Just before the Christmas break in the USHL, Sioux Falls Stampede Defensemen Brandon Parker has exceeded expectations for a kid coming off of a season shortened by shoulder surgery. Most players that miss the last half of a season due to injury just hope to get back to where they left off once they are 100%. Brandon Parker is not most players. The Faribault, Minnesota native dedicated his entire offseason to rehabbing his shoulder and working to strengthen himself and his game. Early into the 2012-2013 season his hard work paid off. Brandon was called up to Sioux Falls in the USHL from the Brookings Blizzard in the NAHL. Now 12 games into his USHL career, Brandon has a plus 1 rating and 1 assist. The stay at home defensemen has been a big addition to the Stampede roster by solidifying the back end of a top five team.

 

How did you come back from a season ending injury to moving up to the USHL in such a short period of time?

 

Sitting out half of the year and just watching hockey just made realize my passion for the game that much more. I have always had the dream of playing division 1 and I had that drive during rehab to prove that I can be a player at that level. Once I was cleared for activity again, I worked twice as hard and spent double the time on the ice and in the weight room to make sure I not only caught the players I was behind but pushed passed them. I never gave up and I gave it my all everyday. This is the game I love and I don't want to do anything else.

 

We know that you have had a few setbacks, tell us about your journey through the hockey ranks and how you got to where you are now.

 

Well I'm from Faribault, Minnesota so I grew up playing youth hockey there. Once Mavericks started for me though is when I started to push ahead of others in the regular season. Coach Cullen taught me how to improve my skills and helped me develop the work ethic that has stuck with me to this day. All of the Mavs coaches have helped me and staying on the ice with and against great competition really pushed my game. Once I knew that I wanted to take hockey more serious, I chose to go play Midget AAA at Russell Stover. I chose to go there because i thought it gave me the best opportunity for me to get noticed by scouts from all over and get my name out there. Then I played my first year of juniors at Alexandria which is now Brookings and now here I am in Sioux Falls.

 

When moving up, what's the hardest part of making the jump up each level?

 

It's the speed. All of your times and space goes away and you have no time to make decisions. It's very easy to lose confidence but you have to build it up by keeping things simple and not try to do to much. For me I just started moving the puck up ice quickly and just worried about doing my job and play with confidence. Everyone at this level can play so I just try to out work them and make the plays when they come.

 

What would you say to players that want to play at a high level?

 

You have to want it more than everyone. You can never be satisfied. I always carried to attitude I CAN ALWAYS BE BETTER. The one that goes the extra mile puts himself in front of the rest. Once your old enough being in the weight room once a week doesn't cut it. You have to out work others that are trying to take your spot. And, most importantly, you have to have fun. I always play my best when I'm enjoying myself and loving going to the rink. If its not fun, take a break. You have to keep that love for the game otherwise why do it. One of my favorite parts of Mavericks was meeting friends from other places that you can talk to about what we were going through in our hometowns, and I have kept a lot of those friends for years. That's what this game is all about.

 

Brandon Parker played for the 1993 Mavericks team under coach Pat Cullen. Make sure to follow Brandon this year at www.sfstampede.com or www.ushl.com. Make sure to follow the Mavericks on Twitter @mnmavs and find us on Facebook.