Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1184516
Hermantown's Joey Pierce proves sticking to one position isn't necessary JOEY PIERCE DOESN'T CONFORM TO YOUR TYPICAL HOCKEY LABELS. You could call him a forward—those in Hermantown, Minnesota, and at the 2019 Minnesota High Performance 17 Spring Festival and Final 54 do. You could also call him a defenseman—something he's called himself since the age of 3 growing up in Ely, Minnesota, and a position he was best known for at the 2019 USA Hockey Boys HP 17 National Camp (despite making the camp as a forward). " When I was evaluating him, I wasn't sure which position I should evaluate him as because he's done both and he really truly excels at both," USA Hockey youth director Kenny Rausch said of Pierce, who he saw play at national camp this past summer in Amherst, N.Y. "He's such a hybrid player. You love to see it." So, which is it? "I think this year I'm going back to defense," claimed Pierce, who racked up 18 goals and 22 assists last season for the Hawks, his first official season as a forward, good for second in team points behind Blake Biondi." But, for those who know Pierce and his ability to be a versatile player, you know you can't rule anything out. "He'd play goalie if I'd let him, I know he would," Hermantown coach Patrick Andrews said with a laugh. "And he'd probably be good at it." THE b y J E S S I P I E R C E