British Columbia Stay Paid Off For Former Viper Collins:

This was in the Eagle Tribune Newspaper:

British Columbia stay paid off for Merrimack's Collins

On College Hockey

Mike McMahon

The Eagle Tribune Fri Oct 22, 2010

When Merrimack College freshman Mike Collins committed to the Warriors in 2008, he was playing his high school hockey about 30 minutes south at perennial power Catholic Memorial.

Three months after graduation, Collins found himself 3,000 miles from home in British Columbia, playing with the Vernon Vipers.

"I wanted to play at a high level for juniors," said the 6-foot-1 winger, who earned an assist in his collegiate debut against UConn Saturday. "It was a big step up for me but I knew it was something that I'd have to do to be ready to play in Hockey East."

Always having a knack for the net — he scored 55 goals in two years with Vernon — Collins won his team's Rookie of the Year award in 2009. He helped the Vipers win back-to-back RBC Cup Championships in Canada, the Jr. A National Championships up north.

The first title was won alongside current Merrimack sophomore Kyle Bigos, who was also Collins' roommate.

Merrimack was impressed by Collins' savvy.

"Mike has incredibly hockey IQ," said Warrior coach Mark Dennehy. "He's not the best skater in the world but he makes up for that by always being in the right place, he's never out of position.

"He's just a student of the game, always asking questions and has such an understanding for how to play his position. He wants to be a hockey player. He's worked real hard to get to where he is today and he's still doing it."

Collins, who hails from Boston, said, "Ever since I was a kid I knew that skating was a weakness. I always work on (my skating), but if I can make up for that by playing smart then that's what I'll do to overcome it."