It was a mid-afternoon phone call on a Tuesday in December, only three days prior to the NHL’s Christmas Trade Freeze, when Luke Adam received the news.

After four-and-a-half seasons spent in the Buffalo Sabres organization, where he had been drafted in the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and split between the Portland Pirates and Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League, along with several stints in the NHL with the big club, Adam was informed he had been traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and would be reporting to their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.

“I was pretty surprised”, says Adam. “When I first got traded, I wasn’t expecting it.  It was quite a shock. I was with the same organization for my first five years playing pro.”

From the onset, it was a promising move for the 24-year old center. While the transition to a new organization, new teammates, and a new city is a significant adjustment, Adam relished the opportunity to have a fresh start.

“I’m really happy with the outcome and really enjoying it here in Springfield. The group of guys we have are great, the coaching staff is awesome, and the team is really good.”

While his former team, Rochester, has had somewhat of a trying season (22-27-4), currently  sitting 13^th in the AHL’s Western Conference with 48 points, the Springfield Falcons (29-18-5) are soaring and are tied for fourth in the East with 63 points.

Adam credits the Falcons’ positive, winning culture in Springfield for the team’s success this season. “It’s truly a team-first environment here.  The guys expect to win and go to the rink every night not settling for anything less.”

Currently five points back of the Manchester Monarchs, the Falcons are striving for the top spot in the conference as they embark on the final stretch of the regular season and into the Calder Cup Playoffs. “Coming into this environment, we want that top spot”, says Adam. “You really see how tight and close it is. It’s definitely exciting and I’m looking forward to the last couple months of the season and into the playoffs.”

During his time in Rochester, Adam was shifted from center ice to the wing – a position he had rarely played throughout his career, including at the junior level. “I was always at center in junior and my first two years pro. Over the last two years I moved to the wing and it’s been a new position to learn, but I’m back at center in Springfield.”

Although he is scoring at a lesser points-per-game rate in Springfield, he has found his confidence since being reverted back to his natural position at center. “Personally, I think I am a much better player when I’m playing center ice, so mentally that’s been a breath of fresh air for myself to be back at my natural position.”

As far as his role with his new team, Adam says he continues to pride himself on what has allowed him to have success to get to this point in this career. “I’m still trying to do the same things.  I’m still trying to bring scoring to the team and be a solid defensive player as well. Create offense, be a powerplay guy, win faceoffs, bring leadership too.”

While Adam ultimately aspires towards a full-time role at the NHL level, he doesn’t let the end goal interfere with his responsibilities to his current team. “I learned a few years back that if you start worrying about where ultimately you want to go, you’re not going to get there at all. I’m just totally focused on the Springfield Falcons. If I play well here and take advantage of the opportunities that I am given here, everything should work out in the long run. I’m excited to be here and I’m excited with the way things have started.”

While Adam has spent his AHL career thus far in Portland, Rochester, and Springfield – a trio of American cities – he will never forget his roots in Newfoundland, Canada.  While his father, Russ, is a Windsor-native, Luke was born in Newfoundland while his father was living in St. John’s as an assistant coach for the St. John’s Maple Leafs.  “I love it at home”, says Luke. “I have my own place. I’ve stayed really close with a lot of my buddies. I spend the majority of my summers back in Newfoundland, so it’s always great to get back there”.

St. John’s, home to approximately 100,000 people, is also the hometown of Ottawa Senator and former Binghamton Senator forward Colin Greening, Edmonton Oiler Teddy Purcell, and former NHLers John Slaney and Harold Druken. “People are so supportive of their local hockey players,” proclaims Adam. “I can’t say enough good things about it. I really enjoy going back there and I’m proud to be from there, that’s for sure.”

For Adam, the hockey roots run deep in his family. His dad played eight games in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1982-83 season. Luke explains that having his dad as a mentor and a coach has been integral for his development both as a person and a player. “He’s always been a big supporter of mine.  Him and my mom have always been there since day one. My dad introduced me to the game, but he never really pushed me and he knew how hard it is to make it. He helps me a lot, if I want it, and if I ask what he thinks, he’ll give me his honest opinion, which is nice. It’s like having another coach.”

Russ exposed Luke to something as a youngster that the majority of hockey-playing kids in Canada would only dream of. “I was fortunate enough that between the ages of 10 and 15, he was an assistant coach in the AHL with the St. John’s Maple Leafs. I was always running around the dressing room so I was pretty familiar with the league.”

During his AHL career as a player, Russ won a Calder Cup in 1982 with the New Brunswick Hawks. “He’s still hoping I win a championship,” says Adam. “He’s still got that Calder Cup on me, so hopefully this is the year. To put a ring next to his, it would be awesome.”