Entering regular season action Jan. 23, the forward had 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points in 22 regular season games, just a point behind the conference co-leaders, teammate Brett Thompson and Philippe Maillet of UNB, who was named the 2013-2014 rookie of the year in AUS men’s hockey.
“It’s gone well, but it’s not over yet,” the 21-year-old Winnipeg native said. “I’m pretty hard on myself. I want to be a ‘go-to’ guy, and use my speed and skill to contribute offensively. I put pressure on myself to do that.”
Rookie year
Franko came to Acadia as one of several 2014 Axemen recruits from the Western Hockey League. A hockey player since the age of four, he spent the first three-and-a-half years of his major junior career with the Kelowna Rockets before being traded to the Kootenay Ice at the 2014 WHL trading deadline.
He had a combined 21 goals and 56 points in 67 games with the two teams in 2013-2014, then added six goals and 11 points in 13 playoff games. In his major junior career, he had 81 goals and 220 points in 280 WHL games.
CIS hockey, Franko acknowledged, is definitely a change from major junior.
“This is a pretty physical league,” he said, but added that some of his major junior teammates are bound for the NHL next year.
“Any time you go from one level to another, it’s an adjustment. It took me a few games to adjust.”
In his 2014 recruiting, Axemen head coach Darren Burns, was looking for skilled, character players who could put the puck in the net. In describing his recruiting class last summer, the five-foot-eleven, 180-pound Franko was the first forward Burns mentioned. “He’s highly skilled, and sees the ice really well,” Burns said. “He’s a really good skater and will add a lot of skill to our lineup.” Nothing Franko has done so far in his rookie season has caused the coach to change his mind.
“He’s been a real gem,” Burns said recently.
At Acadia
During his junior career, Franko played against several of his current Axemen teammates with similar WHL roots, including goalie Brandon Glover, defenceman Matt Pufahl and forwards Sam Fioretti and Boston Leier.
“It’s been nice, coming in here and knowing a few of the guys,” he said.
Franko talked to a lot of schools in Western Canada and Ontario, as well as St. F.X. and Acadia in the Atlantic conference.
“There was a lot of interest, and I also had professional options,” he said.
He had almost decided on CIS when he and his father came east on a recruiting trip in April 2014.
“We visited St. F.X., and when I visited Acadia, I fell in love with the place,” he said.
The rural town setting, he said, “is like a lot of places that have junior teams out west – and I came from two of the best junior organizations.”
He also likes the fact that “you can meet your professors on the street, and they know your name.”
“I have no regrets coming here, and I don’t expect to. The people, the school, the atmosphere are all phenomenal. It’s like one big family. It’s amazing to be here, and to be a part of it.”
Strong performance
While he is at Acadia because he want to get a degree, Franko admitted his goal is to play professionally.
“I heard great things about this league, and about Burnsie, both as a coach and as a person,” he said. “Surrounding yourself with good people will only make you better.”
Due in large part to some injuries in the Axemen forward ranks before Christmas, Franko has had the opportunity to play with a number of different linemates, including fellow rookies Fioretti and Leier.
Over the last several games, he has played on a line centered by another first-year player, Remi Giftopolous.
“He’s a good guy, he’s great on the faceoffs, and we work well together,” he said of the six-foot-three Giftopolous.
Putting the two rookies on the same line has led to a significant elevation in the play of both.
“I want to contribute the best I can. I don’t use the fact that I’m a rookie as an excuse. It’s been an adjustment for sure, but I’ve adjusted by now,” Franko said.
The third member of their line has been a rotation, including, at times, Scott Trask, Dylan Anderson and last year’s CIS player of the year, Liam Heelis. Franko says he’s learned good things from them all.
Franko’s offensive prowess so far has resulted in him spending a considerable amount of time on Axemen power plays. Three of his 11 goals so far have come on the power play, and two have been game-winners.
Making goals
Franko’s goals for his team are the same as his personal goals: to keep getting better every day.
“Our long-term goal is to win a national championship. Our short-term goal is to finish top-two and get a first-round playoff bye, but our season won’t be over if we don’t get the bye,” he said.
Franko acknowledged the remainder of the season isn’t going to be easy.
“We’re a team everybody wants to beat,” he said. “Saint Mary’s is a great team, and UNB has been arguably the best team in the country the past 10 years. We need to match their intensity, then let our skills take over.”
