Daniel Chartrand is roughly seven hours away from home and leaving his friends and family wasn't an easy transition to get used to. However, knowing he was moving to pursue his academics while playing the game he loves certainly makes it a lot easier for him.
It's not like this year is the first that Daniel has lived somewhere else, in the end, either. Throughout his junior hockey days, he made stops in Dauphin which he called home for many years throughout his life, La Ronge and finally, Swan Valley to finish his junior days.
The soon to be 23-year-old was then set to move south of the border last year. He joined the Northland College Jacks men's hockey team who is an NCAA Division 3 school. During his 20-game rookie season last year, the Duck Bay native had two goals and three assists.
Daniel is now back with the Jacks and he's on pace to play more games than he did last season and he's already recorded more points than he did last campaign. In 18 games this year, Chartrand has four goals and two assists. However, the team has gone through some struggles. They're currently 4-13-1 and they're 1-7 within conference play.
"Things are going alright. We're just trying to get something going here, it's not the start we were looking for," said Chartrand. "It's all a process and that's how we have to think about it. We have a great group of guys that come out and compete every night. We're confident we can get things going."
The change from junior to college hockey in the United States is rather drastic. In the MJHL, Daniel was used to playing 60 regular-season games plus any playoffs. This year as mentioned before, the team has played 18 games. They play just seven more games before the playoffs begin late next month. With fewer opportunities to get into game action, that means he just has to be that much more prepared come game day, knowing the next one sometimes isn't for another week.
"It's definitely a different scene, but I'm pretty familiar with it now being my second year," continued Chartrand. "I just go out every game and give it my all and let the chips fall where they may."
"Sometimes your mind isn't into it or your body isn't, but you just have to work through that and prepare that much more," he continued. "It's all about having a positive attitude here, as it is anywhere."
Chartrand and the rest of the Jacks' return to the ice tomorrow. They'll play the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The Blue Devils are also having struggles this season as they're 4-12-1 overall and they're 3-4 in conference play. Earlier this season, Chartrand scored a goal in a 6-5 loss against this same team.
Ever since he first suited up his skates with the Parkland Rangers program in the 2013-14 season, Daniel made it a personal goal of his to play hockey at the next level while completing his post-secondary studies.
Six years after that 38-point season with the Rangers, Chartrand is just now just a few years away from being a senior and he's enjoying the so-called process each step of the way.
"Things have definitely exceeded my expectations. I'm playing with grown men who are stronger and they've played here for a lot longer," he continued. "It's been a wild ride and a super enjoyable one, I'm proud of where I am right now and I'm looking forward to what's next."
When it comes to what his future looks like, that's really a simple answer for the former Parkland Ranger and Dauphin King.
"The sky is the limit," he continued.
The team's strongest stretch this season came back on November 15 and 16 when they rallied off two straight wins against Bethel University and Hamline University, respectively. Chartrand scored two goals against Bethel and he had one assist against Hamline.