“Will Vote … he is a hockey player.”
Yes, of course. Will Vote, the 5-foot-8 right wing from Arlington, Mass., is, in fact, a hockey player. But Dan Muse, head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team, feels it’s an apt description for one of his best forwards.
What Muse means is Vote does it all. The Boston College commit is able to contribute at 5-on-5, kill penalties and cash in on the power play.
“There’s versatility there in his game,” Muse (Canton, Mass.) said. “He’s really an all-situations type of player.”
The NTDP U-18s got off to a scorching start this year, winning their first nine games. That included wins over USHL teams as well as Michigan State, Notre Dame, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech and the University of St. Thomas.
Vote played a large part in that, notching three goals and five points in the nine wins. Through the first two months of the season, Vote had five goals and 10 points, which ranked sixth on a team that started 13-1.
Life has been very good for both the 17-year-old and his team.
While life was still good for Vote last year with the NTDP on the U-17 team, it wasn’t so hot for his team. That group lost nine of its first 10 games en route to a 19-33 finish.
“Last year, especially at the beginning of the season, the whole team was a little down,” Vote said. “Weren’t seeing the success on the ice with the success we were putting in off the ice.”
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That’s not entirely shocking. The U-17 team is made up of new players from all sections of the country. It takes time to build the chemistry necessary to secure victories against USHL opponents, as well as a plethora of other teams from around the globe.
Still, Vote was a key contributor to last year’s team, notching 20 goals and 30 points in 52 games.
“I think that’s kind of how every 17-year goes,” Vote said, “and when you adjust to that, adjust to the harder schedule and playing older guys, I think that’s when you really start to see the teams succeed on the ice.”
The tone has been much different on the U-18 team this season. It makes sense that after a full year of playing together, a team with the talent of the NTDP is jelling and winning games. But Vote said there’s something different about this group.
“On most teams, there are a few cliques where people hang out with each other but maybe not hang out with some of the other guys on the team,” Vote said. “I think our team is just so close. I feel like every team says that, but I truly believe that with our team. Everybody hangs out with everyone.”
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What’s helped Vote is living with future BC teammates Will Smith (Lexington, Mass.) and Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass.). The three share a house with Vote’s parents and Smith’s parents rotating through every two weeks.
“It’s been awesome,” Vote said of living with his fellow BC commits. “Can’t really ask for much more. I think our house is very energetic, very loud and very fun. I think we all push each other to do the best we can.”
The jump is legitimate going from the U-17 team to U-18. The reason for it is playing college teams, which this season’s NTDP team has had success against. So has Vote. Seven of his 10 points came against Division 1 opponents.
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“It’s a heavier game,” Muse said of facing college teams. “Sometimes you’ve got to execute a little bit quicker. When you think you have enough space, you’ve got to make sure you’re protecting your stick and you’re not letting one of those players who sometimes is four to five years older than these guys take that time and space away or get up underneath you, because that’s where colleges have an advantage, is just how much older and stronger they are.”
While much of Vote’s success can be measured in goals and assists, a lot of it can’t.
“He’s a guy that does a lot of little things that he probably doesn’t get enough credit for,” Muse said. “Little plays that he’s able to make. His puck protection skills, making plays in tight areas. He’s also a guy who will do the right thing away from the puck, things that don’t show up on the scoresheet but that as a team, we just really appreciate.”
Vote has found a spot in the lineup on the right side of Oliver Moore, a Minnesota commit, and Danny Nelson, who’s headed to Notre Dame. The trio complete the NTDP’s second line and rank Nos. 4-6 on the team in scoring.
They work together so well because Moore provides the speed and Nelson infuses the two-way play. Nelson also brings the size at 6-foot-3, creating lots of space for his two linemates.
“It’s awesome,” Vote said of playing on a line with Moore and Nelson. “They’re so fast. They create so much time for me. They’re two unbelievable players and unbelievable teammates, so I think playing with them makes it super easy on me.”
There’s still lots of hockey left to be played this season, which means more time for Vote to develop. The plan is to head to Boston College next season.
Before that, however, Vote is draft eligible. In NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary players to watch list, Vote was issued a ‘C’ rating.
So, does the 17-year-old spend much time thinking about the NHL draft next summer?
“I try not to,” Vote said. “I know everyone says that, but it’s kind of hard to not keep it on your mind a little bit especially when you’ve got agents and people telling you all this stuff. But I’m not really a guy that thinks too far into the future. I just kind of take it day by day and week by week. I’m not really thinking about that right now.”
