World Down Syndrome Day at Geisinger

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Outdoors with Tom Venesky: A true love of fishing

<p>After he signed his first NHL contract - a two-year deal, on March 9, Carter Rowney had a message for the Pittsburgh organization.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not changing my game. I&#8217;m sticking to what works,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Considering Rowney has 13 goals and 23 points in his last 18 games, Pittsburgh won&#8217;t mind if the third-year pro doesn&#8217;t change a thing.</p><p>It took Rowney, who is 26, a lot of time and work to convince Pittsburgh he was worthy of an NHL deal. But considering what Rowney has accomplished this season, Pittsburgh had no choice but to take notice.</p><p>He scored seven goals in February as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton&#8217;s forward depth was gutted by call-ups. In March, Rowney kept the momentum going when he recorded his first career hat trick - including the game winner against Hershey, on March 6.</p><p>Pittsburgh had seen enough. The organization inked Rowney to a two-year, two-way deal just days later. On the same day Rowney put his signature on the deal, he responded with a two-goal effort in a 6-5 overtime win against Lehigh Valley.</p><p>Since Feb. 21, Rowney hasn&#8217;t gone more than two games without scoring a goal. He&#8217;s been the focal point of the Penguins&#8217; offense and although there&#8217;s help with the arrival of Dustin Jeffrey, Rowney is anxious to keep it going.</p><p>&#8220;It was pretty exciting to get the contract done, but in my mind there&#8217;s still a lot to do in the season,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Still, Rowney now has the comfort of producing for the Penguins while enjoying the stability of an NHL deal.</p><p>Stability is something that was difficult to achieve early in Rowney&#8217;s career.</p><p>The Alberta native wrapped up three successful seasons in juniors, playing for nearby Grand Prairie and finishing his final year with 35 goals and 78 points in 62 games.</p><p>But Rowney wasn&#8217;t drafted by any NHL team and in 2009 he departed for the University of North Dakota to continue his career in the college ranks.</p><p>It was a big change.</p><p>&#8220;I was going away to the states and playing somewhere with a style of play that was a lot different, and my role on the team was a lot different,&#8221; Rowney said. &#8220;My first year it took me a while to figure it out, mature and grow as a play and a person off the ice.&#8221;</p><p>After scoring a total of nine points in his first two seasons at North Dakota, Rowney adjusted to his new world and scored 33 points as a junior and 27 in his senior campaign.</p><p>Despite the success, it was time to turn pro and Rowney found himself once again facing change.</p><p>He began the 2013-14 season in the ECHL with Wheeling, where Rowney&#8217;s numbers - 44 points in 39 games, indicated he was ready for an AHL shot. He played in 24 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton that year, producing only four points, and had to prove himself once again the following season.</p><p>This time, after five games in Wheeling, Rowney stuck with the Penguins. He centered a line with Dominik Uher and Tom Kuhnhackl and logged 10 goals and 31 points in 63 games.</p><p>&#8220;The road I took coming into pro hockey was way different than college,&#8221; Rowney said. &#8220;I was just trying to break through the door and earn the trust of coaches and teammates.&#8221;</p><p>Now, he&#8217;s earned the trust of the entire Pittsburgh organization.</p><p>Heading into this weekend, Rowney is second on the team with 45 points - a career high, as are his 20 goals. He attributes the success to consistency and admits that even though the stability of a two-year contract is nice, he can&#8217;t be complacent.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s nice to have the stability, but I still have to play every day to be in this league.&#8221; Rowney said. &#8220;At the same time, you don&#8217;t want to be stuck playing in the AHL. Everyone&#8217;s goal is to play in the NHL.&#8221;</p><p>Head coach Clark Donatelli said Rowney has been remarkably consistent and pushes the pace every game.</p><p>&#8220;His game has elevated to another level and it&#8217;s from a lot of hard work,&#8221; Donatelli said. &#8220;But a lot of people don&#8217;t realize how committed to defense he is, and that&#8217;s where his offense comes from.&#8221;</p><p>Donatelli is right. In addition to his lofty point and goal totals, Rowney&#8217;s penchant for playing defense has resulted in a team-high plus-25.</p><p>That balance of offensive production and defensive responsibility is why Pittsburgh probably doesn&#8217;t mind if Rowney isn&#8217;t changing his game.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s nice to have the contract but at the same time the main goal is still to play in the NHL,&#8221; Rowney said. &#8220;I try not to take any day for granted.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Carter Rowney (17) has been rewarded for his breakout season with a two-year NHL deal from Pittsburgh. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_pens_hart3_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Carter Rowney (17) has been rewarded for his breakout season with a two-year NHL deal from Pittsburgh. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_ttlpensgame030916-1-1-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">With 45 points heading into this weekend, Carter Rowney (center) is second on the Penguins in points. His 20 goals and 45 points are both career-highs. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_ttlpensgame030916-1-1-1-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>With 45 points heading into this weekend, Carter Rowney (center) is second on the Penguins in points. His 20 goals and 45 points are both career-highs. </caption1><photoCredit1>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Venesky</p><p>tvenesky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin Carter Rowney sticking to what works