Wednesdays with... University of Victoria defenceman Henry Hart

"Wednesday with..." is a weekly feature on BCIHL.ca that gets fans up close and personal with a different player from around the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League.

Wednesday, December 5th with... University of Victoria defenceman Henry Hart

Vikes captain Henry Hart didn't follow the traditional route to the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League. Rather than play out his 20-year old season of junior hockey, he made the move following his rookie campaign with the KIJHL's 100 Mile House Wranglers in 2013/14.

He jumped right into the Victoria lineup as an 18-year old and played all 24 regular season games, immediately providing a steady presence on the team's blueline. Four years later he's basically that same guy, albeit now in a leadership role. He's only missed a handful of games over his five seasons in the league, dressing for 102 regular season contests and 11 playoff appearances.

Hart captured a BCIHL championship at the end of his third season with the Vikes when they upset Trinity Western on their home ice in dramatic fashion on a last-minute game winner in the third and deciding game. But he waited until his fifth and final season to score his first collegiate goal as part of a three-point night on hom ice against Selkirk College.

The 22-year old currently sits ninth in all-time BCIHL regular season games played and will be able to inch his way into the Top-5 with a healthy second half of the season.

Hart: I chose to come to the University of Victoria in order to continue playing competitive hockey while also pursuing an education. Although this is possible through different routes, I chose the BCIHL to stay in B.C. and also because of the great things I had heard about the league and teams, especially UVic.

Q: Who have been the important influences in your junior and collegiate hockey career? Who has helped you get to where you are today?

Hart: My biggest influences in junior were my parents supporting me and my fellow teammates pushing themselves to get to the next level. During the collegiate years, it has been the older guys on the team, especially the leadership core. Seeing those guys perform well on the ice and off the ice, and in school, influenced me to stick it out through the hard times and support the new guys in the same way.

Q: What are your personal on-ice goals this season?

Hart: To contribute in every way I can and play the role expected of me in order to help our team make playoffs.

Q: What are your team goals this season? What are the positive signs so far this season that make you feel you can reach them?

Hart: To make the BCIHL playoffs. The positive signs so far this season has been improved practice times allowing for more effective practices, a large new group of skilled, motivated freshman, and a solid veteran leadership core motivated to lead this team to playoffs.

Q: How would you describe your game to someone who hasn’t seen you play? What are you strengths as a player?

Hart: I'd say that I'm strong defensively, good at winning puck battles and supporting teammates on the ice.

Q: What are your education goals and future career path?

Hart: I'm planning to graduate with a degree in Geomatics and staying involved in the BCIHL as a volunteer while getting a job related to GIS in Victoria.