Freshman Friday is a Q-and-A feature with new members of the men's hockey team. This is the third installment, featuring forward Corey Hoffman. He talks about some of his favorite hockey memories, how his hockey travels took him through a famous high school in Texas and a unique occurrence at a game he saw at Cornell when he was a recruit.

Q: You're on of three New York natives on the team this year. Were you born and raised on Long Island?
A: Yes.
 
Q: So how did you get started in hockey?
A: My dad played club hockey in college, and kind of got me into it at a young age. I just fell in love with it. Then I just played midgets and juniors.
 
Q: Right, so it looked like you really took off on the New York high school scene at Syosset, where you had north of 100 points in one of their short seasons. When did you decide that this was something that you were going to pursue?
A: Probably right around the age of 9 or 10, I realized I just wanted to focus on hockey and that's what I wanted to do. I just fell in love with it, and ever since then it kind of became my life.
 
Q: Was it a hard decision to leave home so early, though?
A: Yeah, at left home at 15. It was pretty hard, but I knew it was best for my hockey career and that I was going to do whatever it takes to get to the next level.
 
Q: And where you went isn't exactly a hockey hotbed. What was it like out there in Odessa, Texas?
A: It was a small town and it was definitely like what you see in the movies. But everyone from around there was really friendly, and it was actually a great time. It was a good cultural experience and definitely a lot different than New York City.
 
Q: How much of a culture shock was it for you?
A: It was definitely a change. I'm so used to a big city and everyone always rushing around. It was just the complete opposite down there.
 
Q: Had you read 'Friday Night Lights' before you went to Odessa? Because that's where that iconic book about high school football culture in Texas took place.
A: I did not, but I became pretty familiar with it once I got there.
 
Q: I've heard they don't really like the book down there.
A: No, they don't. And I actually went to the same high school — Permian (where the book took place).
 
Q: So then it's off to the BCHL. Was that another drastic shift for you?
A: At that point, it was just the best hockey decision. I knew it was a great league, so it was the right move.
 
Q: And you were already committed to Cornell by that point. What other schools were you looking at before settling on Cornell?
A: There was nothing too serious, just a few schools here and there. I just thought Cornell fit me best. It's a great education and great hockey, all in one package.
 
Q: Did you get a chance to visit a game at Lynah?
A: I actually came to a few games here, and I fell in love with the place right away.
 
Q: Do you remember any of the games?
A: Yeah, the first one was when Mitch Gillam scored a goal (against Niagara in November 2013).
 
Q: So what are you studying here?
A: Policy Analysis and Management in the College of Human Ecology. But I'm trying to switch to the hotel school at the end of this year.
 
Q: What do you see yourself doing, if it's not ultimately in hockey?
A: I'm not really too sure. I just know that the hotel school gives you a lot of different career paths and options, so you're not just kind of stuck in one.
 
Q: For fans who haven't had a chance to see you play yet, how would you describe your game?
A: I like to think of myself as a shifty player who works hard and likes to have the puck on his stick.
 
Q: Any players you like to compare yourself to?
A: I like to model my game after small guys like Johnny Gaudreau, and other small guys who are shifty and crafty — guys who like to make plays out there. But no one in particular.
 
Q: Would you say you've always been that kind of player?
A: I've always been a smaller player, so I've had to adapt my game to that. I just have to beat guys out of the corner with my speed and smarts as opposed to just absolute strength.
 
Q: You're from Long Island, so allegiances are important here — Islanders, Rangers or Devils?
A: Definitely the Islanders.
 
Q: Your hometown of Plainview is in Nassau County, so I guess that makes sense. Did you go to a lot of games as a kid?
A: Yeah, my dad had season tickets for 10 years. So we'd go to so many games, and it was a lot of fun.
 
Q: What's your favorite memory from Nassau Coliseum?
A: When Shawn Bates scored a penalty shot in the playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs. (The goal broke a late-third period tie, and the Islanders won on April 24, 2002).
 
Q: Mets or Yankees?
A: Mets.
 
Q: So did you go to a lot of Mets games, too?
A: Yeah, we had season tickets for those games, too. That was a lot of fun.
 
Q: What are your thoughts on Ithaca and the school so far?
A: From what I've seen, everyone's just so friendly — that's just what kind of stands out. It just feels like everyone's just genuinely good people.
 
Q: Anything here surprise you so far?
A: Not really surprised so far, but it's just nice to see that people are so into the hockey culture here, and everyone has an interest in coming to the games and stuff like that.