Havemeier: Junior hockey great experience

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM - Sleepy Eye's Loren "Bear" Havemeier just completed his second year with the Tri-City Storm of the U. S. Hockey League scoring six goals and adding seven assists for his team that finished ninth out of the 12-team league.

Still, Havemeier, who next year will attend Gustavus Adolphus College where he will play football, hockey and perhaps baseball, felt that his experience in junior hockey was a learning experience.

"I knew coming into (junior hockey) that it was going to be a tough league, but I knew that coming in," he said. "Speed-wise, it is very fast (Havemeier was one of the fastest skaters in the Chicago Showcase Tournament two years ago). It is physical and top-of-the-line hockey in the United States."

While the league is very physical, it is changing from what some people called a "goon-hockey league" into a more skill-oriented league.

"The league has changed over a lot," Havemeier said. "Back in the late-80s and early 90s, the league was more of a goon league but now it is more of a development and recruiting bed league if that is what you want to call it."

In his two years there, Havemeier, who I think is the best athlete that I have seen come out of Sleepy Eye and one the classiest young men you would ever want to meet, felt that his game "has stepped up four to five levels from where it was."

"I really didn't have the coaching growing up -- that is one thing I got in juniors. I learned the game more; there is so much of the game that I didn't learn early but I do now. Plus, you just pick up on a lot of skills and the mental part of the game.

"I learned a lot of more in-depth things (in juniors). You go more into power play, penalty killing and your forechecks. You also learn defensive and offensive schemes. You don't learn a lot of that in high school. I didn't understand half of the stuff when I first got here."

HAVE JUNIORS FOR FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL: Havemeier, who was offered a scholarship from the Air Force Academy recently, said he feels that " there should be juniors for both football and baseball. You can go somewhere for a year or two and develop and learn your game, get bigger and stronger and develop more," he said. "You can get the mental part of the game down. Being away from home like that for the first time is a big life experience. You learn the game more and you also grow up a lot. Plus, you do not lose any eligibility (for college) which is awesome."

NOW A GUSTIE: Havemeier said that he will try and play three sports at Gustavus.

"In football,at least for my freshman year, I will be a cornerback -- but hopefully, I can go to a receiver at sometime and do some kick returning. And in hockey I will be a wing," he said. "And if my schedule allows, I will also play baseball.

"I will major in health and exercise science and minor in coaching."

Havemeier said that he will play baseball this summer for the Sleepy Eye Indians amateur baseball team.

GAINED MUSCLE MASS: He said that he has gained "about 10 pounds of muscle mass over the year -- I am up to 190 pounds right now; I was at 195 pounds. I am just trying to beef up for football now."

"I think that it has been a good experience for me in junior hockey. I was eight hours from home and living on your own. You manage your own time and scheduling. There were a lot of 15 hour bus rides to Green Bay- 10 hours to Chicago and Tulsa. Topeka."

ADVICE ON CHICAGO SHOWCASE: Havemeier has some advice to New Ulm High School' Jamie Hoffmann about playing in the Chicago Showcase Tournament.

"Go in there and play your game -- don't worry about any of the scouts -- don't think about them and just go out there and play your game."

NEW ULM CLUB BANQUET ANOTHER SUCCESS: Once again, the New Ulm Club Athletic Clubs' banquet at Martin Luther College was another success with six senior letter winners from New Ulm's three high schools being honored.

But really, the banquet honors all senor letter winners for their contribution to their high schools.

The New Ulm Club and their members should all be congratulated as should Martin Luther College for their fine work once again.