Playing with the NHL pros in Columbus was no picnic for Prince George Cougars defenceman Sam Ruopp.
It was hard work, the likes of which the 19-year-old from Zehner, Sask., had never before encountered in his hockey career.
After helping the Blue Jackets prospects win the rookie tournament in Traverse City, Mich., the six-foot-four, 179-pound Ruopp was invited to main camp, where he had to try to prevent the likes of Nick Foligno, Brandon Saad and Boone Jenner from scoring.
"Just putting on the jersey and playing in Traverse City was pretty cool, we won the championship and got a picture with the cup there, hopefully the first of many (NHL celebrations)," said Ruopp. "It was pretty hard in the camp skating with the NHL guys, a lot of big bodies, so I just tried my best to fit in and make the team there.
"My most memorable (incident) was when everyone was watching when I hit Boone Jenner and kind of put him on his butt. That was a pretty cool memory for me. Just being out there was a highlight for me."
Now he's back throwing his weight around and punishing his junior-aged peers in the Western Hockey League. The 19-year-old Ruopp returned to the Cougars in time for the start of the WHL season two weeks ago, and so far the Cougars have failed to live up to expectations. They dropped their second game of the season 4-1 Sunday in Seattle.
Nobody thought the Cats would go 72-0, but a win and two losses in three games is nothing to write home about and Ruopp, the Cougars captain, knows he and his team are better than what they've shown.
"They outworked us (in Seattle), it was mostly us, the mistakes we made cost us," said Ruopp, whose Cougars host the Tri-City Americans (2-1-0-0) tonight and Saturday at CN Centre.
"We can't be giving up that many goals in a game. There's no excuses but I think once we do find our game and our chemistry, we'll be on a roll. Once we do, expect a lot out of the Cougars."
Ruopp has one assist in three games and a plus-4 rating, tied with defence partner Josh Anderson for tops on the team. Cougars head coach Mark Holick expects a lot out of his captain as the go-between for the players and the coaching staff and knows from watching Ruopp's development the past two seasons what he means to the team.
"I expect him to be our best defenceman every night," said Holick. "There's going to be nights where he's probably not, but I expect him to have his effort and his attitude at 10 out of 10 every night, and it usually is. He needs to be our rock back there, the guy who dictates how we come out every single night. Your captain needs to be a guy who takes charge of the team and makes sure they're ready to play He's an extension of the coaching staff and he has to make sure he's selling what we're trying to get through to the hockey club."
Holick says with the exception of Boston Bruins draft pick Jesse Gabrielle, who leads the team in scoring with three goals in three games, none of the Cougars who went to NHL camps has performed up to his abilities.
"I think all the NHL guys have struggled since they've come back," said Holick. "I think (Ruopp) played OK in the (4-1 win over Everett, Sept. 27), but in the losses I'm not sure anyone played real well.
"It's kind of interesting talking to other coaches around the league about players coming back from NHL teams and having a bit of a hangover. Jansen (Harkins) doesn't have a goal, (Brad Morrison) doesn't have a goal and (Chase Witala) only has one. I would have thought we'd have a lot more offensive production from that group.
"On the back end, (Tate Olson) and Sam have both been OK, but I think there's a lot more room to grow. Maybe guys come back thinking it would be easier to play the speed that they were just playing at and forget you still have to have good habits and still have to play the game the right way. We need more out of our best guys, on offence and defence."
The Cougars have scored just five goals in three games and have allowed seven. Team defence was the theme of practice through much of this week. On Thursday, they took time to sharpen their offensive skills.
With just five power-play chances in three games, Holick says that's an indicator the Cougars aren't forcing the play or moving their feet enough, especially in the offensive zone. That will have to improve to have success this weekend against the Americans.
"We've got to create offence - at this level and levels above it's not easy to score," Holick said. "They have good defence and (Evan) Sarthou is pretty solid in net. For us, it's finding a way to get that second and third opportunity."
LOOSE PUCKS: F Tyler Mrkonjic and D Shane Collins are back in the Cougars' lineup after missing three games with upper-body injuries. Rookie D Max Martin will undergo shoulder surgery on Monday and will be sidelined for an expected three months... Holick said Mack Shields will get the start in goal. Game time tonight is 7... Cougars' sports psychologist Saul Miller has been working with the players this week and they've also had help this week from power skating coach Karen Kos and goalie consultant Justin Cardinal.
