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23 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M Make a gift so Pinky Swear Foundation can say, "Yes, we can help!" to more kids with cancer when they need it most – right now. Learn more and make your donation at pinkyswear.org. Be a Hero this holiday season and help kids with cancer today! asking, it's what they think is the best thing for the team, so I'm all in." DOUBLE THE SKILLSET Offensive-defenseman, defen- sive-thinking forward—no mat- ter how you spin it, there are definitely plenty of advantages to being a player that can play both ends of the puck. "I think playing multiple positions teaches you more about the game," said Pierce. "Playing forward this past year taught me a ton about being a defenseman, being on the other side of the puck and find- ing out what works and what doesn't work there. Playing against other good defensem- en, I was able to learn from them as a forward, and that helped me a lot. You see the game from a whole other angle and teaches you lot." Pierce adds that for him, it's all about winning battles on the ice. On the forecheck or in the corners behind their own goal line, it's the 1-on-1 battles he prides himself on. Rausch takes that battle aspect a step further in the aid of being a positionless hockey player has in development. "We all know that kids get caught in different spots on the ice, not necessarily different positions, and let's say they're leading a rush, what are mom and dad screaming at defenseman? 'Get back!'" Rausch said. "But kids need to be able to be prepared to know what do to in all situations. Whether they line up at left wing or line up at D for the faceoff doesn't matter, you need to be prepared to play in every situation on the ice." ELITE FORWARD/DEFENSEMAN/PERSON Forward and defenseman; great hockey player and person—Pierce embodies them all. "I'm so impressed with (Pierce), first and foremost as a human being, and secondly as a hockey player," Andrews said. "He does all those little things right that you ask of a kid. On top of it he happens to be an elite hockey player." Pierce's experience playing different positions and multiple sports has turned him into an elite high school hockey prospect. "I'm so impressed with (Pierce), first and foremost as a human being, and secondly as a hockey player. He does all those little things right that you ask of a kid. On top of it he happens to be an elite hockey player." – HERMANTOWN HEAD COACH PATRICK ANDREWS