After years of travel hockey, senior forward Tyler Drouin made the switch to HSE hockey for his final season and has quickly become one of Hockey A’s top offensive threats and leading goal scorers. Drouin’s five-goal performance against Lakeshore earned him the honor of Athlete of the Week.
“When I step out for warmups and I feel comfortable out there, it usually means I’m going to have a good game,” Drouin said. “The games where I’m like, ‘This is not going to be a good game,’ I just work twice as hard.”
Drouin has scored in nearly every game this season. He attributes his success to his mental fortitude.
“I think honestly, hockey is 95 percent mental … if I don’t think anything bad is going to happen and no negative thoughts enter my brain, all the good things come so much easier,” Drouin said. “I think for me it’s all about mentality.”
Much of Drouin’s mental approach and early interest in hockey comes from his father, who played college hockey at Cornell University as well as in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins.
“He just has all the right views about hockey, what it means to be a player and a team player at that,” Drouin said. “I would want no other role model in my life.”
Drouin said his transition to high school hockey felt effortless thanks to the HSE hockey organization and his new teammates.
“I was welcomed with open arms since the second I stepped on the ice for the first prospect skate,” Drouin said. “I love every single guy on this team. I think they all have nothing but good intentions in their hearts and I look forward to staying in touch with them long after HSE hockey.”
Drouin said he feels confident heading into State Playdowns. That confidence follows a strong team performance in the Hoosier League Tournament. HSE Hockey A defeated the Columbus Icemen 6-0 on Sunday, Feb. 15, to win the tournament’s championship game. HSE is set to face Columbus again Friday, Feb. 20, in its first game of State Playdowns.
“I think we’re gonna pull through,” Drouin said. “I think we have a really good shot and I’m going to do my best to play my part.”
