CORNER BROOK - Ian Bown would be forgiven for feeling nervous.
Just two games into his tenure with the Corner Brook Royals and playing his first home game at the Pepsi Centre in front of a large crowd and facing the four-time defending West Coast Senior Hockey League champion Deer Lake Red Wings, who wouldn't be anxious?
Well Bown, for one.
"No, I love that actually, that's my favourite part of it," Bown told The Western Star with a laugh. "There was a jammed house there on Friday night and that's what I look forward to."
The rugged winger from Port Aux Basques might be new to the Royals but he's no stranger to senior hockey, having played with the Port Aux Basques Mariners in 2001 before moving to Edmonton.
Now teaching at the College of the North Atlantic in Port Aux Basques after seven years on the mainland, the former member of the Western Kings says he jumped at the opportunity to play with the Royals when contacted by his former coach Angus Head, although he admits through his first several games with the Royals he has noticed the league has grown substantially in his absence.
"It's changed a lot actually," he said. "The crowds (then) were probably half of what I've seen so far. There's a lot of good players on all teams and it's more competitive. I think it's a lot faster game than it used to be. It's a smarter game and more positional."
While in Edmonton, Bown continued to play senior hockey and while the calibre of the hockey was impressive, he insists the fan support was not nearly as strong as it in this league.
"It's pretty competitive but you don't get the crowds out there like we do here, not even close," he said.
Bown scored the lone goal for the Royals last Saturday in a loss to the Red Wings and believes hes beginning to get his feet under him with his knew club. "The first couple of games you're just trying to get used to new teammates and new linemates," he said.
"Everybody's juggled around every game yet so we're still trying to find our spots."
Looking ahead to what the squad needs to improve on going forward, Bown feels the addition of a few quality defencemen capable of making the first pass and moving the puck up-ice quickly would be a huge help.
When asked what he hopes to bring to the team, he sees himself as a well-rounded player.
"I try to play a physical game," he said. "I try to use my speed and still pop in an odd goal to help as well."
The Royals battle the Red Wings tonight 7:30 p.m. at the Pepsi Centre.
