Riley Duran has an office, just like Wayne Gretzky used to.
That's not to suggest that Duran, who turned 18 on Jan. 25, is following in The Great One's skate marks (even though their birthday is one day apart). It's more a glimpse into where the Lawrence Academy center operates.
"For me, I’m more of a work-it-down low (player). Most people call it my office down there, my coaches (do), because I work everything down low," the 6-2, 185-pound center said. "I love just making plays coming out from the corners, going to the net and running guys through the boards and stuff. I like playing more of a gritty game."
So, yeah, no confusion there with Gretzky's game. But that's not to say being a physical power forward is any less valuable than being a skilled centerman.
"I think he brings quite a bit on the ice and off the ice," said Lawrence coach Robbie Barker, 38. "On the ice, he’s a great playmaker with high-end vision, plays tough and an intelligent game, (he's a) powerful, explosive skater with great hands and puck-handling ability.
"He’s highly competitive, he’s got a nose for the net, he's a natural goal scorer and he’s a player that has an impact in all three zones. He can play in every situation, whether that’s a penalty kill or power play, or last minute of the game up by one or last minute of the game down by one. He’s one of those kids that we can depend on, and he’s been like that since he arrived here on campus."
Here's what Jeff Cox wrote about Duran while evaluating the 2020 NHL Draft top prep school prospects:
"The Woburn, Mass., native brings a lot of intangibles and qualities organizations should be looking for in a prospect.
"Duran checks the boxes for size, skating, grit and athleticism. He’s a north-south power forward who hunts pucks, can bring it physically, and can play in all situations. I believe his game will take off once he’s out of prep school and with Youngstown in the USHL, and then onto Providence in Hockey East.
"His strengths and overall skill set should flourish under Nate Leaman’s structured system. ... Duran is a junior, which muddies the waters some when discussing whether or not to select him. Still, I think there’s significant upside here and teams will regret passing him up in the fifth or sixth rounds."
Duran knows he needs to work on a few things to take his game to that next level.
"My weakness is more just (having) consistency," he said. "I just need to be there every game, more like just working on showing up every shift, not taking one shift off."
Toward improving, Duran uses the services of mental strength coach Adam Naylor, who has worked with Northeastern and Boston University, among others.
"We just talk about my game and how I can be better without even really doing anything, with just talking," Duran said. "I think that was very helpful for me. And then being (as assistant) captain this year -- I’ve never really had that experience because I’ve always been the young guy on the team.
"That role is very important to me. I love that role."
Barker has seen Duran develop over the course of almost two seasons.
"For him, it’s quicker decision making, the ability to sort of adjust to that physically," said Barker, who hails from Concord, N.H. "He’s winning more battles in the corners and along the boards. He’s begun to really understand what it takes down low in the offensive zone to create a scoring chance.
"I think down in the defensive zone, at the other end of the ice, he realizes the importance of being a 200-foot player, the emphasis we put on making sure you are playing the full 200 feet and being a complete player."
Lawrence is having a stellar season, the Spartans running up their record to 12-2, climbing our coaches poll and just generally asserting themselves with authority every chance they get.
"We’ve got a great group of guys right now," Duran said. "Coming to Lawrence was the best decision ever; (we've) never had a closer team two years in a row. We’re all like brothers, we’re all like a family here. I just think the sky’s the limit for us. We just keep doing what we need to do, and everything will work out."
Actual family plays a big part in Duran's success as well. His sister, Kayla, is a soccer player at Boston College who is red-shirting while recovering from a foot injury. His dad, Woburn high school hockey head coach Jim Duran, had an influence as well. Now 50, Duran played at Plattsburgh State, highlighted statistically by his senior season of 24 goals and 37 assists for 61 points in 36 games.
"Growing up, I was a Woburn high water boy," said Duran. "I’ve been around hockey as long as I can remember and ... I used to practice with them growing up and I think that was a huge part of my development. And getting coached by my dad my freshman year was another part of my development.
"He’s 5-9, he plays a similar game to me, he loved to run guys through the boards, he loved to score goals, he loved to work it down low. I guess he taught me everything I know."
For his part, Riley Duran has 9 goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 14 games. And even though he's a power forward, he's got some varied role models beyond his dad.
"Just growing up in the Boston area, my favorite player has always been Charlie Coyle, even when he was with Minnesota," he said. "I really structure my game after him. He’s a gritty guy and he likes to score, he likes to make plays, he likes to hit. Him and Patrice Bergeron are my two.
"I like how (Bergeron) plays his role as a center. He’s a good leader, he’s always in position, always doing the right thing."
Familiarity is the theme for Duran. He typically centers childhood friend and longtime linemate David Sacco (Middleton, Mass.) to great effect. Barker said he's splitting the two up on occasion, to spread around the offense in preparation for the playoffs, when every chance counts. James Broderick (Wellesley, Mass.), Conor Lovett (Franklin Mass.), Blake Humphrey and Holt Oliphant are all taking their turns in the linemate cycle.
"It’s a coaching strategy to kind of make sure they have that feel and they’re comfortable with each other, knowing where each other is on the ice at any given time," Barker said.
But when it's Sacco to his right, the combo can be deadly for the opposition.
"We always know where each other is, we work the cycle very well, we work the give-and-go very well," Duran said. "Me and him get along really well. We’re really close off the ice, and that’s a big factor too."
As a junior, Duran has some decisions to make at the end of the season: stay for another season at Lawrence or play in juniors. He is leaning toward heading to the USHL to play for Youngstown before moving off to Providence for the 2021-22 year.
But Providence is definitely on his mind.
"Right from the start, they were very interested me," he said. "And just that coaching staff is unbelievable with Coach (Nate) Leaman, Coach (Ron) Rolston, they just have a great coaching staff. The way they play, it’s just very structured, very disciplined, and I think I’d fit in great there."
Barker seemed to agree.
"I think that he’s going to be extremely successful at Providence College," Barker said. "I think Coach Leaman does a great job down there.
"He’s a coachable kid and he does everything he can in his power to improve and develop each day. He listens, he soaks it in, he makes adjustments. So, I think the sky’s the limit for the kid. And he’s young, so he’s got plenty of time, plenty of career in front of him. But he definitely has the heart, desire and passion to take it as far as he wants."
Paul Grant is an editor and a writer for HockeyJournal.com and Seamans Media. He previously oversaw hockey content at ESPN.com and Sporting News. You can connect with him at pgrant@hockeyjournal.com.
