One of hockey’s long-standing stereotypes has been players who have emerged after growing up on farms. The reality is there aren’t nearly as many of them as there used to be.

But the University of Denver has one, and Justin Lee is as no nonsense as you’ll find.

A Pioneers assistant captain, Lee is a vigorous defender of both the DU D-zone and teammates (for example: Omaha crease crashers on Sunday night). Lee also possesses a good shot and the knowledge of when to let it fly from the point. As it is, he already has a career-high seven points in the Pioneers’ first 20 games.

He’s also part of DU’s shutdown pair with sophomore Antti Tuomisto, and logs big minutes on the penalty kill.

There is a better than good chance all of these attributes will be on display this weekend in the always testy battle for the Gold Pan with Colorado College.

However, there is more to Lee than just hockey, as he shares in this interview. Get to know the proud product of Waskada, Manitoba, in our latest One-timers.

Justin Lee

What have been your favorite parts about Denver in general and DU in particular?

Obviously my teammates and the facilities and the fans as well. I love it here.

What were some of the draws of DU when you considering college hockey options while you were in junior?

The winning history, all the national championships they have. You want to win, I want to win, so that’s why I came here. And for development reasons as well because the coaching staff is so good.

After you had signed with Denver, an assistant coach told me to ask you sometime about your upbringing. What can you tell us about that?

My family owns a small family farm, and that’s kind of the lifestyle I had. You work on the farm after school and after hockey practice. I love the farm.

Is that something you’d like to return to some day?

Definitely. Once hockey is over for me, whenever that may be, I’ll go back to the farm. It’s a grain and cattle farm.

How many generations has it been in your family?

My dad is the third generation, and I’ll be the fourth.

Do you have other siblings who work on the farm?

I have a younger sister who is a figure skater and is graduating from high school this year. We’ll see what the future holds for her with universities.

Your class has yet to play a full, “normal” season due to the pandemic. What have you and your teammates done to navigate these interesting times we live in?

I think you just have to stick together as a group. We have a tight group and just being around one another when we can, and when it lets us, it makes coming to the rink easier on everybody. We joke around all the time. It makes it a lot easier to get around some of those obstacles we face from time to time.

Who are some of the team’s jokers?

McKade Webster likes to joke around. Brett Edwards for sure. I’d have to say Bobby Brink, too.

When you have free time, what sorts of things do you like to do?

I don’t play video games, so just watching hockey, watching highlights. I like to watch farming videos as well on YouTube. And just hanging out with the guys – I like every guy on the team. Just having that time, it gives me the opportunity to bring guys together and bring them closer. It will be beneficial for us in the long run.

On the subject of farming videos, what is the nature of these?

New equipment on the market, like new combines. You can see how they work. There is a lot of stuff that is being released to the industry.

So it’s sort of like scouting?

Yeah. Exactly.

I would imagine that breakfast is vitally important meal on the farm, so I have to ask what is your Breakfast of Champions?

A lot of eggs and bacon.

Do you have a favorite NCHC road trip?

I haven’t been to Western Michigan yet, so I’m looking forward to that trip. I’d have to say North Dakota. I love playing in that building. The atmosphere is great. It’s close for my family, too. I really like playing there.

And lastly, I’ve been wondering if you see any strong Presidential candidate inside the Pioneers locker room?

I’d have to say Ryan Barrow or Brett Edwards, we have some similar thoughts on things and we get along really well.

©First Line Editorial 2022