Nathan Allensen was literally beaming at the prospect of playing in Kitchener.
"It felt like Christmas morning," he said recently before his Barrie Colts played the Rangers at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
You can't fault the Waterloo native. It's not like he gets this opportunity every day, considering he plays for the Barrie Colts, a team that only visits once a season.
But home is where the heart is for the Waterloo Wolves alumnus, who had about 50 family and friends in the stands for the Colts' 6-4 win over the Rangers.
"The support from my family and friends is outrageous. I can't thank them enough for that," said the defenceman.
"There's nothing like family and friends coming to watch you. Even away games, they always come to watch me and it means a lot," Allensen added. "It's tough living away from home and not seeing your family every day, but when you get to see them, it means a lot and I can't thank them enough for all the sacrifices and support they've given me throughout the years."
The 18-year-old, third-year defender has improved his game since entering the Ontario Hockey League, establishing career-highs in points each year and seeing top-pairing minutes.
Allensen admits starting his OHL career as a 16-year old was hard, but gives credit to some of the leaders on Barrie's 2017-18 team for giving him direction.
He started his OHL career with a bang, scoring 2:41 into his first game on a team that featured the likes of future Ranger Alexey Lipanov and current Carolina Hurricanes star Andrei Svechnikov.
"We had a good team that year with some great leaders, and our coaching staff have always been good to me, just coming to the rink, learning every day and just working my way up the lineup," Allensen said.
"Now, being one of those older guys with this young team, I'm just trying to lead and give back everything I've learned so far," he added.
Allensen, who was Barrie's second-round selection in 2017, had 33 points in 55 games this season when the schedule came to an abrupt halt and players were sent home. He hopes his season will get him another look in this summer's NHL Entry Draft, after being passed over last year.
"That was a big part of my off-season, thinking that I wasn't drafted. I used it as my motivation," he said. "It was in the back of my head, but I think that's why I've been so successful this year.
"I have to credit to the guys at Depth Training in Waterloo and my skills coach for pushing me throughout the summer and just getting better every day."
Allensen says he wants to make every workout purposeful, all the way down to each individual rep.
Among his training regimen came the introduction of boxing, something he took on with Colts teammate and captain Luke BIgnell, who's a Kitchener native.
"He's been doing it for a while, but I joined this year," Allensen said. "It's great for cardio and you've got to be ready if someone drops the gloves out here."
– KitchenerToday.com
