July 19, 2011
His own path
Matthew Lane (Rochester, N.Y.) is leaning toward college after stint in U.S. NTDP, unlike older brother Philip
by Gene Morris/Correspondent
Matthew Lane (photo: Tom Sorensen)
Matthew Lane (Rochester, N.Y.) wants to keep his options open. He has watched his older brother, Philip, play two years for the Brampton Battalion of the OHL and become a second-round draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes.
But the younger Lane, who was also drafted by Brampton in the OHL priority draft in the fifth round in 2010, chose to go play for the U.S. National Team Development Program in hopes of going on to play college hockey.
“I’m a straight-A student, so it was always my goal to go to college and play hockey,” he said. “I haven’t really narrowed it down, but I’m talking to different schools and just trying to figure out what’s going to be best for me.”
Lane just finished his junior year of high school and found the transition to the U.S. NTDP rewarding, yet challenging.
“This year was harder because I missed a lot of school,” he said. “It’s a grind to make up your work, and still be able to do work while playing in national tournaments overseas and stuff. This year was hard because I’ve never missed that much school in my life. You just have to stay ahead and get stuff done.”
The Lane brothers, who played one year of high school hockey together at Greece High School in Rochester, have taken different routes; in addition, anyone who’s seen their styles would know they are much different players.
Philip stands at 6-foot-2, while Matthew is just 5-foot-9. Philip’s lumbering, physical style is nearly the opposite of Matthew’s, whose game is all about speed.
“I like to use my speed offensively and defensively,” he said, “in the offensive zone to set up plays, and I like to use it to my advantage to get other guys the puck and create time and space for myself.”
Having two sons playing a demanding and expensive sport like hockey was not an easy task for Lane’s parents, but Matthew said his family was always there to support him and his brother.
“We were never really home because of both of us,” he said. “We were always in Toronto or somewhere in Canada or Detroit or Chicago.”
Traveling around North America and playing some of the top competition made the move into the U.S. NTDP program an easy choice, Matthew said.
“It was really a no-brainer,” he said. “I’d always wanted to do that since the early camps. I just thought there would be nothing cooler than wearing a USA jersey and playing for my country. When I got invited to the tryout, my goal was to make the team; I hadn’t really thought of going into the OHL at that point.”
He admits that the OHL is something that’s “in the back of my head,” and something that he has discussed with his brother, “but as of now I think I want to play college hockey,” he said.
In 55 games against college, junior and international competition with the Under-17s, Lane put up nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points, ranking him seventh on the team in scoring.
Before making his decision regarding the next step of his career, Lane has one year left with the NTDP. He said winning the Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 tournament in Slovakia in February was one of his favorite hockey moments, and he is looking to help the United States win it for the fourth consecutive year.
Lane has made the most of his skill despite his diminutive frame, and has set himself up nicely for life after the NTDP, whether it’s college – the way he’s leaning – or something else.
“Two years from now I’ll be playing college hockey somewhere and hopefully get a shot at the NHL,” Lane said.
AROUND JUNIORS
Two New York Bobcats goaltenders have committed to Division 3 schools in Massachusetts for the 2011-12 season. Alex Peck, a late season acquisition for the Bobcats, recently committed to Wentworth Institute of Technology. Peck went 8-1-0-1-1 in 11 games down the stretch for the Bobcats, posting a 2.36 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. Brett Roman went 11-2-2-0-1 for the Bobcats with a 3.26 GAA and a .905 save percentage, and is headed to Suffolk University. Peck and Roman are among seven Bobcat players to make an NCAA commitment this year. … The New Jersey Rockets announced the Division 3 college signings of four of their players – Dylan Niehoff, Michael Darrar, Mitch Clark and Rob Molinaro. Niehoff will be attending Wesleyan (Conn.) University, Darrar is going to Western New England (Mass.) University, Clark is going to Fitchburg (Mass.) State and Molinaro chose to play at Assumption (Mass.) College. … Three players from the New Jersey Hitmen -- Matt Weis (Madison, N.J.), Connor Clifton (Matawan, N.J.) and Cody Calcagno (Ringwood, N.J.) were selected to represent the Atlantic district at the USA Hockey Junior Olympic Development Camp this summer. … The New York Apple Core national team posted a 5-0-1 record and claimed the championship at the Hub City Hockey Tournament. The team included members of this season’s Empire Junior team as well as players trying out for the team.
GENE MORRIS
