Cochrane’s James Robinson will be playing National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hockey next season in Pennsylvania. Robinson, currently skating at the Junior A level with the B.C. Hockey League’s Langley Rivermen, has signed a letter of intent to join the Penn State Nittany Lions.
The 19-year-old Edge School grad is currently in his second season with the Rivermen. The assistant captain has nine goals and 15 assists in 25 games with Langley.
“I can’t wait, I’m excited,” he said in a telephone interview with The Eagle. The 6-foot-1 forward appeared in 55 regular-season games last season with Langley and ranked third on the team in points (42) and assists (33), earning the team’s Energy Player of the Year award. “I had a good rookie season last year, and this year I’m having a good year so far.”
At a point-per-game average, good may be an understatement. When he’s not lighting lamps for Langley, he’s playing a two-way game coaches covet. Power-play, penalty-kill, key faceoffs and a healthy dose of grit make him one of Langley’s go-to forwards and a player Penn State intends to play next season, rather than red-shirt in his rookie year.
“I kind of like to do it all,” says the Cochrane Minor Hockey product who started in tyke and played up to bantam before joining the Airdrie Xtreme and then Edge Mountaineers. “In the last minute of a game, whether we’re up a goal or down a goal, I’m on the ice.”
You’ll find him either at centre or left wing – versatility being his key attribute for a Division 1 NCAA school that offered him a four-year scholarship, where he’ll be studying business.
“James is a high-character individual and should have an easy transition to Penn State Hockey,” said Penn State men’s hockey coach Guy Gadowsky. “He competes extremely hard and is very intelligent in all three zones.”
