Player Profile: Lucas Little
November 20, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release
Lucas Little got his first taste of NAHL action during a four-game stretch with the Port Huron Fighting Falcons midway through the 2012-13 season.
ÃâÃÂ
The 20-year-old defenseman tallied a pair of assists in those two weeks with the team, who signed him to a tender agreement for 2013-14. More importantly, he learned what it was going to take to stay at the junior level.
ÃâÃÂ
"The NAHL is much faster and tougher than AAA," Little says. "During the summer I trained almost every day to prepare myself for this season, focusing on speed and strength. Coming up for those games last season showed me what I had to do to be ready."
ÃâÃÂ
The Traverse City native has proven that he is ready to compete at this level. He's appeared in all but one of the first-place Fighting Falcons' 21 games so far this season. Two of his four assists this year have come against the Johnstown Tomahawks, who the Fighting Falcons will face this weekend in Johnstown.
ÃâÃÂ
Little has enjoyed his time in the NAHL; the league's Showcase in Blaine, MN is his highlight of his first full season at this level.
ÃâÃÂ
"It was a great atmosphere being surrounded by great hockey all weekend," he said. "I got to see a couple of my former teammates from back home who are with Corpus Christi this year, and it was just a great event overall."
ÃâÃÂ
Little has found a lot to like about Port Huron, a town with beautiful beaches not unlike Traverse City.
ÃâÃÂ
He attributes his team's spot atop the league standings to the hard work they put in during the week, both on and off the ice.
ÃâÃÂ
"One thing I've really noticed playing here is how serious everyone is about making this team a success," Little said. "While that's obviously true of games and practices, it's just as true when it comes to getting out in the community, and all the work being done in our front office."
ÃâÃÂ
Little's only superstition is that his right skate always goes on before his left. Beyond that, he spends his time before the game preparing for the task at hand with his teammates.
ÃâÃÂ
He hopes that the game he's played since age ten will take him to a Division 1 NCAA roster, a goal he shares with each of his teammates.
• Discuss this story on the North American Hockey League message board...
North American Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2013
- Player Profile: Lucas Little - Port Huron Fighting Falcons
- $1 off Admission Food Drive Friday - Aberdeen Wings
- Blizzard Join Camelot in Giving - Brookings Blizzard
- Support Central Illinois Foodbank with the Jr. Blues - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Parizek Honored by NCHC - Aberdeen Wings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
