Former Rocket Captain Lucas Bloodoff CIS Player of the Year
March 15, 2013 – Kelowna, BC
In his third year of play at St. Mary`s Univeristy in Halifax, former Kelowna Rockets player Lucas Bloodoff was named the CIS player of the year this week, heading into the CIS men`s hockey championships in Saskatoon.
A native of Castlegar, Bloodoff spent four seasons with the Rockets, from 2006-07 to 2009-10, playing in 259 games during that time and wearing the captain`s C for the Rockets.
After graduating from the Rockets, Bloodoff opted to attend St. Mary`s under the WHL Education program, where he will have his books and tuition covered by the Rockets for his four years at St. Mary`s.
Bloodoff led the Atlantic conference in scoring this season with 38 points in 28 games. Also named a first-team all-Canadian, he netted a league-high 20 goals and added 18 assists. His totals included three game-winning markers and a CIS-leading 12 power-play goals.
Next year he will graduate with a degree in business majoring in finance. He lives full time in Halifax, returns to Kelowna in the summer for a vacaction and is in pursuit this weekend of a CIS title.
Kelownarockets.com reporter Kevin Parnell spoke with Bloodoff this week, after Bloodoff was named CIS player of the year.
Kevin Parnell: Congratulations on the award. What did you think when your name was announced as the CIS player of the year for men’s hockey?
Lucas Bloodoff: It was a pretty big shock. I was really surprised but at the same time it was a really good feeling. I’m really honoured to get that award for sure
KP: This is your third year at St. Mary’s. How has your CIS career gone so far?
LB: My first two years were good but nothing really outstanding. This year I picked up a bigger role. I’ve been getting a lot more opportunity. Our head coach has given me every opportunity: More ice time, power play time. That’s kind of the reason I`ve had success.
KP: How has your experience overall been in Halifax?
LB: It’s been really good. I love Halifax. It’s a great city and ultimately that’s what made my decision. The only downfall is it’s so far from home. But I didn’t want that to enter into my decision. I wanted to go to a good school, I wanted to play in the best league and I wanted a good city as well.
KP: Coming out of the WHL you didn’t sign a pro contract and opted for the CIS. Can you talk about the decision to play Canadian university hockey?
LB: Your whole life you want to be a pro hockey player so when you get to that point and you’re not going to sign a contract and you’re going to school it’s a tough moment because your whole life you’re looking forward to playing pro hockey and you realize you may not have that option. But then you realize the CIS is a four year committment to just keep working on your game. I’ll be 24 or 25 when I graduate and there is no reason you can’t go on and play after that. If you come out with a degree you have that to fall back on. It really is a pretty good route to take. The more I think about it, the more I like my decision. Sometimes players may need some more time to develop and I think that`s the case with me.
KP: What do you remember about your four seasons as a member of the Kelowna Rockets?
LB: It was an amazing four years. They treat you in the most professional way. Whatever you need they are there for you. That was the best thing about it. You want to be a pro hockey player and that’s what they do. They treat you like a pro. They have high demands, not only for your game on the ice but off the ice as well so you can develop as a human being as well.
