ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — Bobby Brink has hockey in his blood
"Pretty much my whole life I've never wanted to be anything but a hockey player," says Brink.
The Excelsior, Minnesota Native, who trains as hard as he plays, comes from good stock. His father Andy Brink played at the University of Minnesota and the two have always bonded over hockey.
"It's been huge having him guide me through it all," says Brink. "He's been through most of what I have been through and he's played at a higher level. To have him as a coach when I was younger teaching me about the game has made it even easier for me."
Nothing is easy about Brink's meteoric rise this season. After helping Minnetonka to a state title as a sophomore he made the decision to leave school and go play for the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede.
"It was best for me to push myself against the top competition I could play at and get experience at a higher level," says Brink.
A higher level he dominated with 68 points in 43 games and was named forward of the year despite missing more than a month with a fractured ankle ...Still he skyrocketed up the NHL central Scouting Bureau's charts. Starting the season 29th among North American Skaters and finishing at 19th ..giving him a legitimate chance to be a first round pick
"Now that we're close to the draft that's when you start to think about it a little more," says Brink. "About NHL teams picking you and taking stock in you, kind of before that it seemed so far away you don't really think about it much as you high school and junior career."
That might be Brink's biggest strength his ability to block out the hype. As the stages have gotten bigger, he's continue to shine brighter
"I think when you're on the biggest stage you feel like you just have so much energy and its one of the coolest moments," says Brink.
And his biggest stage is yet to come, the One he looks forward to walking across in Vancouver this weekend.