Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 18:31
By Andrew Vitalis
Most professional hockey players will tell you, finding the “right opportunity” is sometimes more elusive than locating Bigfoot himself. Just because someone gives you a shoe, or in this case, a skate, doesn’t mean it’s always going to fit. Mike Howe found himself in that difficult situation last summer. With his fourth and final season in the Maroon and Gold behind him, the former Gopher knew he wanted to play professional hockey, he just didn’t know where. It was a frustrating time to say the least.
“I was working with my agent. I wasn’t sure whether I was going to continue playing hockey or get a job in the area I got my degree in,” remembered Howe. As a matter of fact, when asked how close he was to not playing this fall last summer, Howe replied “50-50.”
“I was 100 percent sure I wanted to keep playing, I wasn’t really sure if I was going to be presented with the right opportunity,” remarked Howe. “We had talked to a few teams and then this opportunity came up and I knew right away it was the right fit for me.”
“This” opportunity was a contract offer from a brand new organization – the Ontario Reign of the ECHL. Now Howe spends his days and nights skating on the ice and his off time on the beach in sunny Southern California.
Okay, the perks are more than just the weather. I think it’s safe to say Howe fell in love with the atmosphere. A line-up regular with the Gophers, Howe knew what it was like to play in front of a raucous crowd, experiencing the energy of a positive hockey environment.
“I do feel a little re-energized. I definitely realized that’s (playing hockey) what I wanted to do,” stated Howe. “It’s been fun. It’s a brand new program. We’ve been out in the community a lot meeting the fans. Every night we play in front of a crowd that’s energized. That energy really rubs off on you as a player. The guys in the locker room feel it and it really makes it a great place to play.
“I wanted to play hockey in the right situation,” continued Howe. “Ontario was the best situation for me. I really liked (head coach) Karl Taylor. I really liked the city, the organization. It’s just been a great fit for me.”
Having that type of a comfort level is extremely important, especially when you’re a rookie. During his time at the “U,” Howe played in an eye-popping 156 games, registering 31 goals and 34 assists. Not surprisingly, he experienced his most successful season on the stat sheet his senior season when he lit the lamp seven times and added 14 more helpers.
Now in his first season with the Reign, despite being slowed by an early-season concussion, the Oakdale, Minn., native is excited about adding to his hockey resume.
“I’m playing on a small rink again,” mentioned Howe, when asked about the differences between the college and professional game thus far. “Playing in the WCHA, the majority of the rinks were Olympic-sized rinks. Here, everyone is fast and everyone is big. So far, it’s been a really good learning experience. You have great competition, great hockey. Every team is good. I think it’s been a pretty smooth transition though. This team has a bunch of great leaders to help that transition.”
Much like his time with Minnesota, Howe once again has the luxury of being surrounded by talent, character and most importantly, experience. In simple terms, he’s a freshman again. Howe remembers the lessons he first learned while skating around the rinks of the WCHA, hoping they’ll apply this time around, too. There is no magic potion to success, but there is a formula he intends to follow that will certainly put him on the right track.
“Concentrate on the day. I try to concentrate on what I can do to get better, play as well as I can and hopefully that will take me as far as it can. That’s really all I can do,” said Howe. “My goal, like every player out there, is to make it to the NHL. I want to make it as far as I can, but I’m tying to take it one day at a time and get better everyday. I’m playing hockey, I love hockey. As far as the future goes, I’m going to keep on playing hockey until they tell me I can’t anymore.”
Like he said before, re-energized.
