For many hockey players, moving around to different teams throughout different leagues can make for some uneasy transitions.  But for Sean Collins, a 26-year-old center from Saskatoon, SK, Canada, jumping from collegiate hockey up to the American Hockey League (AHL) and then even further to the National Hockey League (NHL) has felt like a natural progression.

“I found the pro game actually suits my game a little better than college.  It’s more structured and the players are a little smarter, which in a sense, makes it an easier game to play,” explained Collins. “Same with the NHL. I feel like the higher you go up with regards to the level, it’s almost easier as you are playing with better players.  They always seem to be in the right position.”

Collins has played for five teams in five different leagues over the course of his young career.  Standing at six-foot-one and weighing 198 pounds, he has certainly developed since he started his career with the La Ronge Ice Wolves of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) during the 2005-06 season.

The following season, Collins played 59 games for the Waywayseecappo Wolverines of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) where he scored 21 goals and notched 35 assists for 56 points.  The next season, his final playing Junior, he added another 51 goals and 64 assists for the Wolverines.

The Columbus Blue Jackets selected Collins in the 7^th round (187^th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.  However, Collins would decide to play College hockey for Cornell University in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), which is one of six conferences that compete in NCAA Division I hockey, before signing an entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets.

While at Cornell, Collins said he matured a lot, both physically and mentally, and enjoyed his time on and off of the ice.  It was important to him to graduate and earn a degree before making the transition to professional hockey.

“To be honest, I think the biggest jump for me was going from junior to college, because at the college level you have a lot of older players who are a lot stronger, faster, and more experienced,” he said. “It was a transition, especially considering that you’re juggling school and classes and you’re away from home for the first time. I had to fend for myself.”

During his first season with the Cornell Big Red in 2008-09, Collins played 33 games scoring three goals and three assists. The following year, the 2009-10 season, he played 34 games and scored seven goals to go along with three assists for a total of ten points.

In 34 games during his junior campaign, Collins scored seven goals and tallied eight assists, while posting his best numbers during his senior year with 13 goals and 13 assists for a total of 26 points in 35 games.  Overall, Collins recorded 30-26-56 during his 136-game collegiate career.  In addition, he earned a degree in finance.

“The degree was really important to me especially from an institution like Cornell which has a great reputation.  It was an unbelievable experience both on the ice and in the classroom.  I really needed those four years to put on some weight, get a lot stronger, and to mature as a person, and it was also really important for me to get a degree before moving on to the next level.  I’ll always have that in my back pocket.”

After signing his entry-level contract with Columbus, the Blue Jackets assigned Collins to their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.  He played eight games with the Falcons during the 2011-12 season and scored one goal and recorded four assists for a total of five points.

During the 2012-13 season, his first full season at the pro level, Collins played 64 games for the Falcons, recording 11 goals and 20 assists for a total of 31 points.  Midway through the season, he made his NHL debut when he was recalled by the Blue Jackets on February 18, 2013.  He played a total of five NHL games that season.

The following year, during the 2013-14 season, Collins played 67 games with the Falcons and scored 16 goals and notched 25 assists for a total of 41 points. He also aided the Blue Jackets for six games and recorded an assist – his first NHL point.

This season marked the first time the Falcons missed the playoffs since 2012. Collins and teammate Ryan Craig tied for the team lead in goals 17 goals. In 64 games, Collins also tallied 19 assists for a total of 36 points.

“Our first half (of the season) was really good,” Collins said. “I think we were first or second in the conference at Christmas and then some injuries got to us. I thought maybe we’d get in (the playoffs), but we ended up missing out by a point. Obviously, it’s disappointing anytime you’re at the top of the league for the first half and then struggling for the second half.”

Collins also played eight games with the Blue Jackets this season. He recorded two assists during that stretch.

“It’s been great,” Collins said of being part of the Blue Jackets. “I think the organization is doing a lot of good things. They’ve got a great pipeline of young players.  I think the injuries really affected them this year. I know they came on really strong at the end of the year so I think the future is bright for the Blue Jackets, and I really enjoyed being a part of the organization.  They have a great coaching staff in Columbus and Springfield.”

Collins also serves as the Falcons’ Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) Player Representative.

“This has been my first year as a PHPA Player Rep and I’ve really enjoyed it.  It’s nice to learn the game from the business side and I’m looking forward to the Player Representatives meeting this June to learn as much as I can about the different aspects of the game.”

Collins said he is trying to be a sponge and learn about the negotiation process toward a new collective bargaining agreement between the PHPA and AHL, among other pressing matters during the annual meeting.

“I think it’s huge,” Collins said of the importance of the PHPA. “I know they provide us with a lot of great things and have a bunch of new programs.  They provide a lot for the players and it’s been great helping them out this year.”

The young professional said he believes his background and education at Cornell helps him when it comes to his important role as a Player Representative.

“I think it helps,” Collins said. “Obviously, going to school, you’re juggling a lot of different things such as school, hockey, and everything else, so for me it’s nice to have something on the side where I can help my teammates.  I try to be as helpful as possible.”

Collins will be a Group 6 (unrestricted) Free Agent this summer when free agency begins on the first of July. He said he plans to work hard throughout the summer and then find the right opportunity with the right team. He said he is looking forward to the next steps, whatever they might be.

“Pro hockey has been great,” Collins said. “It’s nice to be able to focus on hockey and not have any distractions with classes or exams or that kind of stuff.  It’s nice to have hockey as your main focus. I’ve enjoyed these last three years in the Blue Jackets’ organization and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead.”