Profile of UNH Recruit Cam Marks
Ever since British Columbia native Jason Krog (Fernie, BC) won the Hobey Baker Award and lead the UNH Wildcats to the NCAA Championship Game in 1999, a steady stream of talented players from that Canadian province have made the journey to Durham. Three high-scoring forwards - Colin Hemingway (Surrey), Lanny Gare (Vernon), and Trevor Smith (North Vancouver) - had All-American careers at UNH. Defensemen Damon Kipp (Salmon Arm) and Craig Switzer (Peachland) were team leaders serving as Captain and Alternate Captain respectively. Grayson Downing (Abbottsford) just completed a successful freshman campaign as UNH's 4th leading scorer with 10 goals and 13 assists.
If all goes according to plan, high-scoring defenseman Cam Marks from North Vancouver will join this distinguished list when he enrolls at UNH in the Fall of 2014. On April 11th, just days after his 17th birthday, Marks verbally accepted UNH's offer to join the team for the 2014-15 season. A few weeks ago, Cam Marks announced on twitter that he will be playing next season with the Coquitlam Express of the British Columbia Hockey League.
Last season, Marks wrapped up his major midget hockey career with the Vancouver Northwest Giants. In 25 regular season games, Marks scored a goal and 16 assists and had no penalties. The Giants won the regular season title of the British Columbia Major Midget League for the 5th consecutive season. They went on to win their 4th consecutive British Columbia Midget Major Playoff Title. Marks had one assist and no penalties in the 5 playoff games. The Giants' season ended following a loss to the Alberta League Champion, Red Deer Rebels in the Pacific Regional Championship.
In the 2010-11 season, Marks and the Vancouver Northwest Giants won the BC Midget Major Playoffs, the Pacific Regional Championship, and advanced to the Telus Cup Competition - The National Midget Championship in Canada. Although the Giants lost in the semi-finals of the Telus Cup, Cam Marks was the leading scorer among defensemen and tied for 4th overall in scoring.
During his two successful seasons with the Vancouver Northwest Giants, Cam Marks has been coached by former NHL player Todd Harkins. In the late 1980's, Harkins played three seasons with Miami University and was drafted by the Calgary Flames with the 42nd overall pick in the 1988 NHL Draft. Following a 9 year career in the NHL and AHL, Harkins became a successful scout with the Westside Warriors and Burnaby Express of the BCHL. He has been the Head Coach of the Vancouver NW Giants since 2010.
Recently, I had an opportunity to discuss Cam Marks with Coach Harkins. Here is the interview:
C-H-C: How long have you coached Cam?
Coach Harkins: I have coached Cam many times over his 17 years. I first saw him at a Sunday night skills class when he was 5 years old and I recruited him to the North Shore Winter Club so he could continue his hockey development here at the club with professional coaches and an abundance of ice.
C-H-C: Describe Cam's strengths as a defenseman (including his role on the power play).
Coach Harkins: Cam is one of the smartest players I have ever coached, he always makes the right decision and he has unbelievable agility and quickness for a defenseman. These two assets allows him to quarterback the power play.
C-H-C: How would you compare Cam to Joey Laleggia (a former commit to UNH who played for the Vancouver Northwest Giants)?
Coach Harkins: Cam has a huge upside, he is going to be much bigger than Joe. But I think they both play a very similar style with their hockey sense and skating ability.
C-H-C: Are there other players from your region who have played at UNH, or in Hockey East, who are similar to Cam Marks?
Coach Harkins: Not that I am aware of. I compare Cam to John Michael Liles of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
C-H-C: What other US colleges were recruiting Cam? Are any WHL or other Major Junior teams recruiting him?
Coach Harkins: Cam was listed by the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, as for Colleges, I know that BC, U Minnesota-Duluth and Denver were interested in him.
C-H-C: What was the general nature of the injury that sidelined Cam from some of the Giants' games this season?
Coach Harkins: Cam was hit early on in the year and suffered a mild concussion. Many teams that we played tried to forcheck our D corps hard to try and get them off of their game, since all of our offense started from the back end and especially from Cam. Unfortunately, Cam got tied up and another player took a cheap shot on him. On his return to the line-up, while playing in the Mac’s Major Midget Tourney in Calgary, he tweaked his knee trying to avoid a check and a potential head shot. Once he returned the next time, he was stellar, leading us once again to back to back BC provincial championships.
