A new season brings new faces every year in the ECHL. One of those new faces to the Reading Royals is Brock Caufield. Caufield sat down with Inside The Rink during summer training on a video call to talk hockey and get to know the newest Royal to the Kingdom.
College Life
Caufield played five years at the University of Wisconsin. He dressed in 172 games over his five-year NCAA career and tallied 33 goals with 41 assists. Caufield earned his Bachelors Degree in Personal Finance and his Masters Degree in Sports Leadership.
“I think going to a big school and playing against alot of good players, it gave you a sense of what’s out there, as the next step of hockey. Coming out of juniors and playing five years there, it taught me to mature. The little things in the game of hockey, you gotta play simple sometimes, make smart plays, and just all the thing that can make you game ready for the professional level.”
Caufield earned the honor of wearing the “A” on his sweater at the University of Wisconsin during his senior season in the 2021-2022 season.
“It was really cool. It was an honor. Some of your best friends in college, it was cool that they looked up to me enough to have a letter. It didn’t really change me much as a player, but it meant alot. It’s certainly something I look back on and that im proud of.”
Caufield played on a roster filled with familiar names such as New York Rangers Defenseman K’Andre Miller, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin Forward Mathieu De St. Phalle, and former Rochester American Winger Linus Weissbach. Caufield touches on what it was like to play with them
“They are all great players. We had a ton of great players come through Wisconsin when I was there, before and after. It’s cool to see alot of those guys and go against them in practice. It makes you better being against better competition. Especially when your in college, you practice for four to five days a week. You get to go against good players and make yourself better.”
Brotherly Love
Caufield is the older brother of current Montreal Canadiens Forward Cole Caufield. They played two seasons together at the University of Wisconsin in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons. Caufield speaks on his relationship with his brother in college and outside of the rink.
“He’s my best friend. I was very lucky. Played two years in college and that’s something I will remember forever. We won Big Ten Championships. It was cool just getting to hang out with him out of the rink and have that time with him since hockey has brought us every direction all over the globe. It was cool to be able to be in the same place with him and be on the same team. We obviously support each other now but that was really special to be on the same team.”
Going Pro
Caufield signed his first professional hockey contract in the summer of 2023 with the Newfoundland Growlers, a former ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Caufield speaks on what it was like to sign that contract and the experience that went into it.
“It was an interesting year and just the crazy things that went down as it ended. It was really special and cool to say I’m a professional hockey player and be able to do this for your job. No matter what the level, it was a fun experience and challenging at times. It was cool to become a professional.”
Rookie Year
Caufield spent his rookie year with the Newfoundland Growlers. He dressed in 63 games and tallied 12 goals with 20 assists. Caufield’s very first professional goal came in his first professional game against the Reading Royals on October 20th, 2023.
“It was kind of an adjustment playing pro hockey outside of the rink along with in game. It’s bigger, stronger players that are more mature. It takes a little bit of adjustment, getting the pace of the game and the style. It’s certainly different from college where it felt more structured and you are preparing for the same opponent all week. The pro schedule is different where you are preparing your body to play alot of games and the travel. Being in Newfoundland last year and traveling alot, you have to prepare your body to be the best you can be every night.”
Summer Training
Every player has a summer training routine, whether it be the same thing every year, or they switch it up year to year. Caufield speaks on what he is doing to keep in game shape and gear up for the next season ahead of him.
“I’m in Michigan right now in a suburb 40 minutes outside of Detroit. I’m skating and working out here. It’s a spot where my brother is here too and alot of guys i know. In the summer, it’s better to be around players that you can compete with. It’s better than doing it alone. I started last summer and stuck with it this year. I work out five days a week and skate three days a week right now. I do whatever feels right for my body. It worked out last year. I felt strong and ready for the season.”
Learn From It
Some players have players they look up to, and some make their game special. Caufield speaks on what he does to implement bits and pieces into his own game.
“I consider myself a playmaker that can score. I don’t think I try to model myself after one guy too much. Kind of just learning from bits and pieces of things guys do. Whether it’s in video or just talking to teammates and seeing what they see on different things. I just try to make myself a well round player that can create offense.”
Game Day Routine
Most professional players take the game day seriously and have a routine. Some players are very much going with the flow and do not have any superstitions, rituals, or routines on game day. Caufield speaks on what he does for his game day.
“Depends on if I’m skating or not. It’s a team to team thing. Take a nap, have a good meal. Just do what feels right. Every game in this league is different where some games start at eight, some games are school days games and start at 11 am. So I can’t really get in the crazy routine where so many things you have to have in order to feel right. You just need to do what your body tells you to be ready the best you can.
Keep It In Check
Learning lessons and implementing them while going forward in life is important. Those lessons make us who we are as humans. Caufield speaks on what he has taken into check while playing college and professionally.
“Just trying to stay positive through things. I’ve kind of learned over the years that if I lose control of my emotions, it affects other parts of my game. So trying to be talkative on the bench with my teammates and just try to keep an upbeat, positive mindset, regardless of the score and just try to be even keel. Try to keep building the game. Shift to shift and keep going in the right direction.”
Strength and Weakness
Every player has a strength and a weakness that can be worked on. Caufield speaks on what his are and what he plans to improve upon during the 2024-2025 season.
“My biggest strength is on the rush, making plays on the rush and my shot. There are always things you can get better at but probably my play below the goal line and just tight areas and corner. Trying to make plays coming out from behind the net. That’s something that I’m working on.”
Three on Three OT
Overtime signifies extra time in the game either due to a tied game or no goals scored by either team. Caufield talks about who would be in his three-on-three overtime lineup.
“Well I have to be in it. So I’ll play with my brother since he’s kind of become an overtime genius in some ways with just how many goals he scores. Then you need a defenseman, I’m going to say Quinn Hughes, just because I love the way he skates and he is a really good guys. I would hopefully get a back door to happen with those two.”
