(above) Boston University star Colin Wilson and soon to be Pioneer Joe Colborne grace the cover of this month's Hockey JournalFrom: New England Hockey Journal
by Kevin Edelson
When the Boston Bruins drafted Joe Colborne with the 16th pick at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft last month, nobody had him pegged to be a physical force for the Bruins, let alone a fighter.
But the Calgary, Alberta native may surprise fans with his willingness to get in the mix and throw his weight around between and after the whistles. He may also surprise fans with where he trained to become a more physical player: the boxing ring.
“It was a big learning experience for me,” said Colborne this week during the Bruins’ development camp in Wilmington. “Not only is it hard training but just getting used to fighting and the physical stuff. As a player who kind of got a lot of attention from other teams this past year I’ve had to stand up for myself and for my linemates a few times. (Boxing training) was great for me.”
Boxing lessons might have worried some coaches who don’t want their star player getting hurt off the ice. However, Camrose Kodiaks coach Boris Rybalka embraced Colborne’s decision to step into the ring.
“It was a smart thing to do, learning how to defend yourself,” Rybalka said. “He won both his fights and I think he caught guys off guard because they’re thinking, ‘Okay, this guy’s a goal -corer, a point-getter’ and all of a sudden they saw this 24-inch reach.”
However, while Colborne can defend himself, it was how he defended others that caught his coach’s eye – especially in one particular line-brawl this year.
“Joe’s the type of character; when he got into those fights, Joe went in to defend his teammates. It took him about a second to jump right in and grab a guy going after one of his teammates. I just sat there with a big smile on my face saying, ‘Now that’s why Joe Colborne’s going to be a pro player,’” the coach said.
While his willingness to play physical and defend teammates will help him out when he goes to the NHL, it’s his goal-scoring prowess that caught the attention of the Bruins’ brass.
In his two years with the Kodiaks, Colborne helped lead the team to two straight Alberta Junior Hockey League titles. He was the leading scorer in the playoffs this season – notching eight goals and 16 assists. His real dominance, however, came in the regular season, when he led the Kodiaks with 33 goals and 57 assists for 90 points – 20 more than the next closest Kodiak and good for second in the league.
Not only can he score big but Colborne can also play big. And at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, he’s still growing.
The first place he’ll be using his size is at Denver University, where he’ll play starting this fall under head coach George Gwozdecky.
“I’m pretty excited,” Colborne said. “I’m going in and I got a lot to prove. I’m not taking anything for granted. I’m gonna do my best and try to make the top line. They already have a lot of great players and some good guys coming in so it’ll be competitive but you need that if you’re gonna have a good team.”
Colborne joins a Denver team that lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year. But the Pioneers are returning four of their top five scorers from last year, including sophomore Tyler Bozak, who led the Pioneers with 34 points. Where Colborne will fit into the line-up remains to be seen.
“He’s gonna get a chance to play a lot in some very key offensive situations,” Gwozdecky said, “whether they’re with two of our pretty prolific offensive players up front, as well as playing hopefully in a position where he can contribute on the power play. I think from a mental and an emotional maturity level he’s ready for the challenge that college hockey and especially the WCHA is going to present him.”
And while college is about a month away, Colborne has already met some of his teammates who are already excited about his upcoming pro career.
“I know quite a few of the guys,” Colborne said. “I went down there and met them all, and they seem like a great group of guys. I got emails and texts from quite a few of them after I got drafted which was nice, because they seem pretty excited for me and it should be a lot of fun next year.”
With players like Colborne, who get picked in the first round, comes expectations of producing at the pro level. And there’s always the threat of a player leaving early. However, Gwozdecky is confident that Colborne will be in Denver for the long haul.
“He’s a young guy looking forward not only to the challenge of college hockey but the challenge of college itself. He wants to get as far towards his degree as he possibly can.”
Colborne’s off-ice work is just as important as his on-ice work. Not only is he committed to his studies, but he’s just as committed to the community. In his two years at Camrose, Colborne made a lasting impression on both the coaching staff and the community.
“He knows he’s an elite athlete, but he’s very humble” Rybalka said. “He knows there’s people who come out to watch him play and yet he’s giving back to the community. Joe would take the time always to sign an autograph, visit different hospitals, go to schools and read to kids, go on ride-alongs with police. Joe made sure to make them feel part of it also.”
“Whether it was going to read for kids or going on walks for MS and cancer,” Colborne said,” we tried to get out as much as possible. And if there’s an event in Camrose we try to get to it if we don’t have a game because in Camrose they embrace the Kodiaks so well. And with a town of about 17,000 we were getting over 3,000 people for our playoff games; you don’t find that in many other places. It was a great situation for me and I loved my two years there.”
