By Brandon Thomas
Cornell Athletic Communications

Freshman Friday (and, for this year, the Sophomore Spotlight) is a Q-and-A feature with new members of the men's hockey team. This is the second of 14 installments this year, featuring freshman Justin Ertel.

Q: You were taken in the third round of the NHL draft over the summer — but it wasn't too long ago (2019) that you were selected in the third round of the OHL draft. At the time, were you fairly certain you were going the major route, or did something change to bring the NCAA into play?
A: At that point, I wasn't too sure what I wanted. Near the end of my minor midget year, I kind of opened up to the NCAA route. I learned a lot about it and enjoyed everything that I was hearing and saw. So at that point, I thought it was best for me to develop at a prep school in Ontario, which still allowed me to have the option of either going to the OHL or the NCAA route. But in talking with Cornell and then coming down for a visit, it became a no-brainer for me. It just checked off all the boxes on my list.

Q: So when did Cornell start to enter the picture for you?
A: In the middle of my minor midget year, I started talking to them then. Once I went the prep school route, I started talking to them a lot more. I got a lot more interest in the program and the school overall. I'm glad it worked out.

Q: There's been quite a pipeline between St. Andrew's and here over the last 5-10 years. How much of that did you feel through the recruiting process?
A: Obviously knowing that Morgan Barron, Matthew Galajda and Matt Stienburg were all here in recent years, that was something that was in the back of my mind. It's not that I wanted to follow in their footsteps – I want to make my own – but I really enjoy seeing how they developed and their route from St. Andrew's to Cornell. Now you see Barron and how he's doing with the New York Rangers and how good Galajda and Stienburg have been, I just really enjoy seeing their progression within their development. Seeing where they are is pretty incredible.

Q: Particularly in the cases of Barron and Stienburg – two power forwards – how does Cornell being a factory of those types of guys play into your thinking?
A: I was really interested in Cornell's playing style. The aggressive play and the relentlessness on pucks really grabbed my attention, and it's really physical. That's kind of game I enjoy playing. For me, that was the big thing. I'm able to continue playing my game and bring it right into Cornell.

Q: Was it Cornell that sold you on the university route, or had you dismissed major juniors by the time Cornell started recruiting you?
A: When I visited and watched a game, the atmosphere in Lynah was insane, as well as the coaching staff when I went on tour here. Everyone was just really good to me. I think that was the biggest part of the hockey aspect for me. And then I think if you come out with a degree from Cornell on top of that, I think you're pretty set for life. It checked off all the boxes I was looking for in a school.

Q: I'm curious about your father's influence in all of this, because he played in major juniors – on the same team (the North Bay Battalion) that drafted you, no less. What was his voice in all of this?
A: He was actually the one that opened up the idea of prep school and the NCAA to me. He understands how important school is, especially having gone through the OHL route. He really couldn't express any more that school is really important, as well as how well you develop as a player in the NCAA. He paved the path for me. I'm really grateful for everything he's done for me.

Q: You have two brothers who also play hockey, so it's obviously a big part of your family. But in an interview after the Dallas Stars selected you in the draft last summer, you said 'my parents are the real heroes'. You hear that from time-to-time, but the way in which you said it made it seems like it particularly important for you. Why was that?
A: I was playing with my (hometown) Kitchener Junior Rangers, and then my minor bantam year I tried to go to the (Greater Toronto Hockey League) to play there. But there were a couple problems with that process, and I ended up having to drive an hour, 20 minutes every single morning to go to a school so I could play in the GTHL. The amount of hours my parents put into my development and putting me in a position to succeed says it all for me. There's no chance I'd be here without them.

Q: At what point did you start to see your stock rising in terms of being a pro hockey prospect?
A: I think my Grade 11 year (at St. Andrew's) really helped, playing on a line with Mark Hillier and Cole Galata. We had a really good year and our team was really successful. That was the stepping stone for me in getting my name out there, you could say. And then ending up in (Prince Edward Island) to play some games really helped me as well, because a lot of my OHL friends never got the chance to play (in 2020-21) and it hurt them in the NHL draft. I was just really grateful to play some games. I would say my coaches Billy McGuigan in PEI and Dave Manning at SAC really helped me with scouts and getting my name out there.

Q: Last year was pretty crazy for everyone, but even still – a move from St. Andrew's to the Maritimes is a pretty big one. How did that all come together?
A: My dad actually ended up going to UPEI (after his professional career), so he had a couple contacts out there. The coach reached out to him and saw that we weren't playing any games at SAC – just (intrasquad) games where no one was allowed in the rink to watch. So he offered me a spot. My dad and I and my advisor thought it was best for me to be able to present myself to scouts to get looked at.

Q: How did NHL draft day play out for you?
A: I was actually at a local restaurant near my house. We rented a room, and it was my whole family there. We just had the TV on. It was obviously pretty nerve-racking. But it was a really cool day, and to just see my name pop up there was something I'll never forget. A really amazing day overall.

Q: You're in the hotel school. What are you hoping to do with that degree someday, post-hockey?
A: At this point, I'm honestly not too sure. I'm still trying to figure that out, but obviously something to do within the business world.

Q: I'd be remiss not to mention that you've also played a lot of lacrosse, too. At what point did hockey become more of the priority for you?
A: I would say that growing up, hockey was always my #1 sport. I kind of always thought that lacrosse was a secondary sport. But I really needed to make the decision the summer before my Grade 11 year. But for me, it was always hockey. (Lacrosse) was always very helpful for my hockey game. I'd recommend it to anyone who's looking to get into another sport.

Assistant director of athletic communications Brandon Thomas is in his 11th season as his office's primary contact for the Cornell men's hockey team. He can be reached at brandon@cornell.edu.

Freshman Fridays (and Sophomore Spotlights)

•  Oct. 8: Joe Howe
*  Oct. 15: Justin Ertel