Eric Carreras Adds Tenacity to Lone Star Brahmas
September 29, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Lone Star Brahmas News Release
Eric Carreras started skating when he was two years old when his dad took him to the rink every weekend for the public skate. He started playing hockey two years later. "I was four years old and fell in love with the game," said Carreras. The 5' 9" - 140 pound native of West Chester, PA will now be putting his years of hockey development to work in the NAHL as a member of the Lone Star Brahmas.
What kind of player is Carreras? US Hockey Report gave the following evaluation after scouting a showcase that he participated in. "Small, but plays big. Strong on the puck, and tenacious without it. Makes plays in tight spaces and has an effective shot." Having grown up near Philadelphia and having Flyers season tickets, Carreras took a lot of cues from Claude Giroux. "I look at what he does that makes him so successful and I try to emulate that on the ice," Eric said. "I would describe myself as a play maker. I like to set up plays and help teammates succeed as well."
He was a prolific scorer playing for West Chester Henderson HS scoring 80 points on 35G - 45A his senior season prompting his coach Scott DiRico to label him as the best player in the entire state. Carerras said he really doesn't read much into anything like that. "My team had a great season and I had a lot of help on the ice from my line mates." He went on to say "I just try to get better every time I step on the ice whether it's for practice or games."
"We have a very talented and hardworking group here and I can't wait to see how the season turns out."
When he was not playing for Henderson, Carreras was competing in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League as a member of the Philadelphia Jr Flyers. He continued to rack up the points against the tougher competition registering 126 points in 116 games played over the past three seasons. Eric contributes that success to the coaching he has received the past couple of seasons from Dill Swahl and Bud Dombroski. "They really helped with my progression as a hockey player." He then went on to offer credit on his teammates as well. "I also had line mates over the years that I had chemistry with and that helped make each season better than the last."
Following a game played at Penn State, coach of the Esmark Stars, Si Bishop had a discussion with Carreras. Bishop helped introduce the Lone Star organization to Carreras as well as sending Brahmas Assistant Coach Jeff Potter info on Eric. A few weeks later Potter contacted Carreras to discuss the franchise, their goals and to let him know the Brahmas were interested in him. Carreras liked what he heard about the organization and said he was "lucky enough to have them draft me."
Carreras has already noticed differenced in the Tier 1 and NAHL level of play. The biggest being the speed. "The guys we play against in the NAHL are faster and stronger so that took a bit of an adjustment but Coach Wildfong and Coach Potter helped to get not only myself but the team ready for the season and what to expect when games started."
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