New Jersey Titans‘ 2-year right wing Jake LaRusso(21) decides to go for another season of junior hockey before committing to Colorado College for 2022/2023.
After an impressive 2nd NAHL season, scoring highs of 16 goals and 28 assists with a +6 rating was drafted by USHL Madison Capitals and hopes to play a full season up there before heading off to school.
Initially committed before his 16U AAA year in close to home, Colts Neck, New Jersey’s youth program, he would next go to play a couple of single games for his stepdad’s team New Jersey 87’s before joining the main squad.
The 19-year old will need to continue to prove his game but you can bet he’ll put in the work.
We did a Twitter player interview with Jake:
cHp: You’re from New Jersey. You looked to have a decent youth hockey run with NJ Jr. Titans, but then joined NJ 87’s, which is a pay to play league.
Was that just temporary before joining the Jr. Titans NAHL team and can you talk about that two game experience a little, because you started low in the 87’s system in premiere, getting a hat trick in your only game, then played 1 more with their EHL team. It looks like you moved onto the NAHL team from there and stayed until this year.
I did see from an article your step dad coached one of the 87’s teams.
You’ve played all your hockey close to home in Jersey, but committed to Colorado College. Why did you pick that school and not one around here?
You also committed to that school at the beginning of 2018, very young. How did they discover you? Was it thought you’d play a few of juniors before heading to college?
You’re listed as playing high school hockey at St. John Vianney High as a freshman in 2016/2017 season, but was that you’re only year there?
You’ve had a super solid weirdo season in the NAHL scoring 16 goals and 28 assists in 52 games playing like 4 teams constantly.
Does that have you looking beyond college at all or is that your main focus for right now?
JL: Yea, so my U16 year I left St. John Vianney. I played U16 Titans and my step dad was the coach of the 87’s. The only reason I played one game with them was because they needed guys due to injury and illness.
Later on that year I joined the NAHL team where I have been my whole career so far. It has been a blast. The culture, coaching staff and arena is by far one of the best in junior hockey.
I committed to Colorado College when I was 16.
I loved the facility and coaching staff there when I committed so that was the decider for me.
I have plans to go to the USHL next year and play for the Madison Capitals.
I do want to play in the NHL one day as well, after college
cHp: Nice. I was wondering that, if you were going to head to Colorado College, as reported for 2021 or put it off a year for another run in juniors.
Did you get drafted by that USHL team or just agree to join them?
JL: I got drafted by Madison.
cHp: That’s awesome. Was that exciting news as you move your way up? Do you have an expectation for yourself going in?