Following a solid training camp – his second with the Islanders – Warren got off to a hot start in his second full season in Bridgeport with five points (2G, 3A) in his first four games and earning AHL Player of the Week Honors on Oct. 13.
“He was really good in training camp,” Head Coach Patrick Roy said. “It’s nice to see him getting rewarded for how well he’s been doing.”
The 5’11,” 195 lb. blueliner feels more comfortable in his second pro season, having already recorded 17 points (4G, 13A) through 53 games in his first full stint.
“The first year, you’re learning everything and in your second year, everything slows down a bit,” Warren said. “Now I’m pretty comfortable in that league, learning from veterans and taking everything day by day.”
Warren initially learned of his recall from Bridgeport Head Coach Rocky Thompson after practice, followed by a phone call from Islanders GM and EVP Mathieu Darche, whose message to the blueliner was to do this thing and take it all in – it’s a cool experience and well-deserved opportunity.
Between the news from Thompson and the phone call from Darche, there were the emotional phone calls with his family, who supported his ultimate dream from day one.
“My parents [and] my sister were pumped, it takes a village,” Warren said. “Without them I wouldn’t be anywhere.”
Warren’s energy was undeniably infectious on Friday morning when he got his first practice in with the Islanders, matching the gratitude maintained through training camp.
“There are some days in sports where you don’t know if you’re ever going to have a chance,” Warren said. “It’s pretty special. It took a village for me to get here and I put a lot of work in, a lot of sacrifice.”
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