Jets hope D-man Serville one of those late bloomers

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This article was published 13/09/2015 (3989 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PENTICTON, B.C. — They were once teammates at the University of Michigan but nobody’s going to mistake Brennan Serville for Jacob Trouba.

They are simply different defencemen.

Trouba is heading for his third NHL season with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, already considered an impact player; maybe even in the stud category, many say.

Serville is more the stay-at-home type, playing a much quieter game.

His four years with the Wolverines somewhat bear that out — he recorded a total of one goal and 21 points in 129 games between 2011 and last spring.

The 6-3, 205-pound native of the Toronto area is still going to get a chance, however.

The Jets opted not to sign the third-round pick of the 2011 draft to an NHL contract, but have given the 22-year-old an AHL deal to play for the Manitoba Moose, surely holding on to the idea Serville might turn out to be one of those late bloomers.

Moose coach Keith McCambridge will be in charge of making that discovery. You’ll never know until you go there.

“It was something I worked for,” Serville said at this week’s Canucks Young Stars tournament, asked about signing with the Moose. “That’s not to say I didn’t want more. Everybody strives for something more.

“I was definitely happy about getting the ‘A’ deal, but I’m not satisfied. I definitely want to have a good year, prove to them that I deserve an NHL deal.”

Something to prove is his carrot ahead.

“I think that’s right,” he grinned.

To start the tournament Friday, Serville was the odd man out of the lineup that has seven defencemen. Serville will draw in for this afternoon’s game against the Canucks’ prospects, logical given the weak overall performance by the Jets’ group in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames and the fact they gave up 37 shots.

Serville promises he’s ready, and for the AHL season, too.

“I stayed back at school, training with my strength coach, Joe Maher,” he said about his summer. “I’ve been with him the past three years. His programs have paid off for me the last few years; helped me gain strength and weight.

“I just stuck with him and hoping for a good year this year.”

Sticking with it has already done Serville some good — he graduated from Michigan with a science degree — and may yet do more.

“Michigan, that was the best four years of my life so far,” he said. “The guys were great and I developed a lot as a person and a hockey player. And I’m really happy I got my degree. That was all good.”

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The hockey end of the equation at Michigan was an up-and-down time. The program has experienced plenty of flux in recent times, including the early departure of Trouba and this spring, captain Andrew Copp, who also signed with the Jets.

“We didn’t get the results we wanted to, fell short of making the (NCAA) tournament but I think as a whole, the four years were great,” Serville said. “It is a little different, seeing guys leave early. That changes team dynamics, but there’s a great group of guys in the locker-room. The coaches are good at finding recruits and they help fill the spots that are open when guys sign early.”

Serville played four years under Michigan head coach Red Berenson, a man with a wealth of experience.

“He’s a guy you have a lot of respect for,” Serville said. “You definitely listen to what he says. He did everything right. He finished school, he went to the NHL and he’s a great coach. He’s a good role model for all of his young players.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca