Another part of this poise is working with assistant coach Dan Hinote, who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team from his NHL playing and coaching career.

“He is awesome,” said York. “He brings a laid-back presence to the D. He is definitely different than Coach [Greg] Moore [who left to become the head coach of the Chicago Steel]. Coach Hinote brings new experiences, playing in the pros and lifting the Stanley Cup to the team. That is something that each of us have dreamed about. When I’m out there, I am always trying to pick his brain, ask questions and learn from him.”

York has had several memorable moments so far this season. The first one was the 2018 All-American Prospects Game at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Sept. 19. He played for Team Jordan Leopold in that event.

“It was a cool experience,” said the 5-foot-11, 171-pound blueliner. “To go out and play against the top players in an NHL building was a fun experience. The Minnesota Wild did a great job of putting the event on and I’m happy that I had an opportunity to be a part of it. There are just so many things that I will not forget, but the one thing that stands out is Case McCarthy scoring on his own net. He is my roommate so I do give him some grief.”

The second one arrived just a few weeks later, when the Under-18s beat the University of Michigan 6-3 at Yost Ice Arena on Oct. 12. Little did he know at that time that he would be earning a win over his future college team, a decision he made a short time later.

“It was awesome,” said York, who tallied an assist in the game. “We went into Yost to compete and to come up with a win was the cherry on top. I was happy with the game. I really do remember the bright lights, the crowd and the band. It was a packed house, even for our game.

“I wasn’t committed to Michigan yet when we played them, but it was definitely a school I was thinking about.”

Despite being from Anaheim Hills, California, deciding to stay in Michigan and continue his college career in Ann Arbor was an easy decision.

“The coaching staff and facilities are some of the best in college hockey,” he explained. “I really liked the way that the state of Michigan supports the team. It was one of the first things that I noticed, especially being from California.”

At this point, York is focused on the small things, which includes finishing off the regular season strong and of course, the squad’s second international tournament — the Five Nations in Sochi, Russia, in early February.

“It’s just another international event for us,” he said. “We need to bear down and do what we have been doing each day. We do not want to change anything. We have to keep doing our stuff in the weight room, on the ice in practice and take care of the little things. We haven’t lost yet and we want to keep that going. We have to prepare for each game that same way.”

He credits a basic formula for the team’s success.

“I think we are skilled, and we are really balanced throughout the line-up,” said York. “We have guys who can play different roles, whether it is 5-on-5, or on the power play or penalty kill. As a team, we will not back down from our schedule. We are willing to do the little things every day that make a difference.”

This year, when I’m on the ice, I want the puck and will drive to the net. Last year in games, I wasn’t always sure what to do, especially playing against older and stronger players. I wasn’t always sure about that but this year, I have much more confidence in my play on the ice.

York realized how important the little things are, especially from his experience at the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship. He earned a silver medal while playing for Team USA as an underage player and really tried to soak in all the knowledge that he could during the event.

“It was great to see how these guys handled themselves, both on and off the ice,” he explained. “It was a business trip for them. I tried to see how they would do things, whether it was making a play or handling the puck. I really tried to take in what they were doing and put it into my game. I think this experience is a big part of my confidence on the ice this season.”

At the end of the day, there is one last thing that is his driving force and that is being able to slide the USA jersey on each day.

“It’s a huge honor,” he said. “There are kids who want to be in your shoes but they do not have the opportunity. Every day that you put it on, you need to cherish that moment and not take it for granted.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.