C-H-C: Can you provide a general description of Cam's academic status?
Coach Harkins: Cam is a very committed player and student. He attends a private school in North Vancouver and receives straight A’s.
If all goes according to plan, high-scoring defenseman Cam Marks from North Vancouver will join this distinguished list when he enrolls at UNH in the Fall of 2014. On April 11th, just days after his 17th birthday, Marks verbally accepted UNH's offer to join the team for the 2014-15 season. A few weeks ago, Cam Marks announced on twitter that he will be playing next season with the Coquitlam Express of the British Columbia Hockey League.
Last season, Marks wrapped up his major midget hockey career with the Vancouver Northwest Giants. In 25 regular season games, Marks scored a goal and 16 assists and had no penalties. The Giants won the regular season title of the British Columbia Major Midget League for the 5th consecutive season. They went on to win their 4th consecutive British Columbia Midget Major Playoff Title. Marks had one assist and no penalties in the 5 playoff games. The Giants' season ended following a loss to the Alberta League Champion, Red Deer Rebels in the Pacific Regional Championship.
In the 2010-11 season, Marks and the Vancouver Northwest Giants won the BC Midget Major Playoffs, the Pacific Regional Championship, and advanced to the Telus Cup Competition - The National Midget Championship in Canada. Although the Giants lost in the semi-finals of the Telus Cup, Cam Marks was the leading scorer among defensemen and tied for 4th overall in scoring.
During his two successful seasons with the Vancouver Northwest Giants, Cam Marks has been coached by former NHL player Todd Harkins. In the late 1980's, Harkins played three seasons with Miami University and was drafted by the Calgary Flames with the 42nd overall pick in the 1988 NHL Draft. Following a 9 year career in the NHL and AHL, Harkins became a successful scout with the Westside Warriors and Burnaby Express of the BCHL. He has been the Head Coach of the Vancouver NW Giants since 2010.
Recently, I had an opportunity to discuss Cam Marks with Coach Harkins. Here is the interview:
C-H-C: How long have you coached Cam?
Coach Harkins: I have coached Cam many times over his 17 years. I first saw him at a Sunday night skills class when he was 5 years old and I recruited him to the North Shore Winter Club so he could continue his hockey development here at the club with professional coaches and an abundance of ice.
C-H-C: Describe Cam's strengths as a defenseman (including his role on the power play).
Coach Harkins: Cam is one of the smartest players I have ever coached, he always makes the right decision and he has unbelievable agility and quickness for a defenseman. These two assets allows him to quarterback the power play.
C-H-C: How would you compare Cam to Joey Laleggia (a former commit to UNH who played for the Vancouver Northwest Giants)?
Coach Harkins: Cam has a huge upside, he is going to be much bigger than Joe. But I think they both play a very similar style with their hockey sense and skating ability.
C-H-C: Are there other players from your region who have played at UNH, or in Hockey East, who are similar to Cam Marks?
Coach Harkins: Not that I am aware of. I compare Cam to John Michael Liles of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
C-H-C: What other US colleges were recruiting Cam? Are any WHL or other Major Junior teams recruiting him?
Coach Harkins: Cam was listed by the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, as for Colleges, I know that BC, U Minnesota-Duluth and Denver were interested in him.
C-H-C: What was the general nature of the injury that sidelined Cam from some of the Giants' games this season?
Coach Harkins: Cam was hit early on in the year and suffered a mild concussion. Many teams that we played tried to forcheck our D corps hard to try and get them off of their game, since all of our offense started from the back end and especially from Cam. Unfortunately, Cam got tied up and another player took a cheap shot on him. On his return to the line-up, while playing in the Mac’s Major Midget Tourney in Calgary, he tweaked his knee trying to avoid a check and a potential head shot. Once he returned the next time, he was stellar, leading us once again to back to back BC provincial championships.
C-H-C: Can you provide a general description of Cam's academic status?
Coach Harkins: Cam is a very committed player and student. He attends a private school in North Vancouver and receives straight A’s.
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