For the SHL's Big Brother program, I've decided to mentor Halifax Raider's left winger Suzuki Namokato. The choice was simple really. His early career mirrors mine, both starting as a sniping left winger drafted by Halifax. I think I can help show him a thing or two about the league.

We met up on a Friday and spent some time just getting to know each other. We grabbed some burritos for lunch and we took a stroll around the Raider's training facility. It was nice to be back in my old stomping grounds and see the changes and new faces. I asked him what he wanted out of his time in the SMJHL and gave him some advice. I told him to just enjoy the minors because once you get the call up, it becomes a crazy, stressful journey. The minors are a great way to hone your craft. You are supposed to work on your skills so there's some leeway for you. Once you get to the SHL, you need to already produce so there isn't as much room for error.

I asked him how he would respond to a certain situation in the SHL. I told him, what would you do if you were mired in a 10 game pointless streak? He said he would stay calm and patient and just keep working off the ice. He would try to clear his mind once he left the rink to kind of reset. On the ice, he would just keep working on his skills to remind himself that he didn't lose any of them. I thought that was a great answer.

I'm excited to follow Namokato's journey to the SHL and I hope he finds his way there soon. I'll be waiting for him.

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