Re: LSSU Lakers 2015-16: The 50th season
http://www.lssulakers.com/sports/m-hockey/2015-16/releases/Angus_Jayson_feature
Prior to earning a stall in Lake Superior State’s hockey locker room, junior Jayson Angus played for junior teams that competed in all four corners of the United States. Moving to Sault Ste. Marie was yet another new adventure for the junior forward from Latrobe, Pa.
“I played in Pittsburgh right out of high school and got my feet wet in juniors,” Angus said. “Then I was drafted by New Mexico in the NAHL. That was a unique place to play. That team folded, as it was not much of a hockey market. I was able to go to Fairbanks, and that was a really cool environment. A lot of fans support that team. It’s a full house almost every night. It’s nice to be part of a competitive organization.”
Angus and LSSU teammate Pete Spratte both played for Fairbanks Ice Dogs general manager Rob Proffitt, who is a Sault Ste. Marie native. Angus ranked fifth for Fairbanks in points with 15-29—44 in 2012-13.
“One of my good friends, Steve Perry, had played for Fairbanks and talked me into going up there,” Angus said. “Rob Proffitt is a great guy to play for. He worked hard for you if you worked hard for him…The reasons I wanted to go there were to be competitive and win championships. It was secondary to see a lot of players moving on to play college hockey.”
Angus recalls dodging two of Fairbanks’ biggest winter storms during his stint with the Ice Dogs. He and his teammates were on a beach in Texas during a November storm. The other hit while he was home during Christmas break. That hiatus was followed by a road trip to Fresno, Cal.
“I could really tell the difference between minus 20 and minus 30,” said Angus, recalling the Alaska winter. “It was miserable to go outside.”
Angus couldn’t dodge two of Sault Ste. Marie’s snowiest winters – or the storms that come with a coaching change or day-to-day battles to make the Lakers’ lineup. As time goes on, he feels he has gained a deeper understanding of what is expected of him and the close competitiveness of the college game.
“My freshman year was a time to get my feet wet and get a feel for what was going on,” said Angus, who was originally spotted in Alaska by former LSSU assistant coach Doug Laprade when he was recruiting former Laker Garret Clement (now at Wisconsin-Eau Claire). “We had a lot of really good players that year. It was a good learning experience. Last year was a little bit better personally. I was getting into games, understanding college hockey a bit more and what it took to play. I was able to get involved with the team a bit more.”
“Jayson is quiet, but works super hard,” said junior Alex Globke, who is Angus’s housemate and close friend. “He has definitely grown as an individual and as a player. His skill has increased significantly since his freshman year to be sure. It was a big jump going from junior teams to college. For him, especially, his speed has increased, and so has his skill.”
Angus appeared in seven games as a freshman and 23 last season. So far in in 2015-16, he has made three appearances – all during the Lakers’ last six games. Interestingly, LSSU has tied every game during which he has played this season by a 1-1 score. The Lakers are 1-2—3 in their last six outings.
“I just need to be patient with it,” Angus said. “The competition level is so close. There is not much of a drop-off from the good players to the so-called bad players. You can’t exploit anyone or any particular team. Everything happens faster, and everyone is more committed to what they need to do to win.”
At 5-8, 157, Angus isn’t imposing physically, so he relies on speed and good instincts. Globke kindly describes him as having the wisdom of an old man in a young man’s body.
“He loves to play. He’ll get after it,” Globke said. “He’s very quiet and calm about everything. He never seems to get flustered. He’ll do what he needs to do to work his way up. How far he’s come is a testament to how hard he’s worked.”
Globke also regards Angus as one of the team’s smartest players. Both players maintain 3.7 grade point averages in finance and economics.
“He is very organized and detailed,” Globke said. “The way he holds himself is very mature. Overall he’s just an awesome guy to be around.”
Mastering the minutiae of the game are what Angus hopes will help him move up the depth chart. The WCHA has proven that a single point can determine a big swing in the conference standings. On LSSU’s team, Angus is working on the “little things” to help the Lakers achieve big goals.
“Winning faceoffs, being able to play solid defense, creating a scoring chance for rather than chances against, solid defense on the PK – if I can do those things everything else takes care of itself,” Angus said. “It’s about working hard every day, not taking any time off. You can’t let any of the negative get to you. You try to get better every day. We have a lot of good players in here this year. You have to trust that your teammates, no matter who’s out there on any given night, are going to get the job done.
“It’s a process. Everybody understands that. You look to the positives, see the things you did right and do what you can to correct what needs to be corrected. You do what you can to be prepared for the next game.”
Angus grew up as a fan of Pittsburgh’s professional teams and as a Penguins’ season-ticket holder. His grandfather was his biggest influence in hockey. Junior Penguins coach Brian Cersosimo coached Angus for only a short time, but made a lasting impression.
“He was more focused on not necessarily the hockey aspect, but being the best person you could be,” Angus recalled. “He had some unexpected things happen in his life. He made me understand that if you help everyone around you first, everything else takes care of itself.”
His work ethic is inspired by his parents, Jay and Cheryl.
“My parents are really hard workers,” Angus said. “They are good at getting things done, providing for me and my sister so we can do what we want to do. I wanted to do something they could be proud of.”