Colborne will have a potential four years in Denver before making the jump to the Bruins. And judging from the way he’s progressed since first stepping foot in the ice in Camrose, the best is yet to come.
But the Calgary, Alberta native may surprise fans with his willingness to get in the mix and throw his weight around between and after the whistles. He may also surprise fans with where he trained to become a more physical player: the boxing ring.
“It was a big learning experience for me,” said Colborne this week during the Bruins’ development camp in Wilmington. “Not only is it hard training but just getting used to fighting and the physical stuff. As a player who kind of got a lot of attention from other teams this past year I’ve had to stand up for myself and for my linemates a few times. (Boxing training) was great for me.”
Boxing lessons might have worried some coaches who don’t want their star player getting hurt off the ice. However, Camrose Kodiaks coach Boris Rybalka embraced Colborne’s decision to step into the ring.
“It was a smart thing to do, learning how to defend yourself,” Rybalka said. “He won both his fights and I think he caught guys off guard because they’re thinking, ‘Okay, this guy’s a goal -corer, a point-getter’ and all of a sudden they saw this 24-inch reach.”
However, while Colborne can defend himself, it was how he defended others that caught his coach’s eye – especially in one particular line-brawl this year.
“Joe’s the type of character; when he got into those fights, Joe went in to defend his teammates. It took him about a second to jump right in and grab a guy going after one of his teammates. I just sat there with a big smile on my face saying, ‘Now that’s why Joe Colborne’s going to be a pro player,’” the coach said.
While his willingness to play physical and defend teammates will help him out when he goes to the NHL, it’s his goal-scoring prowess that caught the attention of the Bruins’ brass.
In his two years with the Kodiaks, Colborne helped lead the team to two straight Alberta Junior Hockey League titles. He was the leading scorer in the playoffs this season – notching eight goals and 16 assists. His real dominance, however, came in the regular season, when he led the Kodiaks with 33 goals and 57 assists for 90 points – 20 more than the next closest Kodiak and good for second in the league.
Not only can he score big but Colborne can also play big. And at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, he’s still growing.
The first place he’ll be using his size is at Denver University, where he’ll play starting this fall under head coach George Gwozdecky.
“I’m pretty excited,” Colborne said. “I’m going in and I got a lot to prove. I’m not taking anything for granted. I’m gonna do my best and try to make the top line. They already have a lot of great players and some good guys coming in so it’ll be competitive but you need that if you’re gonna have a good team.”
Colborne joins a Denver team that lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year. But the Pioneers are returning four of their top five scorers from last year, including sophomore Tyler Bozak, who led the Pioneers with 34 points. Where Colborne will fit into the line-up remains to be seen.
“He’s gonna get a chance to play a lot in some very key offensive situations,” Gwozdecky said, “whether they’re with two of our pretty prolific offensive players up front, as well as playing hopefully in a position where he can contribute on the power play. I think from a mental and an emotional maturity level he’s ready for the challenge that college hockey and especially the WCHA is going to present him.”
And while college is about a month away, Colborne has already met some of his teammates who are already excited about his upcoming pro career.
“I know quite a few of the guys,” Colborne said. “I went down there and met them all, and they seem like a great group of guys. I got emails and texts from quite a few of them after I got drafted which was nice, because they seem pretty excited for me and it should be a lot of fun next year.”
With players like Colborne, who get picked in the first round, comes expectations of producing at the pro level. And there’s always the threat of a player leaving early. However, Gwozdecky is confident that Colborne will be in Denver for the long haul.
“He’s a young guy looking forward not only to the challenge of college hockey but the challenge of college itself. He wants to get as far towards his degree as he possibly can.”
Colborne’s off-ice work is just as important as his on-ice work. Not only is he committed to his studies, but he’s just as committed to the community. In his two years at Camrose, Colborne made a lasting impression on both the coaching staff and the community.
“He knows he’s an elite athlete, but he’s very humble” Rybalka said. “He knows there’s people who come out to watch him play and yet he’s giving back to the community. Joe would take the time always to sign an autograph, visit different hospitals, go to schools and read to kids, go on ride-alongs with police. Joe made sure to make them feel part of it also.”
“Whether it was going to read for kids or going on walks for MS and cancer,” Colborne said,” we tried to get out as much as possible. And if there’s an event in Camrose we try to get to it if we don’t have a game because in Camrose they embrace the Kodiaks so well. And with a town of about 17,000 we were getting over 3,000 people for our playoff games; you don’t find that in many other places. It was a great situation for me and I loved my two years there.”
Colborne will have a potential four years in Denver before making the jump to the Bruins. And judging from the way he’s progressed since first stepping foot in the ice in Camrose, the best is yet to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment