Uecker

Last season, Austin Uecker had a good first season in the NA3HL with the Helena Bighorns of the Frontier Division with 27 goals and 27 assists.

This season Uecker, from Sleepy Eye, is having an even better season for the Bighorns as he currently has 22 goals and 21 assists for 43 points.

He leads the team in goals and total points.

“Last year I started off slow, but I know that with the players I have next to me that they are going to help me — and have helped me — and I am going to do the same for them,” he said. “I want to help them succeed and also help the team in general. I want to help us get a W every night — that is the main goal.”

Uecker said that his biggest adjustment from Year 1 to Year 2 in Junior Hockey has been taking a leadership role.

“I want to help out the new players,” he said. “I got selected to be a captain and I have accepted my role,” he said. “I know that I have to lead the guys on and off of the ice — we all need to be on the same page. We have that championship mindset.”

Uecker said that there is no big secret to his goal scoring this season.

“Just shooting the puck,” he said. “Just shoot the puck and it is bound to go in eventually. I have just been trying to shoot, shoot and shoot and not pass up any shots that I possibly have.

“I have always been a pass-first player but I also really like scoring. If there is a pass open, then I am going to try and make that pass.”

Right now Uecker and his Bighorns team is in second place in the Frontier Division, 6 points behind Sheridan.

“We play them next weekend at home,” Uecker said, “Sheridan has a bye week before they play us. So our main focus is getting 4 points this weekend (against the Badland Sabres) — the games next weekend against Sheridan will feel like playoff hockey.

“Both teams know that these are big points, especially where we both are at in the standings, so we are going to have our best games for sure.”

Uecker also had a cup of coffee when he was called up to Aberdeen of the North American Hockey League where he practiced with them.

“It was a good experience,” he said. “They are a good [NAHL] program and I learned a lot. It is a faster pace and it brought out that next level in me for sure. And is has been beneficial being back here and being able to use what I learned there and implementing some of those things here.”

Uecker said that when his Junior Hockey time is over after next season, he does want to play DIII college hockey.

“And I would prefer to play either in Minnesota or Wisconsin,” he said.

Uecker doesn’t have a certain goal for himself individually the rest of the season. His main goal is to do what it takes to win.

“I do not have any personal goals this season — I am not that type of person — but I just want to do whatever I can day in and day out to help my team win,” Uecker said. “Our mindset right now is taking the season one game at a tme — we want to win the day — and our main goal is to make it back to the Fraser Cup.”