Hockey has taken Hooksett, N.H., native Caleb Price on quite a road trip this season, and the collegiate level will as well.
After spending the last few seasons with the Northern Cyclones in his native Granite State, the 5-foot-10, 165-pound defenseman made the move to the North American Hockey League where he is playing for the Jamestown Rebels. Price has also suited up in six United States Hockey League games for the Tri-City Storm and Sioux Falls Stampede.
Price, who has logged one goal, 11 points, and a plus-9 rating in 27 games for the Rebels this season, has committed to Arizona State University. He discussed the college process and his career to date in the latest New England Hockey Journal Commitment Q&A:
How would you describe yourself as a player? Are there NHL players you try to emulate?
I'd say I'm a smaller, puck-moving defenseman who likes to jump into the play. I think I can run the power play for a team, and I like to get involved a lot in the offense. I like to model my game after Torey Krug.
As a New Hampshire native, what are your memories of college hockey growing up?
My dad didn't play hockey, but he actually went to Providence College. We'd always have tickets and he'd take me to all the games since I was about 10 years old. That's when I really knew I wanted to play college hockey.
Looking at the college process, what made Arizona State the best fit for you?
Out of all the schools I had been to, it was the only one that really felt right to me based on the coaching staff, walking around campus, and meeting some of the players. Everything fell into place and it felt like the right fit after spending a day there.
Did you consider any New England schools?
In consideration, not really. The other schools I talked a lot with were Union and Army. Union was the other one that I was really interested in.
What did you take away most from your conversations with those coaches that you may not have known before?
I actually knew nothing about the school going in, so it was really my coach that said I'd talk to them. When I talked to the coaches, I found out it was actually a pretty good business school and it's not just a party school like everyone thinks of it as.
On the ice, they like their defense to play a lot of offense. That fits my game well. And it's definitely a program on the ice.
You've been around quite a bit between the NAHL and USHL, but how has the season gone so far?
It's been a different year, for sure, because I've played in three different spots. It's been pretty fun so far. I think my game has taken off and improved since I've left home. I'm learning a lot from a lot of really good coaches with Jamestown, and Sioux Falls and Tri-City as well.
When did the Sun Devils come into the equation for you, and how impressed have you been by their success as such a new program and one, like you said, that's on the rise?
I started talking to them at the beginning of the year and kind of followed them throughout. The coaching staff has brought them from almost a last-place team last year to one of the top teams this year, so they definitely know what they're doing over there on the ice and recruiting. They expect the best out of their players and want to be the best.
What areas of your game do you think you've improved upon the most?
My zone entries and thinking about what to do when I enter the zone, and I've been working a lot on my shot as well.
How difficult was the transition from home?
It was a hard transition because I had played at home my whole life, but I have good billets. All the coaches and my teammates have made it easier moving away.
What do you remember most about playing for the Northern Cyclones and in New England in general?
It was nice being close to home for a long period of time before moving away. I lived 20 minutes from Cyclones Arena, so I could skate pretty much whenever I wanted. I played for some pretty good coaches who helped me a lot.
Who are those coaches to make the biggest impact on your career?
The coach who probably had the biggest impact on me back home was Frank O'Connor. I played for for three years. He believed in me when a lot of other guys didn't and helped me keep my confidence up. He worked with me one-on-one all the time, go over video, and things like that. He was really the guy who helped grow my game the most back home.
The most influential coaches have been here in Jamestown, Joe Coombs and Josh Brown. They've helped me settle my game down, I guess, and work on all the aspects of my game rather than just offense. They've really focused on my defense and helping me become a more well-rounded player, which will help me moving up in levels.
What are your goals for the rest of this season and preparing for college?
My goals are to keep working this year, finish out the year, and hopefully play a full year in the USHL next year.
