After signing a contract just before the season started, Gilbert Plains Colby Robak and his family are settling nicely into their new life in California as a part of the Stockton Heat, and things are heading in the right direction not only for Robak but the team.
"Things are going really well," said Robak. Team-wise, we have a great team, and we're definitely a playoff contender. Personally, it's been a good start. An injury sidelined me for a couple weeks, but I got through it and now I'm feeling good getting back to action."
Robak and the Heat have a couple mini losing streaks to their name, at max three games, but the team has also put a few winning streaks together, and thanks to that they sit in second place in the Pacific Division with a 16-10-2-2 record.
"I think having to find that consistency is part of being a professional," said Robak. "Whether it's at the start, middle or end points matter the same in game one as the last game of the season. Our coaches and leadership group have talked about not getting too high, or too low all season, and that's what we have to continue doing. We're a hard-nosed fast team, and that's what the opposing teams see us as, so if we can play like that until the end of the season, we should be okay."
With the American Hockey League being one step below the National Hockey League, the dream of making it to the big leagues is that close for players, and Robak has made that leap before, but now that he's playing in the AHL, he knows what it takes to succeed and impress NHL coaches.
"When you're this close to making the NHL, some players get selfish and they try to do too many things on their own, and that kind of backfires on them," said Robak. "NHL teams are looking for players who like to play as a team, and in the current situation, it won't only help the player in trying to impress NHL coaches, but it will also help the team succeed."
The Gilbert Plains native has been playing pro hockey since 2010-2011 when he started his career with the Rochester Americans, and his journey includes stints in San Antonio, Norfolk, Utica and now Stockton in the AHL. Robak has also seen limited time in the NHL with Florida and Anaheim.
"I just want to keep playing professional hockey," said Robak. "To get to wake up every day and get the chance to play pro hockey is a dream. I can never wake up grumpy or angry a day in my life with my situation, so I just want to continue down the pro hockey road."
With the Heat's success, Robak knows what his goals are for this season.
"Like I said, we have a really good team," said Robak. "The gameplan is to make playoffs obviously and contend there. There's nothing like playoff hockey, and the atmosphere and just everything on the line. I can't even explain the excitement of it."
In 18 games this season, Robak has six points (1G, 5A).
