Judd
ranked second among Atlantic Hockey rookie defensemen
in scoring last season.
Key
Statistics: Judd was the second highest scoring
freshman defenseman in Atlantic Hockey last season, with three
goals and 10 assists. He trailed only Quinnipiac’s Matt
Sorteberg. He also ranked second in scoring among all Bentley
freshmen and Bentley blueliners. He missed the Falcons’
last five regular-season games with a sprained ankle.
What
he does: Judd considers himself a cross between an
offensive defenseman and a stay-at-home type. He moves the
puck decently and gets regular time at the point on power-play
units, but doesn’t yet have the skill sets of some of
the better offensive defensemen in the league. Judd admits
that the transition from wide-open western Canadian juniors
to tight-checking Atlantic Hockey was difficult for him. He
amassed 20 penalties for 48 minutes amid the NCAA’s
crackdown on obstruction.
The
bigger picture: Sensing that he was a step slow last
year, Judd shed 20 pounds this offseason, and is down to a
more manageable weight of 200. He says the Falcons coaching
staff was on him to play with a more physical, meaner edge
last season, but he couldn’t do so for fear of heading
to the penalty box. Now lighter on his feet, Judd believes
that he can stay with onrushing forwards and drive them into
the boards rather than grabbing at them as they fly by. Bentley
doesn’t have much room for error as it is, so playing
at even strength more often is important.
According
to Judd:
“The style of play here is the complete opposite of
what I was used to (in the British Columbia Junior Hockey
League). There, it didn’t matter how fast I was, because
I could just hang on to guys. You can do whatever you want.
Now, I need to be a little quicker so I don’t take so
many holding penalties.”
