Hobey Hat Trick Finalists
Cam Atkinson - Boston College
Matt Frattin - North Dakota
Andy Miele - Miami
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News & Notes From the Frozen Four
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With 161 points over the course of his four year career at Minnesota-Duluth, Justin Fontaine could be the best college hockey player you've haven't heard about.
Growing up just outside of Edmonton, hockey was a way of life for Fontaine, but it wasn't something he took seriously until he joined his hometown team, the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the AJHL.
"I was seventeen and playing on the top line and I saw how some of my teammates were going on to college and being successful and then it was something I really took seriously," Fontaine explained. " So, I put in the time over the summer to get in great shape and bring my A game and it paid off."
It sure did. With only 5 points in 12 appearances in his first season with the Pontiacs, he came back in his second year with a whopping 26 goals and 81 points in 50 games the next year and added another 79 points the following year.
In 2007, he decided to take his career a step further and play college hockey with the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.
"I was almost 20 and I needed more time to develop and in the NCAA you can get an education while doing it," Fontaine said. "I was by no means ready to hop into any professional league at the time and be able to play at the next level. I knew I had to give myself time to develop and play in leagues where I could play against top-notch players and college hockey could offer me that."
Fontaine earned his opportunities for playing time his freshmen year, playing in all but one game and earning 12 points in the process - Not bad, considering the best player on the team only had 17. While that 13-win season is something he'd like to forget, it also inspired him to work even harder.
In his sophomore year, one that saw the Bulldogs win the WCHA Final Five and advance to the NCAA tournament, Fontaine tallied 15 goals and 48 points in 43 games. He was paired up with freshmen Mike and Jack Connolly - not related - to form one of the most prolific lines in college hockey as the trio scored 38 goals and 119 points on the season.
Once again he saw teammates like MacGregor Sharp and Alex Stalock move on and find success at the next level and Fontaine realized that if he kept this up, he'd have the same opportunity.
In his junior campaign was another terrific season as he earned 21 goals and 46 points in 39 games. By this time the 5'10, 175 pound free agent had started to garner some interest from professional scouts, but he decided to return to Duluth for his senior season.
"With the new rink, a great team coming back and a chance to get my degree, I had a lot of reasons to stay," said Fontaine.
He's put together another fantastic season with 55 points in 40 games played thus far. Although that puts him tied for fifth in the country, it didn't even get him a mention as one of the Hobey Baker Finalists - an award given to the best collegiate hockey player in the country.
A lot of that is due to his linemates, Mike and Jack, the latter of which was named a Hobey finalist. The three of them combined yet again for 168 points on the season and it's easy for Fontaine to get lost in the shuffle.
According to Mike, it's because Fontaine is so humble.
"He is always looking to dish the attention onto his teammates. He never takes credit for anything and he deserves the most credit of anyone on our team. He's one of the best guys in our locker room - a guy that everybody loves and respects, and that carries out onto the ice."
For a player who relies on skill, speed and vision, Fontaine enjoys flying under the radar.
"I just go out there and work as hard as I can to find the open ice for my linemates to pass me the puck or for me to find them so they can score," he said. "If our opponents are too busy keeping tabs on my linemates, it makes it easier for me to that. Me being able to fly under the radar has helped us all."
"When he’s around the net he always knows how to make the right play whether it’s shoot or pass," said Mike. "He knows where to find us so we can get the empty netter and he knows how to bury the puck. So, I think anytime you give him the puck around the net I think we’re going to be pretty successful."
The Bulldogs will hope that trend continues as they face the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in today's first semifinal (5pm ET, ESNP2/Leafs TV) and while they know Fontaine thrives under pressure and the lights of the big stage, they also know he'll make sure everyone's having fun.
"He’s definitely a character," said Jack. "Obviously the guys from the US like to kind of heckle the Canadians a little bit, but you’ve got your Canadians and then you’ve got Fonzie, who’s a different breed. He’s from Bonnyville, which is a little more north than where most guys are from, and he takes the accent to a whole new level and he’s got his own language a little bit. Sometimes guys aren’t sure what he’s talking about but it’s really funny because that’s just the way he goes about things. He’s just really light hearted and keeps the mood light. it’s definitely fun being around him in the locker room."
"I’ve roomed with him the last two years and he’s the funniest guy you’ll ever meet,"said Mike. "He loves cracking jokes. He’s the center of attention whether we’re at home or at the rink. Everybody goes up to him and tells him their stories and he relates to them and he’s got a story for everything. He’s just a great guy to keep the mood light."
No matter what happens this weekend in St. Paul, it's Fontaine's turn to inspire a new crop of up-and-comers as he is poised move on to the next level and sign on the dotted line with a team that has yet to be determined.
"I hope for the best," he said. "Hopefully, I can get an offer somewhere and continue playing hockey. That’s what I’m hoping for, but we’ll see where the chips fall… For now, I've got at least one more game to play as a Bulldog and I'm hoping to make it two more before I take this jersey off for the last time."
Julie
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@JulieRobenhymer
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