Canucks prospects Riley Patterson and Connor Davis are taking the next steps in their hockey careers this season, with Patterson transitioning to pro and Davis taking on NCAA hockey.
Patterson shares how another year of experience in the OHL and working on the mental part of his game led to more consistency in his play. He reached the 40-goal mark with the Niagara IceDogs and finished with 84 points (40-44-84) in 64 games.
Patterson played centre for most of his minor hockey and junior career, but moved to the wing as he adjusted to a higher level of play in the OHL. Moving back to centre felt right, and his playmaking ability showed.
“Entering the offensive zone with the puck on your stick, I think is where I’m most comfortable. That aspect of having to make more plays was huge,” Patterson said.
When Patterson moved up to the AHL to play with the Abbotsford Canucks at the end of last season, he said the transition was seamless because of the leadership from the coaching staff and the players.
“The coaching staff just putting me in a top six role just to play my game and give me the opportunity to understand pro was huge. The guys on the team just even before the game [would ask] “Hey, got any questions?” and it just really made it easy for me,” Patterson said.
Davis grew up in Quebec and played hockey there until he was 16, before heading to prep school in Connecticut. He then played in the USHL for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders and, over 59 games, amassed 55 points (26-29-55) and is off to the University of North Dakota in the fall.
His visit to UND’s campus left a great impression, and he’s been looking forward to putting on the Fighting Hawks jersey since he committed to UND in April.
“The culture they have over there; they pack every game, even the away games. During the summer I played with this guy who goes to Bemidji State, and he was like, “Your fans. There were more of your fans at our game than there were of our fans; they travel so well. Playing in front of that crowd, I just can’t wait,” Davis said.
Davis was already working through a training outline that he got from North Dakota, so his workout and training schedule is set. Outside of his summer training, Davis will be testing out some new recipes to add to his repertoire to go alongside his lasagna and salmon specialties.
“I picked up cooking the last couple of years, and even when I was with my billet parents, I cooked dinner for them and my teammates. So, I kind of watch my parents and my grandparents around the kitchen, just kind of see what they do, so that I can carry it on with me wherever I go,” he said.
Listen to this and much more as Patterson and Davis join Chris Faber on the latest episode of the Canucks Insider Podcast.
