Veteran defender takes pride in his PK role

Junior defenseman Dillin Stonehouse grew up in the small town of Elkhorn, Manitoba, population 500, where just about every kid, male or female, plays hockey. 

So the community of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., which is striving to hang on to its mantra of being the original Hockeytown USA, is a perfect fit for the former Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standout.

"The Sault is actually a pretty big place for me still," Stonehouse said. "In Manitoba, there's not much else to do other than play hockey. Ever since I could walk, I could skate. My parents (Darwin and Donna) were a big part of hockey. They came to all my games, and drove all over Manitoba and Saskatchewan to watch my brother, sister and me play."

Stonehouse first heard of Lake Superior State University from Jason Miller, a former member of the SJHL's Humbolt Broncos who played for LSSU in 2005-06.

"Miller was from a town over, and I learned about the bell and small school," Stonehouse said.

Now in his third collegiate season, Stonehouse is one of seven experienced defenders on a 5-6-1 Laker team. He was a regular in the lineup through LSSU's first 12 games and isn't taking his playing time status for granted. He played in 35 of 37 games as a freshman, and 30 of 39 games as a sophomore. He knows that he must prove himself every day.

"We have a lot of good players, and to stay in the lineup every night is tough," he said. "You have to give yourself a chance to compete every night."

"At the start of last year he wasn't in the lineup, but otherwise he has been there," said teammate and close friend Tyson Hobbins. "He works hard every day. He earns the coaches' praises because of his good intensity."

To date, Stonehouse is giving this year's Laker defense a "satisfactory" grade. The Lakers were 3-4-3 at this time last year without having powerhouse Michigan on their schedule. They were 1-2 in one-goal games. So far this year, they are 2-3 in one-goal decisions.

"A lot of our game has to do with defense this year," Stonehouse said. "We're really trying to eliminate goals-against to give ourselves the best chance to win every night...Things are clicking at different times. We'll be scoring one night and giving up bad goals defensively. Then the goalie will have a great game and we won't be scoring. If we can get everything clicking, we can compete."

Stonehouse puts the pressures of playing tough CCHA competition week after week into perspective.

"I've learned to have a short memory I guess," he said. "The coaches say that hockey is a game of mistakes. Learn from them, move on and try to eliminate them."

The Oct. 23 win over Ohio State (3-2) was the closest the Lakers came to playing a complete game, according to Stonehouse. He named junior Matt Cowie as the Lakers' most-improved defenseman and is excited about freshman Zach Trotman's potential.

"Simon Gysbers and Steve Kaunisto would be the top D on anyone's team," he added.

Stonehouse also noted that Chad Nehring's emergence as a points leader is no fluke.

"He's one of those guys who works more than anyone I've ever seen," Stonehouse said. "He's always thinking about hockey. He works hard in the weightroom and in the off-season. It's good to see him having such a great year."

Hobbins described Stonehouse as a player who emphasizes his penalty killing role and being strong defensively. Hobbins recalled a recent video clip involving Stonehouse that impressed the Laker coaches.

"This PK clip comes on and he's battling one or two guys in the corner, and won the battle," Hobbins said. "He's hacking and wacking. I want to say it was against Ohio State."

Stonehouse most looks forward to playing the "big schools" - Michigan, Notre Dame and OSU, but his dream is to play at Joe Louis Arena.

"It's definitely makeable," he said prior to the Nebraska-Omaha trip. "It's not a stretch. We have a great team this year. We haven't been doing that well lately, but we've been close. We can prove people wrong and make a stand."