What a difference a year makes.
After learning the ropes in his first season in the United States Hockey League, Marc McLaughlin’s game has taken off in his second and final season in Cedar Rapids.
The Boston College recruit had 10 goals and 10 assists in 21 games before going down with a lower-body injury that he is hopeful to be fully recovered from in time for the stretch run.
McLaughlin, a former standout at Cushing Academy, now is accustomed to what it takes to succeed in North America’s top college-bound league.
"As a second-year guy, you already know how good the league is. I’ve gotten my confidence up and I’ve tried to rely on my experience," McLaughlin explained.
"Having a year of experience in the league is a big deal," said Cedar Rapids coach Mark Carlson. "It’s a tough league as a young guy. He was a valuable member of our team last year, but he grew into it this year. He’s faster, stronger and more confident. Things have come into play nicely for him."
Almost every player in the USHL will matriculate to an NCAA program. It means the competition McLaughlin and others like him face night in and night out is quite challenging compared to what they’d face in prep or high school hockey.
"The speed and decision-making … everyone in the league is good. Every decision you have to make has to be made a lot faster," McLaughlin explained.
The 6-foot forward always has used his rugged frame to his advantage, going all the way back to his Midget days with the ’99 Providence Capitals. He’s tough to knock off pucks and has an uncanny ability to come off the wall and drive into the scoring areas. He has a heavy shot that he can get off quickly and from anywhere on the ice.
"I’m a power forward with a 200-foot game. I like to play both offense and defense," McLaughlin said of his style of play.
"He’s very well-rounded," Carlson complimented. "He skates well. He has a good shot. He can move the puck. He makes enough plays. He’s a very wellrounded, 200-foot player. He can play on the power play, kill penalties and take faceoffs."
Growing up in the Boston area (Billerica, Mass.), McLaughlin always has been a big Boston Bruins fan. He’s paid particular attention to center Patrice Bergeron as a role model to emulate in his own game.
"He’s a 200-foot guy who is reliable in both zones," said McLaughlin of Bergeron.
Despite the increased production and overall elevation of his game, McLaughlin knows there are still parts of his game he needs to work on to be successful going forward.
"Just my individual skill and my poise with the puck," said McLaughlin, who will head to BC in the fall. "I can’t wait for the opportunity to play at BC. The coaching staff, the education and the history of the hockey program — I think it’s a great fit for me."
In addition to being a player that BC fans should grow to enjoy watching on the ice, McLaughlin brings great character and leadership skills to Chestnut Hill.
"He’s been great as a leader. He has the confidence to speak up in the room, which is very important. He leads by example. He works so hard. No one works harder. He’s not afraid to get involved physically," Carlson said.
"He’s a guy who could be a captain at BC and at the pro level," added Carlson, a former standout player at UMass Lowell who just won his 600th game in the USHL.
Carlson, a native of Lawrence, N.J., was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. He quickly turned his attention to coaching after his playing career with the River Hawks.
Carlson is one of the most respected coaches in junior hockey and has pushed several recent local products on to successful careers in Hockey East, including Northeastern forwards Adam Gaudette (Braintree, Mass.) and Matt Filipe (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Providence winger Erik Foley (Mansfield, Mass.).
Carlson joined Waterloo’s P.K. O’Handley as the only coaches in USHL history to amass 600 wins. Carlson, the only coach in RoughRiders history, is the first to do so with just one club. Sixteen of Carlson’s alums are currently under NHL contract and 45 former players skate in college hockey this season.
"From the second I got here I noticed the attention to detail. He expects a lot out of his players and is hard on us, but you can tell he really cares about our development," said McLaughlin, who has enjoyed his two years away from home in Iowa.
"The RoughRiders organization does a great job," McLaughlin said. "The Cedar Rapids community is unbelievable. We always get great turnouts and it’s a lot of fun to play here."
