DEAN
STRONG
Vermont
So. | C | Mississauga, Ontario
Strong scored the first Catamount goal in a Hockey
East game in Vermont history.
Key Statistics: Strong
finished fourth on the Catamounts in points (24) and
fifth in goals (nine) as a freshman, earning the team’s
rookie of the year award. He centered the team’s
second line, which by the end of the year was an all-freshman
unit along with Peter Lenes and Corey Carlson. He had
102 points in 70 games in his final season with the
BCHL’s Vernon Vipers.
What He Does: Strong
is small (5-foot-9, 170 pounds), but – fittingly
by name, if not size – strong on the puck. He’s
also extremely conscious of playing well at both ends
of the rink, moreso than most young players –
especially those who had such gaudy offensive numbers
in junior hockey.
The Bigger Picture: Don’t
expect Strong to play a bigger role as a sophomore –
“I don’t know how many more minutes he could
have played,” said head coach Kevin Sneddon –
but his offensive contributions should rise. Sneddon’s
confident that he hasn’t seen the best of Strong
yet. Strong worked hard this summer to build his strength,
taking some time away from the family business to train
in Burlington. Among Hockey East teams only Boston College,
with Brian Boyle and either Benn Ferriero or Nathan
Gerbe, can challenge Vermont’s 1-2 center combination
of Torrey Mitchell and Strong. That duo will lead the
Catamounts in all situations this winter. Last year
they were on the top power-play unit and killed penalties
together as well.
Vermont head coach Kevin Sneddon
on Strong: “Right from the start, he
didn’t play like a freshman. He added a great
element to our locker room as well. I don’t know
when he’ll become the official leader of our team,
but he’s already one of our leaders.”
Strong scored the first Catamount goal in a Hockey
East game in Vermont history.