayden Primeau who said that everything's first-class. It's a dream to play for them and put on that sweater for such a historic team.
MD: You had a chance to play with Cayden. What do you think makes him such a good goalie?
JH:He's such a rock back there. He's so level-headed. Even off the ice, he has a great sense of humor and a great personality. He's so calm back there. You have the puck on your stick and maybe you turn it over, but you have complete confidence in him. That gives you more confidence as a player. Just the timely saves, the athleticism, I can't say enough good things.
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