D-Man Jack Babbage ready for second season with Sioux City

The old saying that patience is a virtue is a message that Jack Babbage is taking to heart as he enters his second season of playing junior hockey.

The Tully, N.Y., native has had a few visits and a few offers to colleges, but he’s remaining steadfast in his goal to wait for the right opportunity.

“I’m waiting for a college that I fit into. I’ve taken a few tours. I’ve enjoyed all of them, but want to make sure I have all of my options before making a decision,” said Babbage, whose hometown is just about 20 minutes south of Syracuse.

Despite his roots being in the Eastern time zone, Babbage isn’t willing to limit his college destination to a specific geographic region of the country.

“It would be cool to play out East in front of my family, but I’m open to the Midwest. I’m just looking for the best fit for me and my family,” Babbage explained.

Babbage, an athletic, 6-foot defenseman, likely will have even more colleges banging at his door if he continues to improve under the tutelage of Sioux City Musketeers head coach Luke Strand.

In his first year in Sioux City, Iowa, he played in 53 games while scoring a goal and adding six assists. Making the jump from prep school hockey to the USHL, the top Junior A league in the world, isn’t an easy transition.

“It was a really good year for me. There was a little bit of an adjustment period as expected at the beginning. After the first month of the season I thought I picked up my game. I played more consistently,” said Babbage.

Tully, N.Y., native Jack Babbage played for Don Mills Flyers and Avon Old Farms before heading to Sioux City to skate for the USHL’s Musketeers.

With nearly every player in the USHL moving on to college hockey, the pace of play is a major adjustment for first-year players. The size, strength and physical maturity of players, who can be as old as 21, also can be a shock.

“Everything is a few steps quicker. The speed was the biggest thing. Everyone is stronger. It was a little tough, but you have to play to your limits,” Babbage commented.

Another significant change came in terms of the seriousness of the games. USHL teams receive a lot of fan support, and every player is eager to make the most of his hockey career.

“The one thing I really took away from my first year of junior hockey is that it’s a business. Everything is serious,” said Babbage.

While Sioux City didn’t make the playoffs, Babbage enjoyed the community feel of playing in a passionate, albeit small hockey town on the Iowa-Nebraska border.

“(USHL) is pretty unique, especially in Sioux City. We have great fans. It’s pretty crazy that people pay money to see you play. Every rink has a little bit of a different touch,” said Babbage, who noted rinks in Sioux Falls, Omaha and Fargo emulate NHL arenas, just on a smaller stage.

In the USHL, just about every game is attended by at least a few NHL scouts and college coaches. What are those watchful eyes seeing when they watch Babbage in the green and gold?

“I’m a solid two-way defenseman who likes to make a good first pass,” said Babbage when asked to describe his style of play. “I don’t like to play the puck a lot, but I like to make simple plays. I try to take care of my defensive responsibilities and chip in on offense as well.”

Babbage counts New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk as one of his favorite players to watch in the NHL. He looks to model his game after the New Rochelle, N.Y., native who has a similar frame to his own.

“He’s really smooth. He’s a good puckmover. He has his head up and he always is making the right play. I just really like the way he skates,” said Babbage.

Babbage, who played for Don Mills Flyers and Avon Old Farms before heading to the USHL, always has been a physically gifted player. He’s got the size and mobility to jump into the play and defend with a strong closing ability and stick. The one issue for college coaches has been whether or not he has the hockey sense to truly make an impact at the next level.

While his hockey IQ is bound to improve as he continues progressing in the USHL, he is still working on the physical tools that have gotten him noticed over the years. He has spent the summer training with former minor pro player Mike Radja, who now makes his home in the greater Syracuse area.

“Getting stronger and faster,” said Babbage of his offseason goals. “This summer I’ve really worked on my first step and transitioning from backwards to forwards if I’m getting forechecked. It’s a huge part of the game. It’s crazy how fast guys are in the USHL. Even a split-second can make a difference.”

While Youngstown, Ohio, is the closest USHL venue to this region, Babbage will have the opportunity to play in front of family and a myriad of college coaches and NHL scouts when the Musketeers make the trek to Cranberry Township, Pa., for the USHL Fall Classic at the end of September.