Once considered one of the top forwards in his age group, the past two seasons have proven challenging for Jake Wise.
Injuries in consecutive years have restricted his development and put a damper on high NHL draft hopes.
"I broke my collarbone at the beginning of the year. It was a bad feeling to be out," Wise said. "It definitely was not something I wanted. I wanted to play hockey. Once I got over the fact it happened, I realized I had to figure out how to come back and play well."
Staying positive and not losing hope is difficult for any young athlete going through a recovery from a serious injury. Staying close to the rink and having good friends and teammates helped Wise through those challenging months.
"I just stayed positive throughout and my teammates helped me stay positive at the rink. I just used it as an extra three months to work on my skills and shot," Wise explained.
Now, the North Andover, Mass., native has come back with a vengeance over the past few months. He’s pain-free and feeling as good as ever about his game. In 46 games since coming back at the end of December, Wise has 18 goals and 46 assists for the U.S. National Team Development Program. One of those helpers came on the game-winning goal against the Russians at the U-18 Five Nations Tournament in February.
"I’m completely fine now. I don’t hurt at all," Wise said.
Wise, whose family moved to Boston when he was 8 years old, played the first two years of high school at Central Catholic in Lawrence, Mass. He was a dynamic player, helping the Raiders to two appearances in the Super 8.
"He’s one of the most driven players we’ve ever had," said Central Catholic coach Kim Brandvold, a former player at UMass Lowell.
"His talent level is obvious, but the focus and daily work ethic is special. His compete is off the charts on every drill all the time. He has a unique ability to make plays at the right time and he’s always willing to learn," continued Brandvold, who is also the skating consultant for the Boston Bruins.
Wise will return home, so to speak, to play college hockey at Boston University. The Florida native was compared to former Terrier and current Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.) when he committed to David Quinn’s (Cranston, R.I.) program before playing a game of high school hockey.
"It came down to BU or BC. I knew I wanted to stay in Boston. I loved the city and loved Coach Quinn and (former assistant) Coach (Steve) Greeley. It was hard not to choose BU. I’m really excited to go there next year," Wise said.
While those lofty expectations were unfair, Wise should still be a third-or fourth-round pick in June’s NHL Entry Draft. Wise tries to put talk of the draft on the back burner and just focus on improving his game.
"I try not to pay attention to draft rankings. I’m just trying to play my game and get better every day," Wise said.
Wise has been the U..S NTDP U-18 team’s second-line center since rejoining the team in game action for an exhibition against the University of North Dakota. It’s a spot that is likely where he projects going forward.
"Two-way forward," Wise said of his style of play. "I love to play offense and try to produce offensively."
His skating and hockey sense are elite. His lower-body strength and foot speed allow him to quickly explode to spots and control the puck, despite being undersized.
Wise has the agility and lateral quickness to be shifty and cut in and out of opposing defensemen. He has a hard shot, but it’s his passing that will really catch the attention of scouts.
"My hockey IQ and playmaking are right up there with my skating," Wise said.
His vision is exceptional and he’s really learned to use his teammates well over the past few years, especially once he was surrounded with more skilled players at the NTDP.
Watching top NHL players, including his favorite player Sidney Crosby, has helped him round out his own game and become aware of some of the little things that improve one’s hockey sense.
"Just watching NHL players like Crosby," Wise started, "… he’s been my favorite player since I was young. Seeing him and watching the little things he does. I watch Auston Matthews and Patrice Bergeron. Watching high-end players helps any player become better."
"He has an explosiveness to his game that allows him to exploit opposing defenses and create time and space," said one NHL scout, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "He has the skill to make one-on-one moves when needed."
Wise and his teammates, winners of the Five Nations Tournament in December, have one final crack at gold medal as a unit. The team is considered a heavy favorite to win the U-18 IIHF World Championships this month in Russia.
"I think our team has come a long way since our 17 year. We’re one of the hottest teams. Coming off the Five Nations win, we’re going to try to ride that wave," Wise said.
After that it will be on to the draft and getting ready to play for more championships as a member of the Terriers, the defending Hockey East champions.
If the past three months have proven anything, it’s that Jake Wise can be a key part of a top team’s success.
