Nov. 30, 2016

By Taylor Hodges - griffinshockey.com
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Teams need a variety of players in order to contend for a championship. Sure, there are energy guys, skilled forwards, and – let’s not forget goaltenders – but what’s as equally important is what avenue those players chose to advance their talent. Many fans don’t realize that by age 15 players are being bombarded with a variety of options to continue their development. The big debate over the last few years has been “should I play major junior or NCAA hockey?”

According to Mike Morreale of NHL.com, an estimated 30% of current NHLers crafted their talent through the NCAA, with all 30 teams having at least one prospect who had enrolled in college.

Out of the Griffins’ top five scorers, three chose to develop their skills through the college system. Leading goaltender Jared Coreau (Northern Michigan University) also plied his trade in college.

Defenseman Robbie Russo (University of Notre Dame) and forward Matt Lorito (Brown University), who are both in their second professional seasons, recently answered some questions about their college hockey experience.

What aspect of college do you think prepared you most for pro hockey?

Russo: “I think living on your own, definitely having to do laundry and grow up a bit, get on time to class, and be on time everywhere. It’s pretty structured.”

Lorito: “I think just being on your own. Living on your own. You’re away from home and you go through things. Just the whole being on a schedule. Going to class, getting yourself up for class, going to the rink and practicing, and learning how to take care of yourself.”

What was your favorite class while at college, and how do you think it helped you as a hockey player?

Russo: “Computer applications, because Louis Berzai was the professor. He’d always make you take your hat off when you entered the room to show respect, and you have to have respect in hockey.”

Lorito: “My favorite class was probably an introduction to business class. The teacher was really funny and we learned a lot about how different businesses work and how they were started. I don’t know if it pertains too much to hockey, but I took it with a lot of the guys on the team so I think it helped us come together. I think being able to go through school with a team of hockey guys is pretty special. You’re helping each other away from the rink with your school work, so I think it just builds chemistry off the ice. You go through the struggles of school together and it makes it more fun.”

What’s your favorite memory from your time playing college hockey?

Russo: “Probably all my teammates. A couple of them were from Chicago so we grew up together and got to play at Notre Dame together, so that was pretty cool.”

Lorito: “Probably my sophomore year. We went on a pretty good playoff run. We went to the ECAC finals. We ended up losing to Union, but I think that whole year was pretty special. We didn’t have a great team, but we came together at the right time and it showed me what it takes to have success as a team, and what needs to happen. It was special.”

Did you ever consider going the major junior route?

Lorito: “Not really. I was pretty small when I was 15, 16, 17, even 18. Those are typically the years the major junior teams ask you if you’re going to want to play for them. I think I was playing AA in my draft year for the OHL, so I knew I wasn’t going to get drafted and I knew there was a very small chance I was going to play major junior at that size. It would’ve been tough for me, but at the same time, it’s not really something I cared too much about. I knew I wanted to go the college route just because that’s the route I was going to go and I wanted to get an education too. I think it worked out well.”

What advice would you give to a kid who is caught between playing college or going the major junior route?

Lorito: “I would tell them to look at the other factors away from hockey. Obviously both are good hockey routes. You’re going to be playing against good competition either way, but I think the college side offers so much more away from the rink. You’re at a school where you have a whole student body cheering for you and you have a group of guys to go to school and get an education with. At the end of the day, whatever happens with hockey, you know you have a degree in your pocket and it’s going to prepare you better for the rest of your life.”

Lastly, if you had to eat one thing that was provided by your school’s cafeteria for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Russo: “(Laughs) They had a good stir fry so you could mix it up and it was pretty good.”

Lorito: “Probably the spicy chicken sandwiches they had at one of the dining halls. They were pretty good. I still miss those (laughs).”