Entering regular season action Jan. 23, the forward had 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points in 22 regular season games, just a point behind the conference co-leaders, teammate Brett Thompson and Philippe Maillet of UNB, who was named the 2013-2014 rookie of the year in AUS men’s hockey.
“It’s gone well, but it’s not over yet,” the 21-year-old Winnipeg native said. “I’m pretty hard on myself. I want to be a ‘go-to’ guy, and use my speed and skill to contribute offensively. I put pressure on myself to do that.”
Rookie year
Franko came to Acadia as one of several 2014 Axemen recruits from the Western Hockey League. A hockey player since the age of four, he spent the first three-and-a-half years of his major junior career with the Kelowna Rockets before being traded to the Kootenay Ice at the 2014 WHL trading deadline.
He had a combined 21 goals and 56 points in 67 games with the two teams in 2013-2014, then added six goals and 11 points in 13 playoff games. In his major junior career, he had 81 goals and 220 points in 280 WHL games.
CIS hockey, Franko acknowledged, is definitely a change from major junior.
“This is a pretty physical league,” he said, but added that some of his major junior teammates are bound for the NHL next year.
“Any time you go from one level to another, it’s an adjustment. It took me a few games to adjust.”
In his 2014 recruiting, Axemen head coach Darren Burns, was looking for skilled, character players who could put the puck in the net. In describing his recruiting class last summer, the five-foot-eleven, 180-pound Franko was the first forward Burns mentioned. “He’s highly skilled, and sees the ice really well,” Burns said. “He’s a really good skater and will add a lot of skill to our lineup.” Nothing Franko has done so far in his rookie season has caused the coach to change his mind.
“He’s been a real gem,” Burns said recently.
At Acadia
During his junior career, Franko played against several of his current Axemen teammates with similar WHL roots, including goalie Brandon Glover, defenceman Matt Pufahl and forwards Sam Fioretti and Boston Leier.
“It’s been nice, coming in here and knowing a few of the guys,” he said.
Franko talked to a lot of schools in Western Canada and Ontario, as well as St. F.X. and Acadia in the Atlantic conference.
“There was a lot of interest, and I also had professional options,” he said.
He had almost decided on CIS when he and his father came east on a recruiting trip in April 2014.
“We visited St. F.X., and when I visited Acadia, I fell in love with the place,” he said.
The rural town setting, he said, “is like a lot of places that have junior teams out west – and I came from two of the best junior organizations.”
He also likes the fact that “you can meet your professors on the street, and they know your name.”
“I have no regrets coming here, and I don’t expect to. The people, the school, the atmosphere are all phenomenal. It’s like one big family. It’s amazing to be here, and to be a part of it.”
Strong performance
While he is at Acadia because he want to get a degree, Franko admitted his goal is to play professionally.
“I heard great things about this league, and about Burnsie, both as a coach and as a person,” he said. “Surrounding yourself with good people will only make you better.”
Due in large part to some injuries in the Axemen forward ranks before Christmas, Franko has had the opportunity to play with a number of different linemates, including fellow rookies Fioretti and Leier.
Over the last several games, he has played on a line centered by another first-year player, Remi Giftopolous.
“He’s a good guy, he’s great on the faceoffs, and we work well together,” he said of the six-foot-three Giftopolous.
Putting the two rookies on the same line has led to a significant elevation in the play of both.
“I want to contribute the best I can. I don’t use the fact that I’m a rookie as an excuse. It’s been an adjustment for sure, but I’ve adjusted by now,” Franko said.
The third member of their line has been a rotation, including, at times, Scott Trask, Dylan Anderson and last year’s CIS player of the year, Liam Heelis. Franko says he’s learned good things from them all.
Franko’s offensive prowess so far has resulted in him spending a considerable amount of time on Axemen power plays. Three of his 11 goals so far have come on the power play, and two have been game-winners.
Making goals
Franko’s goals for his team are the same as his personal goals: to keep getting better every day.
“Our long-term goal is to win a national championship. Our short-term goal is to finish top-two and get a first-round playoff bye, but our season won’t be over if we don’t get the bye,” he said.
Franko acknowledged the remainder of the season isn’t going to be easy.
“We’re a team everybody wants to beat,” he said. “Saint Mary’s is a great team, and UNB has been arguably the best team in the country the past 10 years. We need to match their intensity, then let our skills take over.”
