Bryan Lubin, a new freshman to the Bobcats, has a connection to a teammate — which lured him to Athens.
Sometimes players can make great recruiters. Just ask Bryan Lubin.
Lubin learned about Ohio hockey six years ago through current Bobcats forward Drew Crandall — helping pave the way early on to his spot on the team.
“I was doing some research, and I’ve always wanted to play in front of people and a bigger crowd,” Lubin said. “I was talking to some D-III’s and realized that the schools were small, and that I wanted to play in front of people and feed off of their energy.”
Looking for advice on where to attend college to continue his hockey career last year, Lubin reached out to Crandall.
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“I looked for people that get attendance, and where the hockey was good, then I contacted Crandall,” Lubin said. “At first it was just an idea, then a couple weeks came along, when I started looking into it a bit more.”
And when Lubin asked Crandall about what he thought of Ohio, Crandall was not shy in sharing his love for Athens with his future teammate.
“He told me he loved it. He told me it’d be the greatest decision I could make,” Lubin said. “I like what he told me about how the team will, even after the season, get together for an intramural game and that they stay together. It’s a bonding team even during the off-season.”
After talking with coach Sean Hogan, Lubin had secured himself a spot with the Bobcats.
Hailing from Commerce, Michigan, Lubin, a 21-year-old freshman, played junior hockey throughout North America, including in British Columbia, Canada, New Jersey and Ontario, Canada.
Playing the majority of last season with the Castlegar Rebels, a junior “B” team in Kootenay International Junior League, the speedy Lubin found the scoresheet regularly. He tallied 26 goals and 25 assists in 34 games, good enough for 1.50 points per game average.
During the 2013-14 season, he played for the Philadelphia Flyers Elite Junior Hockey club, a junior “A” hockey team in the United States Premier Hockey League based in Voorhees, New Jersey. Lubin scored 15 points in 32 games.
Lubin’s offensive skill should translate well to an Ohio team loaded with talent at the forward position.
“I think I can be more of a creative and skilled type of player,” Lubin said. “I play the body, but my game is more agility, speed and creativeness.”
As for making the transition from junior hockey to college hockey, Lubin will have to make the adjustment coming in blind. Surrounded by veterans, including Michael Harris and Diego Breckenridge, Lubin will be well-matched in talent.
“I really don’t know what to expect,” Lubin said with a laugh. “I’ve seen some college games, and the speed obviously picks up the higher you go, the physicality, the way people can make plays. You just try and mix in well with the other guys.”
With his goal scoring touch, fitting in with the scoring touch of the Bobcats shouldn’t be a problem for Lubin.
“I just try to better myself with the guys around me and just try to feed off of them,” Lubin said. “If the team plays well, you play well.”
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