I have two goals for Season 53, be an SHL team's top prospect and be awfully close to where Abel Skinner was when he began his second year of professional play.

Abel is currently second in the SMHL in points by a defenseman and we all know why. He moves the puck with ease, captains the powerplay, and isn't afraid to put pucks on net. I'm privileged to play with him in Halifax and believe me, I pick his brain every second I get. Abel is a little more offensive-focused than I would consider myself, but he's no slouch on the defensive end either.

A few days ago, Abel gave me some goals to work toward for this season into the next. He said my skating needed to be at or above what SHL scouts would grade as an 80. My puck handling and passing grades should be slightly above 70, but my scoring about mid-70. Lastly and perhaps most obvious, my SHL scouts need to view my defense as close to 80 as possible.

These are attitudes it takes to get into the earlier round of the SHL draft. Rest assured, I'm zeroed in on these goals and will grind and grind until I get there.