In this edition of Down On The Farm, Joe Shetrom chats with rookie Jake Hauswirth. Hauswirth, 21, jumps to the pro ranks this year after spending the last two seasons in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Omaha Lancers. After a recent South Carolina Stingrays home game, the first-year pro talked about making the transition to the ECHL, as well as winning a championship in Omaha.

JS: You had an assist in your professional debut. How did you feel out there?
JH: Well, it’s a lot different than junior. It’s a lot faster, physical, and guys are a lot stronger.

JS: You also suffered an injury in that game. What happened?
JH: I went to dump the puck in and kind of got blindsided by the penalty box. I hit my lower back pretty good along the ledge of the boards.

JS: For people who don’t know a lot about you, how would you describe your style of play and what you bring to the table?
JH: I like to work down in the corners, shoot the puck, and I think I can skate pretty well.

JS: You went undrafted before signing with the Capitals back in May. Talk about making that decision.
JH: It was a long decision-making process; a lot of talk with the parents and what would be best for me. It all came down to signing with the Capitals – it would be the best thing.

JS: You had scholarship offers from several schools, but signed a letter of intent with Michigan Tech.
JH: Tech was always a dream school for me, because I grew up there and my dad played football there. I have a lot of family up there and that’s where I am during the summers.

JS: Not too many players make the jump directly from the USHL to the ECHL. What’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed?
JH: The speed, it’s a lot faster. It’s the one thing I need to get used to. It actually helps, with all the skill that’s out here. The communication is a lot better, and it helps a ton.

JS: Tell me about spending time in DC at the Caps’ prospect camp these last few years, and how it’s help in your development.
JH: It’s helped a ton. Learning all the systems they run, it was a great experience. I couldn’t be happier.

JS: You stand at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds. Do you plan to add any weight to your frame?
JH: Oh, yeah. I want to get up to about 225, 230.

JS: What was it like winning a championship with Omaha two seasons ago?
JH: Words can’t even explain it. Just unbelievable. A great group of guys; I’ll never forget the guys I played with, and that season is one I’ll never forget.

JS: You more than doubled your scoring output last season from the year before. To what did you attribute your success to?
JH: Just the offseason, coming in ready to go. More grit, and (laughing) shooting the puck more, I guess.

JS: What do you feel you have to improve on to move up to the next level?
JH: Work. I’ve just got to keep working.

JS: Lastly, you went from being one of the oldest players on the Omaha roster to one of the youngest in South Carolina’s lineup. How does it feel going from doling out chores to now accepting them as a rookie?
JH: (Laughing) Yeah, that’s one thing that a lot of people ask me, “How does it feel going from the grandpa of the team to the young guy?” It’s nothing really new, because my first year of juniors I had a lot of old guys on the team. I’ve been the young guy before.