Thursday, December 1, 2011
Fond First Impressions
Two Ontario natives are thrilled with the start of their college hockey careers.
Mitch Cain and Zack LaRue hail from 1,000 kilometers apart in Ontario and they headed in opposite directions to play college hockey – Cain to Bemidji State in the WCHA and LaRue to Massachusetts in Hockey East.
There are some similarities in their experiences, however, as they told their hometown papers this week: they are loving every minute of college life.
“The program is just awesome,” Cain told the Fort Frances Times. “The coaching staff is great and I’m definitely learning as much as I can. Right now, I’m just trying to be a sponge and take in everything that I can.”
LaRue sounds like a mirror image in his interview with the Sault Star.
“I love being here. The atmosphere is great and I know by playing here I’m getting better,” said LaRue. “It’s an honour to play for this school and in this league. I’m loving it.”
Improving Every Day
Both older freshmen, Cain (20) and LaRue (21) have earned playing time to this point, though neither has skated in every game. They both seem comfortable with earning their minutes, and thrilled with the instruction they have received in practice.
“I know the coaches notice when you work hard,” LaRue said. “They work with me and I can totally see an improvement in my skating, stick-handling and poise with the puck. I’m just trying to earn as much ice time as I can.”
“My coaches have said that both the amount of games I’ve played and my numbers [themselves] are not bad numbers for someone in their first season,” said Cain, who has a goal and four points in 10 games. “For me, though, it’s all about getting that college experiences this season, not just on the ice but off the ice, as well.”
Earlier this season College Hockey, Inc. caught up with a few other freshmen about the start of their college campaigns: