Hello hockey fans.
Since I last wrote, the NHL Central Scouting service released its midterm rankings. It feels good to be ranked in the first round, but it definitely motivates me to gain an even higher ranking. I realize there's still a lot of season left so I still have much to prove.
I've never been to Bell Centre, so that'll be something. I think about the draft every now and then, but I try not to do it too much because it's still a few months away. There's a lot of hockey left to be played so I just try and focus and take it a day at a time.
I like the way my game is evolving. Obviously, I think I've improved a lot over the year but still feel as though I have more to give. I'd like to get a few more points on the board, but other than that it's a matter of getting bigger, faster and stronger and working hard during practice and in the weight room in order to achieve that.
I know we're disappointed with our 10-17-1 record at this point in the season. I think when we play for each other and play as a team it works; that's when we're getting our wins. But I think when we've gotten away from that, which has been quite a little bit here, I think the losses begin to accumulate, so I think we just have to buy in a little more as a team and play for each other.
We play against Penn State at home on Friday and Saturday. They're a good team. They like to run-and-gun and spread the ice out, so the big thing we have to do is play really well defensively and recognize when they're looking for those stretch passes to guys. I think we need to play well defensively and use our talent, too, because we're on the big ice. If we can use our speed and skill, in addition to playing well defensively, we'll have a good game.
My linemates had been Tarek Baker and Sean Dhooghe, but Sean got injured (lower-body injury) in our last game and likely won't be in the lineup this weekend. We had been playing pretty good hockey, but things might change a little bit this weekend. Our chemistry had been going good and we were feeling good in practice and definitely in the games.
College hockey is a lot different than the Alberta Junior Hockey League, where I played last season. College hockey is definitely much faster and guys are much bigger and stronger. The plays are made at a lot quicker pace, so anytime you get the puck you have to know what you're doing before you even make a play. In 1-on-1 battles the guys are strong, if not stronger, so you got to go hard and try to stay on your feet. It's not easy, but I think I'm adjusting well.
That's it for now. Thanks for reading this month.
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