Reid Jorgensen prepares for life after university hockey

By Rhiannon Kirkland

Reid Jorgensen is not only the Dinos Hockey scoring leader — he sits third in CW scoring with 17 goals and 16 assists — but is also the team’s captain, leading them both on and off the ice.

His approach to playing hockey is to work hard and do the little things right.

“Right place, right time, you just chip in and make sure you’re not doing anything to hurt your team and hopefully things will go your way,” said Jorgensen, a fourth-year history major graduating at the end of this semester.

Jorgensen plans to remain involved with hockey in one way or another after he graduates. He has been invited to NHL training camps three times, twice with the Detroit Red Wings and once with the Boston Bruins. He wasn’t drafted or brought on as a free agent after these camps and any future involvement in the NHL remains uncertain.

“It was phenomenal, my first year I had a chance to go to Detroit and that was Steve Yzerman’s last year,” said Jorgensen. “Going to camp and skating on a line with him, it was fantastic. Those are two top-notch organizations and I consider myself fortunate. You get to see the best of the best, especially with those two teams. They’re the best in the world and it’s easy to see why when you’ve been around it.”

Jorgensen grew up watching the Red Wings and is still a huge fan.

“I’ve always been a Detroit Red Wings fan ever since I was a little kid,” said Jorgensen. “Steve Yzerman was my favourite player and they’ve always been my team.”

Jorgensen said that the most important things he learned from NHL training camp was how to be professional and work hard.

“Hockey has given me a lot and now it’s my turn to give back, whether that’s staying and coaching in the community or whatever that may be, but the future’s still a little bit unsure as to whether I’ll keep playing or not,” said Jorgensen.

He said he would also be interested in potentially becoming a coach or general manager after he graduates.

“I’ve coached,” he said. “We have a decent junior Dinos program here at the university. A few of the guys on our team have helped out and coached there. Running hockey schools, when I played junior I had the chance to be behind the bench a bit when I was injured one season.”

Jorgensen said that he has enjoyed taking history classes — especially about the military and diplomacy — but doesn’t plan to pursue graduate studies. He’s not sure how far an undergraduate degree will get him.

“I’m fascinated by people and why we are where we are and I don’t know if it’s just the boy in me, but the military side of things, the diplomacy, it just fascinates me,” he said.

Jorgensen doesn’t see himself continuing on in academics but instead sees a future in hockey in one way or another.