Being happy to return for the start of another hockey season isn’t an uncommon feeling amongst hockey players.
But for Tanner Howe, who will enter his second year of pro hockey with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the opportunity to be with his teammates from the start of training camp and through the preseason team-building camaraderie is one that isn’t lost on him.
Just under a year removed from rehabbing from an ACL injury that prevented him from turning pro last fall, Howe was certainly thankful to gear up for the start of a season rather than hoping to play by the middle of the year.
“Yeah, it’s been a lot of fun just going through rookie camp and main camp with everyone and being a part of all the activities and the games and scrimmages and stuff,” Howe said after last Sunday’s preseason games. “It’s lots of fun and it’s getting us (all) ready for the regular season. So yeah, that’s been awesome.”
Howe missed the first 44 games of his rookie season, making his AHL debut Feb. 1 in Allentown against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Though it was a long layoff, Howe asserted himself well, finishing the regular season with 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 27 regular season games before adding five points (three goals, two assists) in 14 postseason appearances.
With a full summer of training stacked on top of the added experience of last year’s deep playoff run, Howe enters his second year of pro hockey aiming to take a big jump forward this season.
“I think that it’s important that they now take more of a leadership role and more ownership of the results and how they’re playing in Wilkes-Barre, and I think they will,” Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins general manager Jason Spezza said of Howe and the organization’s younger players.
As for what Howe keyed in on through his summer training, it’s pretty typical for what most younger players adjusting to the pro game aim to improve.
“Just get faster,” Howe said. “Those first three strides to get away from guys quicker, I think I worked on that a lot and obviously all areas of the game but a big focus on that.”
In addition to continuing to build strength and speed, Howe also looks to play a little more assertive with the puck in the offensive zone, and play more with the puck on his stick as he continues to build confidence in his game.
“Obviously, I’m staying all-in on the penalty kill and the defensive zone and stuff like that, but trying to carry the puck more and create more offense,” Howe said.
Overall, the excitement of a new season combined with the optimism of a large group of returning players one year removed from a successful season has Howe itching to getthe regular season started.
“A lot of hard work in the summer, and then obviously with the year we had last year we want to do the same this year and more,” Howe said.