Laczynski’s intensity earns teammates’ respect
Sometimes, Ohio State forward Tanner Laczynski gets a certain look in his eye. His teammates immediately know what’s coming next.
“If he’s doing something (in practice) and someone takes the puck from him or something like that, you can just see it in his face how annoyed and mad he is, and he just goes off,” said senior Matthew Weis, who has been Laczynski’s linemate the past two seasons.
Weis described it as a rage — not a let’sdrop-the-gloves type of rage, but rather how much he wants to dominate. It makes his teammates chuckle because, just moments before stepping on the ice, Laczynski will be his regular self, joking around with teammates or dancing in the locker room.
It’s that all-business intensity that has made Laczynski, who is leading Ohio State in scoring with 20 points (six goals, 14 assists), an instant success since arriving on campus. The sophomore will lead the No. 15 Buckeyes into a Big Ten series against No. 7 Minnesota on Friday and Saturday at Value City Arena.
“Tanner brings an edge to practice Monday through Thursday,” coach Steve Rohlik said. “Sometimes it’s on the edge and teammates are like, ‘Don’t go so hard.’ But at the end of the day, that’s what you want. And I think that’s why he’s having some success because what he’s doing Monday through Thursday.”
Laczynski, a Shorewood, Illinois, native, came to Ohio State after a successful junior career playing for the Chicago Steel and Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League in 2015-16, and having been drafted in the sixth round (169th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2016 NHL draft.
A polished pedigree was shaped by some personal shortcomings. Laczynski was cut from the Steel in his first year, with the team citing a lack of balance in his game. He worked tirelessly on his off-the-puck skills and eventually turned enough heads to land on the United States under-18 team the following summer.
He eventually made the Steel and tallied 40 points (13 goals, 27 assists) in 33 games, but he wasn’t selected in his first year of draft eligibility and was scooped up by the Flyers as an overage player in the following draft.
Unsurprisingly, Laczynski wouldn’t let that get to his head.
“The next year I told myself I wouldn’t let it get the best of me and let it take its course,” Laczynski said. “Obviously, I was more than thrilled to get drafted, but I also knew the work hasn’t even started yet to get to that stage.”
That work ethic has resonated with his teammates since he arrived at Ohio State. It allowed him to earn the respect of the captainship immediately as a freshman in a 32-point season.
“I think everyone (respects) that, because they know every time you go up against Tanner Laczynski in practice you’re going to get the best and you’re going to have to give your best if you want to partake in what he’s about to do,” Weis said.