By LINDA BOUVET, LSSU Sports Information Director

Lake Superior State's 2013 freshman of the year knows he's part of something special – one of the most-experienced defensive units in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. And one reason for the Lakers' defensive dominance is the underclassmen's ability to keep stride with the veterans.

“Last year I was lucky with how many spots were open,” sophomore defenseman Eric Drapluk said. “I got a chance to play right away, and that helped me right away with adjusting to the switch from juniors to college. This year, with everyone returning and with senior goalies, it's good for us…It's the starting point of our success. We have two captains back there (Matt Bruneteau and Andrew Perrault), so our leadership is back there – even with our goalies.”

Drapluk is similarly impressed with the Laker forwards' defensive play, noting that the key to the team's overall defensive success is making correct adjustments after giving up scoring chances.

“We can try things we usually wouldn't have tried in past years because we have such a solid 'D,'” Drapluk said. “And our defense is scoring more.”

Drapluk totaled four goals and 13 points to lead LSSU rookies in 2012-13. His first collegiate season included Central Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Week honors for his performance against Ohio State, and he garnered three points against Michigan. He also had multiple-point games against Bowling Green and Alaska.

Drapluk was honored to be recognized by his teammates last season, but said the freshman of the year award “was not relevant to the season.”

“It showed that I adjusted well to the college level,” he humbly said.

So far this season, Drapluk has four goals and seven points. He and defensive partner Kevin Czuczman (4-8—12) have a combined plus-minus rating of +15 and have been a threat at both ends of the ice.

“He (Czuczman) has helped me out with my success,” Drapluk said. “Playing with him is probably the best thing for my college career. It's hard for us to be separated because we have such good chemistry together. We're good friends too, not just linemates.”

“Eric is a sophomore now. He's got some experience, and I roomed with him on the road (last season),” said Czuczman during an interview in early October. “We felt like we both learned a lot from each other. We play similar styles. We both like to get up in the rush. We really work together well and don't have contrasting styles.”

Drapluk has focused since last season on getting physically stronger. He checked in this Fall at 6-1, 194 pounds – four pounds lighter than last season.

“I just want to be better as a whole player, faster, thinking quicker, skating ability, becoming a bigger defenseman and still being mobile,” he said.

“He's really had to work to become fast and strong, and show his skill at a faster pace,” said Brett Strot, a former 16-year professional player, Drapluk's U-14 AAA coach and now head coach of the Tampa Bay Juniors. “His speed definitely developed over the years.”

With six of the Lakers' last seven games being decided by one goal (LSSU is 4-3 during that stretch), Drapluk knows the difference between a good year and a great year is in the small details.

“We need to find a way to get more shots and beat teams in close games,” he said. “Two overtime losses – that's pretty much it I guess…We need to find that extra step, score that extra goal, get the two wins.”

Last weekend, LSSU did just that, outscoring Bowling Green 5-3 in the third period to come from behind and win both games of the series. Drapluk assisted on Dan Radke's game-tying goal at 11:03 of the third period Saturday.

Heading into this weekend's series against No. 6 Ferris State, the Lakers are ranked fourth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in scoring offense and scoring defense, and lead the league in combined special teams. Not bad for a team picked to finish seventh in the WCHA.

“No one expected us to be as good as we are, and we have had people step into leadership roles,” said Drapluk, mainly in reference to the Laker forwards. “Radke has had a lot of success and become a dominant forward – probably the best one on our team. (Andrew) Dommett, too, I think. He had a really good summer. He worked really hard and deserves the success he's had this year. Those two surprised me the most.”

Drapluk, one of two Florida natives on LSSU's roster, blazed the hockey trail for two brothers and a sister (he is one of five siblings). Roller hockey was big in Florida when he was 5 years old. He began playing ice hockey around the same age.

Drapluk learned early in his career that he had to leave home in order to get noticed in the hockey world.

“I moved away from home when I was 15,” he said. “Moving away helps you mature as a person and a hockey player…My parents didn't take it too well. They didn't want to see a kid leave, but I'm one of five. They had a lot of distractions at home and probably handled (my leaving) better than a lot of parents. Now they can't get rid of me.”

Drapluk played two seasons with the North American Hockey League's Coulee Region Chill, coached by Strot's brother, Garrett, before coming to LSSU. Drapluk was the Chill's top-scoring defenseman in 2011-12.

Brett Strot said it was important for Drapluk to test his skills in traditionally-strong hockey hotbeds.

“Being successful down here doesn't always mean you're successful against the top competition later in life,” Strot said. “A lot of (Florida) kids find that out too late. They're really not as good as they could have been or should be for the highest levels. We try to get kids on that right path.

“Around (age) 16 is where we could really see that Eric had potential to be a Division I hockey player,” Strot continued. “He was exposing himself as a good skating defenseman who could handle the puck well back there and see the ice well. There's always a need for defensemen. He was able to make the jump to the NAHL, which helped him see top competition week in and week out…I wish him the best, and it's great seeing him have success up there.”