Below are 7 Quotes from Boston University forward and NHL Draft Prospect, Jack Eichel. Before departing for the National Development Program in Ann Arbor, Jack worked at Zwickers in Bedford, MA and maintains a strong relationship with the staff. He agreed to answer some questions for me to share.

Despite all of the fame Jack is a great kid and a very down to earth, humble and hard working person. Awesome to see that in a up and coming star at only 17 years old. Everyone at Zwickers speaks extremely high of him as a person.

Below are the 7 questions I asked with his answers underneath in bold. Great stuff. Thanks a lot Jack, very appreciative of you taking the time to do this!

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If you could give a 12 year old hockey player one piece of advice what would it be?

“My best piece of advice would be to work hard. I don’t just mean work hard in the sense of do the same thing as every other player. You have to be different because everyone is common. You have to work harder than everyone else. Be true to yourself. Realize your weaknesses and turn them into strengths.”

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What is your favorite drill to do at practice?

“I like anything to do with a battle. Hockey is a game of different battles. If you win those you will be successful.”

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What is your favorite thing about the sport of hockey?

“My favorite thing is the sport itself. It’s so exciting to compete with your team. No better feeling than scoring a goal and celebrating with your team. The comradery you build is something I’ll always remember.”

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What is the hardest part about being in the spot light at age 17?

“Not letting people get to you. A lot of people try and knock you down. More people want to see you fail so you have to block them out. Realize the good people in your life and stay focused.”

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What methods or strategies do you use to keep yourself focused on the next game or practice with all of the distractions going on around you?

“I’m always thinking about the next game. I try and think about myself having a good game. I try and come up with a game plan of how I am going to attack the opposition. Figure out their weakness and exploit it.”

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For a younger player who wants to get better, what do you think is the most important think to focus on away from the rink?

“Live hockey. It has to be everything. If it is your dream you have to set hockey as a priority over everything else. You can enjoy yourself but make sure you realize what the most important thing in your life is.”

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Lastly, what is the best hockey shop in New England?…

“Nowhere better than Zwicks”   (Zwickers)