Bruins prospect Mason Lohrei ready to test himself in college

The numbers Mason Lohrei produced last year were nothing less than eye-popping.

Lohrei, the Bruins’ second-round pick (58th overall) in 2020, led his league in scoring for defensemen with 19-40-59 totals in 48 games.

The only thing to temper the excitement over this 6-foot-4, 200-pounder? Well, he didn’t rack up those numbers in the NCAA or one of the Canadian major junior leagues, but as an overage player for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL.

Still, the Ohio State-bound left-shot defenseman has given the B’s plenty for which to be optimistic. And the fact that he chose to go back to Green Bay wasn’t such a bad one, especially when you consider all the difficulties the NCAA and Canadian juniors had with various COVID shutdowns. B’s Director of Player Development Jamie Langenbrunner said he was able to see the 20-year-old Lohrei play six to eight times this year and said his big production wasn’t a case of the older kid putting up big numbers on less experienced competition.

“He was right in the middle age-wise for that league,” said Langenbrunner. “I think for the way the season rolled out as far as the USHL basically playing the most games of any league in the world was great for him. He got to play a lot of hockey, he got to play in big situations, big minutes and really blossomed his offensive numbers. He had a good year the year before and he had a really good year this year. I think it was really good for him. He’s going to take the next step now to Ohio State, he’s been on campus and putting in the work. It’s been a good path for him. Could he have gone in to school? Sure, it was a possibility. But I think the path he took is just fine for him.”

Jake Schmaltz, the B’s seventh-round pick in 2019, was not only Lohrei’s Green Bay teammate but also grew up with Lohrei in Wisconsin. Schmaltz and Lohrei were fourth football teammates, Schmaltz the quarterback and Lohrei the receiver (though he wasn’t as big a target as he would be today, Schmaltz noted)..

Schmaltz, also attending B’s development camp, said there’s more to Lohrei’s game than point production.

“He took a big step coming back from his first year. He’s a great player,” said Schmaltz. “I see it every summer when I work out with him. He works really hard. Sometimes he gets underappreciated. He does so much in the D-zone, which translates to his offense ability. He’s a great player. I’m so happy for him. He’s a great guy and so glad he had a great year like he did.”

Lohrei makes no excuses for going back to the USHL for a second year to “get bigger, stronger, faster, gain some confidence and experience.”

And while the offensive numbers might suggest otherwise, he said his focus in his second year was to concentrate on his defensive game.

“My first year I went to Green Bay, offensively I was kind of a wild card. I think I tried to be more offensive my first year than last year,” said Lohrei, who had 8-29-37 totals his first full year in Green Bay. “Last year, I really focused on defense. Defensively, I just played my own end and let the rest of the game unfold. I think in the beginning of the year, Jamie Langenbrunner was out there the first two games and that was what he preached and I played that way for the rest of the year. Good things happen when you take care of your own end and move the puck.”

After development camp was canceled last year because of COVID, Lohrei is getting his first taste of being around a pro environment.

“The biggest thing is just to learn,” said Lohrei, who said his explosiveness is at the top of “things to work on” list. “There are so many great hockey minds here, so I just want to learn from them about what it takes to be a pro, especially in this organization. And obviously there are 27 good hockey players here with me and it’s good to learn from them, too, and match myself up. Obviously, I’m always out to prove myself. I have a chip on my shoulder for that reason. But I’m just excited to be here and learn this week.”

The Bruins usually bring in a veteran player to address the group and this year it was Brad Marchand’s turn. But Marchand not only talked the talk, he walked the walk. When the prospects were about to endure a 7 a.m. bike test, they were surprised to see Marchand walk in and join them for what is an arduous exercise.

“That was just a testament to how hard he works and he’s really an inspiration for all of us in the program,” said Curtis Hall, a 2018 fourth-rounder now with Providence. …

With European prospects unable to attend because of vaccine issues, the B’s have a dozen invitees in camp. One of them who has stood out to Langenbrunner has been 21-year-old Travis Mitchell, a 6-foot-3, 201-pound left defensemen who had his sophomore season at Cornell wiped out when the Ivy League canceled the season because of COVID. Langenbrunner said he used his time to pack on some muscle.

Mitchell is a name to watch. As the B’s have painfully learned, you can’t have too many big, strapping defensemen.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3iklYgr