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INTERVIEW WITH BROCK BOESER Boeser Knows Best By ELIZABETH BOGER 1-ON-1 WITH BURNSVILLE NATIVE AND VANCOUVER CANUCKS PROSPECT BROCK BOESER He is not only the first UND sophomore to wear an 'A' on his sweater since Jonathan Toews; his point totals last season (27 goals and 33 assists for 60 points in 42 games) put him among the ranks of his predecessors who rose to become NHL all-stars. But Boeser isn't in any rush to join them in the NHL just yet. We sat down with the Burnsville native, who is focused on developing his all-around game, taking a leadership role in Grand Forks and copying T.J. Oshie's shootout moves. Minnesota Hockey Journal // You had quite the freshman year. What was your favor- ite moment during the season? Brock Boeser // Winning the national cham- pionship at the end of the year—that whole experience at the Frozen Four was just unbeliev- able. And then seeing all the guys' faces after the game and the fans that were there was the cool- est thing. It was a surreal moment for everyone. MHJ // You scored four points in the title game. How do you deal with pressure in those types of situations or big games? Boeser // I didn't feel too much pressure going into the game. Our whole team looked at it the same way. It was the last game of the year, so we wanted to give it our all there. I was just trying to focus on playing my game, and got a few lucky bounces to get some points. The pressure wasn't too intimidating and I just wanted to go out there and work my hardest. MHJ // Any advice for younger kids in big games? Boeser // Don't think about the pressure. Just go out there and work your hardest. Just have fun. MHJ // Any tips for kids who want to score more goals? Boeser // Just continue to work hard. For me, growing up, I just always loved playing the game and worked hard and wanted to get bet- ter. Just enjoy everything about hockey. That's how I think I developed as a young athlete. MHJ // What made you decide to return for your sophomore season after accomplishing so much in your first year at UND? Boeser // I think just this North Dakota staff and the Vancouver Canucks organization. I think we all thought it would be beneficial for me to come back to school to develop more. Just being 19 and still young, I can mature more and improve in different aspects of my game. MHJ // How important is a college education to you and how much did that affect your deci- sion to come back? Boeser // Yeah, that's definitely important to my family and me. Whenever I leave, I know I'm going to get my degree at some point in my life; so obviously that was a big reason why I stayed. MHJ // How have you seen your game develop in just one year of playing at the college level? Boeser // I think this year I definitely feel more comfortable right off the start. I think this year I definitely have a different role. I'm more of a leader in a way. So just taking on this aspect of it has helped me develop so far. WITH A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ALREADY UNDER HIS BELT, North Dakota sophomore Brock Boeser has wasted no time making his mark in college hockey. 08 MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM // DECEMBER.2016 Q&A PHOTO BY MIKE EHRMANN/GETTY IMAGES