Schreifels’ shot, work ethic lead to NCAA D-I commitment to RPI
One of Henri Schreifels’ favorite hobbies as a youth was shooting pucks off a rubber pad at a net in his backyard.
He’d pound hundreds of pucks a day, never growing weary of the exercise.
“It was one of the best things I could do, and I was having fun at the same time,” the forward from Agoura Hills said. “That really paid off. It strengthened my shot and helped me learn how to release it at different angles.”
One of the payoffs was being able to play junior hockey, which Schreifels is doing quite well for the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). Another is a college commitment, which he recently made to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an ECAC Hockey school located in upstate New York.
“It’s a great school with great academics,” said the 2000 birth year, who played for the LA Jr. Kings, California Titans and Anaheim Jr. Ducks. “Hockey is their only Division I sport, so it’s a really big part of the campus. With their staff and facilities, they have everything they need to continue to improve.”
Schreifels finished his career in Southern California playing two seasons of Midget hockey for the Jr. Ducks. He led the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League’s 18U division in points (56) and goals (26) as a first-year 18U player.
“He has size (6-foot-1, 195 pounds), speed, skill and a heavy shot,” said Jr. Ducks 18U AAA coach August Aiken. “He does all the little things well and works so hard. I’m not surprised by his commitment. He deserves it.”
After playing for three BCHL teams last season, finishing in Victoria, Schreifels has blossomed in his second season of Junior A hockey. Through 48 games, he had 39 points, including 21 goals. His goal total has exceeded his point total (15) from a season ago in roughly the same number of games.
Schreifels said Aiken, a BCHL alum, helped prepare him for his next steps.
“August helped me with my vision and speed of play,” Schreifels said. “Those were the biggest things. He knew what kind of player I needed to be to get to the next level, which was juniors and now, college.”
That growth, combined with Schreifels’ skill set and work ethic, is giving him another shot to advance in the game.
Photo/Kyle Robinson Photography
— Chris Bayee
(March 3, 2020)
