By Warren Kozireski —
As a freshman, Northport’s Tanner Adams was tied for first on Providence College with 15 assists and finished second on the team with 21 points. Fast forward to this season and the sophomore right wing already has two more goals than all of last season and is tied for the team lead in points with 13 through the first 16 games.
“Got off to a hot start; scoring more which is nice, it’s definitely good for the confidence so just playing well,” Adams said while the team was participating in the Adirondack Invitational in Lake Placid Thanksgiving weekend.
Adam, who just turned 19 years old in September, began his hockey development with the Long Island Gulls at 13 years old and jumped to Mount St. Charles Academy for one season before heading to the USHL and Tri-City for two seasons as a 16- and 17-year-old.
“Growing up from mites I played on the older teams. All my buddies were on that team, so I just stuck with them all the way up and then I made the change my 15-year year to be with my age (group) at Mount St. Charles. And then I went to the USHL, and I was still the youngest guy on the team there.
“I’ve always been comfortable with it.”
Adams racked up 32 points his first year in the USHL and 33 his second year in 13 fewer games and added five points over four postseason games.
“My first year we had a good team, same with my second year. (It’s) a machine over there, so it was good for development.”
And arrived on the Providence campus as a 17-year-old.
The son of Amy and Tim Adams scored first collegiate point—an assist—against Michigan Oct. 8.
Though an above average skater, he continues to work on that part of his game among other things.
“You can never be too good at something. The little details (like) my skating, my IQ making plays in tight and working on my shot; that was my biggest thing over the summer just trying to get more confident getting the puck off my stick.”
Adams was invited to participate in the Vegas Golden Knights Development Camp in the past, though he was not selected last summer in the NHL Draft his first time being eligible.
“It definitely adds a little flame to the fire which is nice,” Adams said about not being selected.
“The only guy I need on my side is myself, so I’m just going to prove everyone wrong.”
(Photos provided by Providence Athletic Department and Providence Men’s Hockey Team)
