In a word, is driven.
Combined with being bigger, stronger and quicker鈥攁nd with an added year of maturity鈥攖he 18-year-old forward鈥檚 game has advanced into a new domain with the 琉璃神社 Rockets鈥� in 2017-18.
Fresh off a confidence-boosting stint at Vancouver Canucks鈥� training camp, Lind exploded out of gates to start the season, scoring three times and adding five assists in a pair of Rockets鈥� victories last weekend.
Bolstered by a five-point effort on Saturday night in Kamloops, Lind is the early leader in the WHL scoring race.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good start, for sure,鈥� said an understated Lind, who was named both the CHL and for his efforts. 鈥淚鈥檓 just going to try do what was stressed by Vancouver to keep up my pace, to always play with speed. It鈥檚 something I try and do. So far, it鈥檚 working out.鈥�
prospect Kole Lind's second goal from Saturday night - picks the corner...... then taunts the Kamloops crowd.
鈥� Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech)
In addition to a thorough summer training program in Saskatoon, which helped add a dozen pounds to his 6-foot-1 frame, Lind鈥檚 mental approach also evolved in the off-season.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a lot different for me in that way,鈥� said Lind, the Canucks鈥� second-round pick, 33rd overall in the 2017 NHL entry draft. 鈥淚鈥檓 feeling more positive at the beginning of the year, I worked a lot on the mental side of my game. I have to be a leader and show positivity.
鈥淚 think I feel less pressure, too,鈥� he added. 鈥淚鈥檓 more used to it, I want to be leaned on by my coaches and teammates鈥 want to be the go-to guy.鈥�
With a stop at Canada鈥檚 world junior development camp in August, then later at Canucks鈥� training camp, Lind not only gained some valuable experience but confirmed he has all the tools to play at the next level.
鈥淚t definitely helped me a lot, my first time at the Canadian junior camp, wearing the Maple Leaf was good for me,鈥� said Lind, who led the Rockets with 87 points last season. 鈥淎t Canucks camp, it was a good experience to line up against NHL players, to do things at their level and I鈥檝e tried to bring that pace back here with me.
鈥淭o get where you want to go in the game, you鈥檝e got to battle with men and I鈥檓 working at improving on that, too.鈥�
Rockets鈥� assistant coach Travis Crickard, who been on the staff since Lind鈥檚 first game with the Rockets back in 2014, is impressed with the Shaunavon, Sask. native鈥檚 evolution into an elite player, both physically and mentally.
Crickard, like the organization as whole, looks forward to seeing what the latest version of Lind can do over the course of an entire WHL season.
鈥淜ole seemed to make a decision over the summer to work hard on several areas of his game, and right away in practise you saw how good his puck control was,鈥� Crickard said. 鈥淗e has a lot more confidence in making those highly-skilled plays, he鈥檚 just at another level this year.
鈥淗is maturity level and his mindset have impressed me too. Only time will tell, but he鈥檚 not showing the frustration he did at times last year. When you鈥檙e as good as Kole, I think there鈥檚 no doubt he鈥檚 going to progress to the next level. It should be pretty enjoyable to watch.鈥�
Lind and the Rockets (2-0-0-0) will be looking for their third straight win to start the WHL season Friday when they host the Everett Silvertips. Face off at Prospera Place is 7 p.m.
whenderson@kelownacapnews.com
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