Prospect Poolman happiest on blue-line

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This article was published 07/07/2015 (3983 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They’ve had hints and glimpses and now the Winnipeg Jets are eager to see what 2013 fifth-round draft pick Tucker Poolman can do.

Even to be more specific — what he can do at a higher level of competition at his best position.

Poolman, 22, is heading for his second year at the University of North Dakota. It’s expected to be his first as a full-time defenceman.

In his freshman season, due to UND’s glut of experience on the blue-line and injuries up front, he was a swing man, playing on a regular forward line and doing regular power-play duty on the point.

“It was good for me to play forward, too, to work on different parts of my game,” said the 6-3, 210-pound prospect from East Grand Forks, Minn. “I’m more comfortable playing D and that’s the position I want to play. So I’m excited that I’ll be playing there. I’ll just make strides from there.”

Poolman, in large part because of his ability to move around the ice, managed solid contributions of eight goals and 18 points in his role as swing man in 40 games for UND last season.

This season, things will be different in Grand Forks in other ways.

Long-time head coach Dave Hakstol has gone to be the head coach of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and assistant Brad Berry — the former Winnipeg Jet defenceman and Manitoba Moose coach — has been promoted to the top job.

All good news, Poolman said.

“It was a little bit shocking, but I’m obviously very happy for Hak to move on to the next level, get that call,” Poolman said Monday. “But it was surprising.

“Our culture is going to stay the same. (Berry) is the new coach and (assistant) Dane Jackson is staying. Guys will play for him. He’s a great guy and has worked with everyone individually. He just really cares for each guy and you can tell when he talks to you.

“All the guys like him.”

“Like” was not a word Poolman used for one of Monday’s on-ice assessments, though he did well in the endurance “beep” skating test.

“It wasn’t the funnest thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “For the summer, I was fine with the result. Really, something you work on in the summer is cardio, work on the legs like that.”

This is the third time Poolman has attended the Jets’ development camp. He said he’s becoming very tuned in to the prevailing message here.

“It’s just to be a professional,” he said. “Have a business attitude. Do everything 100 per cent when you’re on the ice. And also to take care of yourself. Be professional, that’s what they preach.”

And lastly, Poolman was asked what his preference was were he allowed a vote on the new nickname for UND’s sports teams, including hockey.

“Probably Sioux again,” he said, showing himself to be a traditionalist.

Fighting Sioux was dropped in 2012 after a tumult of protests and political correctness.

The school has conducted a campaign to identify a new nickname and the choices are down to seven: Fighting Hawks, Green Hawks, Nodaks, North Dakota (in other words, no nickname), North Stars, Roughriders and Sundogs.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca