Cleveland -
While growing up just 90 minutes from
in
, Justin Mercier may be close to home now, but earlier in his life it was not always the case. In high school he traveled all over the country, while playing for an astonishing five high schools, but it was all that travel which prepared him for the challenges of everyday life in professional hockey.
"I went to five different high schools," Mercier said. "Moving around so much helped me mature, and learn time and money management. Moving around was a huge benefit for me. I really learned to live on my own before I had to."
As the Monsters start a seven-game road trip, after Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Rochester Americans Mercier has started to play his best hockey of the season.
"Justin has been playing great as of late," Monsters head coach David Quinn said. "I was actually telling him the other day this is the best he's been playing since he's been here"
Mercier played his collegiate career at the
, one of the best programs in the country, where he helped lead the Red Hawks to a Frozen Four runner-up during the 2008-09 season and was named West Regional MVP during the tournament.
"I got a good sense of family when I was at
," Mercier said. "I came from a very close knit family. My experience there was like being with by family."
After a great college career, Mercier was a sixth-round draft pick by the Colorado Avalanche, where he signed an entry-level contract and was assigned to
. His rookie year he split time between the Avalanche and the Monsters.
"Once you get there, it makes you want to get there that much more," Mercier said. "I have spent every day since trying to get back."
Mercier's dream was realized on December 9
th
when he was called up to the NHL and while his stint was short with
, he managed to score a goal and an assist in only nine games. His first NHL goal came against the Nashville Predators.
"I learned a lot about the game while in the NHL," Mercier said. "I thought I was doing things right than you get on the ice with the best players in the world, and you realize how much it takes on an everyday basis."
During his rookie season with the Monsters he showed everyone what potential he had recording 23 points in 64 games, including five multi-point games.
So far this season Mercier has played exclusively for the Monsters and has olny scored 10 points in 37 games. In fact this season has been somewhat similar to last season when Mercier only recorded one assist in his first 24 games, before finishing the season strong.
While he is not having his best season he is optimistic that things once again will turn around during the second half of the season. In the last three games however Mercier has started to turn it around scoring two goals, and recording an assist in that stretch where the Monsters won two of their last three games during the stretch.
"The Monsters have never made the playoffs before," Mercier said. "We feel we are getting that much closer as a team and if we keep working hard hopefully we get there."
With the Monsters playing a key portion of their schedule, 14 games in 24 days, it is going to take a overall team effort to get through it, with Mercier playing like the aggressive scoring forward he is it will make this stretch that much easier for Lake Erie.