Meet Jr. Reign Alumni, Colton Huard

Colton Huard

(Written by Matthew Berezowski)

Almost every young hockey player has a dream or a goal for the level of hockey they want to play one day. For most, it is to play in the NHL, and as players get older, they usually begin to realize that there are stepping stones to get to that ultimate goal. These stepping stones may be a prep school, a junior hockey team, a college team, etc., and with each stepping stone comes new opportunities as well as challenges.

Colton Huard, over the years has become very familiar with this process and is now playing NCAA Division I college hockey at the University of New Hampshire. Growing up with a dad that played in the highest level of hockey, the NHL, Colton has always had high aspirations for what he could become as a hockey player.

When Colton was 13 and 14, he played for the Reign, which at the time was the Wildcats 14U team. He described this experience as “an amazing experience” and appreciated the coaching especially. Tomas Kapusta was his coach at the time, and he was able to help Colton develop through giving him ice time and opportunities at a critical point in his development as a hockey player.

Halfway through high school, Colton decided to take the next step in his hockey journey and play prep school hockey. He played at the Pursuit of Excellence Prep school for 2 years as he finished off high school, and from there he moved on to junior hockey.

For Junior hockey, like most players, he played on multiple different teams. His first two years were with the Aberdeen Wings in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), followed by half a year at Fargo Force in the United States Hockey League (USHL). That year, he was traded to the Chicago Steel in the USHL, and his final year was with them as well.

From there he was offered a spot on the University of New Hampshire D-core where he has played for the past 3 years. Going into his senior year, he is excited for what this year holds in store, and he recognizes just how much hockey has taught him over the years.

            Colton expressed that through his hockey journey, he has experienced numerous highs and lows whether it was challenges with playing time, being scratched, or other various challenges that come with playing hockey. Through all of these trials, however, he learned the true meaning of resilience as well as trusting the process. He said that over the course of his hockey career he has learned and is still learning to, despite challenges, keep a good attitude and “continue showing up and trusting in God that He has a plan.”

From his years of challenges and experience within the hockey world, Colton concluded that the best advice he could give to young aspiring hockey players is to have fun while maintaining a attitude of constant improvement. “Want to be the most competitive and hardest working hockey player every time you step on the ice.”