Hockey in the U.S. college ranks is providing a new educational experience for Squamish鈥檚 Jarid Lukosevicius.
In his freshman year with the University of Denver Pioneers, the young forward admits his beginnings with the team were a bit of a struggle.
As he told The 麻豆社国产, there really is no such thing as a guaranteed spot in the lineup for games. Everything depends on how much you put in at practice during the week.
鈥淭he adjustment鈥檚 been challenging,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he practices are a lot harder than junior.鈥�
If players don鈥檛 practise hard, they might not find their way into the lineup when it comes time for games on the weekend, and even some of the veteran players can find themselves healthy scratches.
鈥淓very game is like a tryout,鈥� he said.
At the start of the year, he played in the first couple of games but then sat before working his way back into the lineup. He is realizing the importance of sticking within the coach鈥檚 system when he gets on the ice.
Another adjustment for him has been the defensive play at the collegiate level.聽
鈥淚f you don鈥檛 play good defence in this league, you鈥檙e going to get scored on right away,鈥� he said.
In the junior ranks, he provided offence with the BCHL鈥檚 Powell River Kings, where he averaged more than a point a game and was named to the league鈥檚 all-rookie team in 2013-14.
At the University of Denver, though, he has had to adjust to new roles, especially as a freshman player where he has no guarantee of ice time on the top lines.
Over 18 games, he has four goals and two assists, though two of his goals have come on the powerplay. His plus/minus statistics have also been on the positive side.
鈥淚鈥檓 taking pride in that,鈥� he said.
Lukosevicius is making the adjustment to life in university, and he is enjoying life in the Mile High City.
鈥淒enver is beautiful. It鈥檚 sunny, and when it snows it doesn鈥檛 rain right after,鈥� he said.
He wants to major in finance and apply to business school, and he鈥檚 happy with how things are going in the classroom.
鈥淭he professors are unreal. They help the student athletes a lot.鈥�
On the ice, Lukosevicius has found the atmosphere lively in the rinks of storied National Collegiate Hockey Conference teams like the University of North Dakota, the University of Minnesota-Duluth and St. Cloud State. The Pioneers will get to play an outdoor game at Coors Field against their rivals from Colorado College later this month.
The University of Denver has a proud history on ice, as the team has won the NCAA tournament seven times and has produced a number of players for the NHL, including current pros Paul Stastny, Matt Carle, Tyler Bozak and Joe Colborne.
So far this year, the Pioneers are a little behind expectations, as the team was ranked fifth in the NCAA at the start of the season. This week they are in 13th, although three of their NCHC rivals were ahead of them in the rankings 鈥� a testament to the depth of the conference, which Lukosevicius describes as the toughest. The competition should help the team in its bid to make the Frozen Four come tournament time, and he knows he cannot let up as the season begins to wind down.聽
鈥淏eing a freshman, you鈥檝e got to be on your toes,鈥� he said.
