Lane sees a road to pros via Battalion choice
BRAMPTON, Ont. – Philip Lane, once a reluctant recruit to the Ontario Hockey League and the Brampton Battalion, has recognized the wisdom of his choice.
“I’m glad I made the decision to come to the OHL,” said right winger Lane, who scored 18 goals in his rookie season. “My No. 1 goal is to play in the National Hockey League one day, and I think this league is the one that will get me there and prepare me the best to make it.”
A fourth-round choice in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, the native of Rochester, N.Y., opted to play the 2008-09 season with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, a junior A club, before joining the Battalion.
Enlisting with the Troops proved a good decision, as Lane, who turns 18 on May 29, led Battalion rookies in goals while ranking third on the team behind Sean Jones and Sam Carrick. Lane added 14 assists for 32 points in 64 games before scoring three goals, including two game-winners, in 11 playoff outings.
The NHL’s central scouting department rated Lane 96th among North American-based skaters in the final rankings for the Entry Draft in June. While Europeans and goaltenders must be factored into the equation, some believe he may go much higher than that number would suggest. Having been 124th in midseason rankings, he has seen his stock rise in recent months.
“It was great; the season went really well,” said Lane. “I started slow, but I picked things up as the season went on. We had some success in the playoffs. That’s when you want to be playing your best. That’s the biggest stage.”
At six-foot-two and 194 pounds, Lane has established himself as a physical presence but knows more will be expected of him next season.
“Coming in, I knew the OHL was a physical league with a lot of big guys. I just have been trying to use my size to my advantage. I’ll have to work very hard in the summer. I need to add strength, and I’ll be looking to come in and put up more points than I did as a rookie.”
One of several first-year players on the Battalion, Lane said he learned a lot from captain Cody Hodgson, who returned to the lineup Feb. 4 after missing the first 50 games of the season because of a back injury.
“The guys were all great, but getting a guy like Cody back really helped the morale of our team. He was the captain and our leader and he really brought us all together.”
Selected from the Rochester Alliance minor midgets, Lane said he considered joining the Battalion for the 2008-09 season, which saw the team advance to the OHL Championship Series.
“I probably could have made the jump, but I got more ice time playing in Buffalo because there was a great team here last season. I chose to wait it out and keep my options open. I really wasn’t really sure if I wanted to go to school or come to the OHL.”
With his academic future addressed through an OHL education package, he made the move.
