>Thanks to laxmom for the heads up on this article, as the Colorado Avalanche have a great feature up on the team website about senior forward Justin Mercier. Here’s a short snippet:

During this, his senior season at Miami, Mercier is taking on more of a leadership role than ever before. While he’s not wearing a letter on his sweater to make that responsibility official, Mercier has taken the lessons he learned from previous leaders of the RedHawks and is trying to use them to help out a young squad.

“I think a lot of it had to do with the guys who came before me. I really looked up to Ryan Jones, Matt Christie and Andy Greene,” said the Erie, Pa., native. “I saw how those guys led and you just try to follow in their footsteps, lead by example and be good in the locker room. They showed me how to take the reins.”

Definitely worth checking out the rest. I expect big things from him this season…I can say in all honesty that Justin is one of the most exciting players I’ve ever watched…love his hustle with and without the puck.