Building Blues: Cole McWard Finds Comfort in AHL, Aims to Take His Game to the Next Level in Year Two

Throughout the season, the player, 23, said the coaching staff taught him what it means to be a reliable player in their system. The consistent execution of details and game plan throughout every practice and game is where Mcward feels like he's taken a big step.

“I think it's a psychological thing. You don't try to do too many things and you know that you have a role and add value when you do it for your team,” he said. “Either you close and hold a really good gap so they can't come in and chase the puck, or you break away and work for your lover, who is your person. working for you, you keep your head up, you know what you're going to do with it and you take it up and out of your place,” said McWard.

When it comes to specific skills, he felt he has improved a lot in getting out of his box near the crease and has seen his success happen in real time on the ice. He hopes to continue to build on that next season and focus on being a defender with a strong nose in front of the net, being aggressive in the corners and doing whatever he can to help his team score.

Late in the season and in the Calder Cup Playoffs, McWard established himself as a mainstay on the penalty kill.

Abbotsford finished the regular season third in the league in PKs and first in the Western Conference with an 85 percent success rate.

“I really liked having the opportunity to grow on that and getting my ice time on the PK at the end of the year where I was on every penalty kill and penalty kill near the top of the league was amazing to take ownership of that and be a part of that,” he said.

Expectations for where you slot into the PK next year vary depending on whether you make the Vancouver team or Abbotsford.

“If I go into training camp and I can make it to Vancouver, my expectations on the ice and where I will play will change. If I end up in Abbotsford again, my goal is to be over the boards every single penalty we have, and I can be one of the guys to block every shot, stop goals from happening, and get out. when we are facing the best players in the AHL,” he said.

While he's focused on being a reliable defender in his first pro season, he has a solid shot and hopes to turn it around a lot next season. Last season there were times when he ignored his puck to make another pass or play, and with a year of hockey under his belt, he feels confident to step up his offensive game.

“I think the next step for me is to add that offense and I think I can add a lot this year. “Hopefully I can show the coaching staff, management and teammates that I can help on the power play, I can make plays and hopefully use my shot a little bit,” said McWard.

McWard scored 17 points (4-13-17) and in six playoff games, the right-handed shooting guard collected an assist.