There is no question Mario Puskarich knows how to score.
Through 21 games, he leads the 91原创 91原创 with a dozen goals.
And those numbers are huge considering the 91原创 struggle to find the back of the net.
Of the team鈥檚 45 goals 鈥 11 of which came over the weekend in a pair of victories, 6-3 over Westside and 5-2 against Vernon 鈥 Puskarich has had a hand in 35 per cent of the team鈥檚 offence with four assists to go along with the 12 goals.
鈥淗e has good ability, a good nose for the net and a good shot,鈥 said 91原创 coach Steve O鈥橰ourke.
鈥淭he question coming in here was would he play defence. And surprisingly enough, he is one of our best defending players.
鈥淗e is really smart on the ice; sometimes it can come across as looking maybe lazy but he is always in the right spot,鈥 the coach added.
鈥淵ou will look up and he is not sprinting to a spot, he is already there.鈥
Puskarich, a winger, joined the 91原创 this off-season after a couple of seasons in the USHL.
He spent last season with the Tri-City Storm, a Nebraska junior hockey team.
鈥91原创 sounded like a great opportunity,鈥 he said.
He came on the 91原创鈥檚 radar when the owner of the Storm recommended him to 91原创 owner Roy Henderson.
Being away from home is nothing new for the Pittsurgh-born but Florida raised Puskarich.
Minor hockey is thriving in Florida, but as the players get older, there are limited opportunities as they get older, requiring a move away from home.
So at 16, Puskarich went to Chicago for his midget hockey and then wound up in the USHL after that.
鈥淭he first year, you get a little home sick at first, but I am used to it so it is not too bad now,鈥 he said.
His goal is to earn a college scholarship.
O鈥橰ourke says Puskarich has good hockey sense and knows where he needs to be on the ice positionally. The question that remains is if he has the skating ability to play at the next level.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 his biggest knock,鈥 the coach said. 鈥淗e does a lot of other things well.鈥
One thing that can鈥檛 be questioned is his work ethic.
鈥淗e can definitely compete,鈥 the coach said.
鈥淥ut of the (21) games, there are not very many he has taken off, let alone a shift off.
鈥淗e has been a pretty consistent competitor for us all through the year.鈥
Another thing working in Puskarich鈥檚 favour is his willingness to listen.
鈥淲hen we are showing video, he is always very open to learn how he can get better, what he can improve on,鈥 O鈥橰ourke said.
鈥淗e is very coachable.鈥