Feb 24, 2010

Where Are They Now: Jordan Samuels-Thomas

Karen’s Print Rite presents an update on former Waterloo Black Hawks forward Jordan Samuels-Thomas.

The big winger from the Hartford area joined the Hawks prior to the 2007-2008 season and recorded eight goals, with three assists that year.  Samuels-Thomas returned for a second season and became the first Black Hawk in four years to score 30 goals in one campaign.  With 32 goals last year, Samuels-Thomas was just the 23rd Black Hawk since 1979-80 to record 30 goals in a season.

Over the summer, the Atlanta Thrashers selected Samuels-Thomas in the seventh round of the NHL Draft.  A few months later, he was moving to northwestern Ohio to play for the Bowling Green University Falcons.  As a freshman, his 22 points tie him for the team scoring lead with another former Black Hawk, Tomas Petruska.  Samuels-Thomas’ ten goals are the most of any Falcon.  We asked Jordan about his exciting first season in the NCAA.

Black Hawks: What a start to your college career.  What have you thought of the game at that level?

Jordan Samuels-Thomas: Playing the past two years [in Waterloo], the coaches always said that the jump from USHL to college hockey is very small and I’d have to completely agree with them.  You have guys who are bigger and stronger, but other than that, the game is pretty much the same, so I was able to take what I learned in Waterloo and translate it to my game in college.

BH: A little more than halfway through your freshman year, what has been the highlight of your season so far?

JST: The highlight for me is going into schools like Michigan and Notre Dame and Michigan State and taking on teams that are historically good powerhouses.  You go there and have a packed crowd, playing a really good team, it’s exciting and that’s why you play college hockey, to play against the best players at the collegiate level.

BH: Among your former Black Hawks teammates, who have you enjoyed playing against most in the NCAA?

JST: I’d say Lee Moffie [with Michigan].  I was out there with him the most, just coincidentally.  Every time we were out there we were always saying something, chirping back and forth.  It’s always fun playing with Lee, and he’s from Connecticut as well, so that’s always fun too.

BH: You were drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in June.  What was that experience like?

JST: It was the best day of my life.  It was a blessing, something that my family and I had prayed for and worked hard for.  Last year went really well with the help of the coaches and putting in the time and work.  I’m really happy it happened, but it’s also a reminder that you have to work hard to get there.  I’m one step closer, but that’s just another reminder how much harder I have to work to get there.

BH: You were at a Thrashers prospect camp over the summer.  How was it to be on the ice with all the hot prospects in that organization?

JST: That was quite and experience.  It was another eye-opener.  I went into camp thinking I was a pretty good player, and you have players who are just as good as you, or better in some cases.  A guy like Evander Kane, he was at rookie camp with me; he’s playing for the Atlanta Thrashers right now. 

You have to look at what works at the pro level, kind of tweak your game.  It was a really good learning experience for me and helped me out in the long run coming into my season this year.

BH: Looking back on your two seasons with the Black Hawks, what would you call the highlight of your time in Waterloo?

JST: I’ll go with two, starting with my first year when we made it to the Clark Cup final.  We made it to the last game and lost a heart-breaker in overtime.  Anytime you go that deep into the postseason, that’s something really important.  Then, I’d have to say, when I got my first hat trick in the USHL, that was important.  I was always getting pretty close that year, and I finally got it, so it was nice to get.

Where Are They Now is presented by Karen’s Print Rite.  Photo courtesy of Todd Pavlack.