Out of all the states in the country, Arizona does not stand out as a hockey state, but sophomore forward Zac Larraza did not let that affect his dreams, as he has scored four goals in the past four games for the Pioneers.

Larraza started his goal-scoring momentum in the first game back after winter break when he scored a goal against Boston University on Dec. 29, momentum which has continued since then. He also netted two goals, including the game-winner on Jan. 11 against Nebraska Omaha, and continued to the next night to score another. Larraza also scored the first goal in the team’s 5-2 loss to St. Cloud State on Jan. 18.

After beginning skating at 2 years old and joining his first team at age 4, Larraza’s family became heavily involved in the hockey scene in Phoenix.

“It was tough, because when I first started playing, there was not a rink anywhere near me; I had to drive 45 minutes to go play,” said Larraza. “My mom and dad were on the board that founded what is now the Ice Den, which is a five-minute walk from my house, so that really helped out a lot when I started playing there.”

In addition to the new ice rink, the professional team in Phoenix, the Coyotes, began their upward swing as a team, qualifying for the playoffs and becoming a more respected team, further growing the small hockey scene in Phoenix and inspiring the young hockey hopeful.

“I think the Coyotes were probably the biggest help,” said Larraza. “Going to those games and watching those guys, they were my role models, so after they made the playoffs a couple years, I think that’s when hockey really took off and made [Phoenix] a great place to grow up and play.”

However, as many hockey players pursuing collegiate and professional careers do, Larraza soon outgrew his hometown community and needed to move away to continue his preparation for competitive hockey.

After playing several summers with the Little Caesars team in Detroit, Mich., a AAA team in the area, Larraza got the call from the U.S. Team Developmental program in Ann Arbor, Mich., and made the decision to move to Ann Arbor at 16 years old.

“It was really tough,” said Larraza on moving away from home. “But when I got offered the position, there was not a doubt in my mind that I was taking that spot, and my mom and dad agreed. That was the best thing for my life at that point.”

Coming from Arizona, Larraza was accustomed to being the best player on the team, but he quickly realized that would not be the case anymore now that he was with the U.S. Developmental Program.

Along with realizing he was not the star of the team, his role also quickly changed.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Larraza. “Going in there, every kid was the best player on their respective teams back at home, so when you get there, you realize, ‘I’m not the best player here anymore; I’ve got to figure out a way to make a name for myself.’ I developed more of a grind role.”

After his time in Michigan, Larraza headed back West to Colorado to join the Pioneer ranks at DU, where his role changed once again. With his large stature, standing at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, head coach George Gwozdecky had a different role in mind for him.

“Zac is a guy that has to play a big physical role for us,” said Gwozdecky. “Zac is a big, strong and powerful guy who trains hard, and I think that has been a little bit of an adjustment coming from his area, where he was probably considered a goal scorer and played an offensive role.

“Moving into a more competitive environment with the U.S. National Developmental Program in Ann Arbor for a couple years before coming here, he’s had to adjust his role a little bit.”

Adjusting was precisely what he had to do when he donned his crimson and gold jersey. Larraza only played in 26 games throughout the season last year before his “call-up.”

“Every freshman expects to come in here and be the best player on the team, and it’s just not going to happen,” said Larraza. “I came in here and I struggled right away; I didn’t play a lot of games, and there was a time where I was like, ‘Maybe hockey isn’t what I’m meant to do.’ I sat down with the coaches at the end of the year and they told me, ‘Look, things are going to come to you. We have our lineup set right now, just wait your turn; we’ll call your name one of these times.”

And call his name they did. In the WCHA Final Five tournament, the team was riddled with injuries, leaving a spot for Larraza to fill. Not only did he fill it, but he scored the game-winning goal in double-overtime against Minnesota Duluth, sparking something in him that has continued to this point.

After losing the team’s top scorers from last year, the Pioneers were looking to fill the offensive void.

“Coming into the season, we were hoping to pick up the slack from the offense that left us and that certain guys would be able to consistently add offense,” said Gwozdecky. “We knew about guys like Nick Shore and Chris Knowlton, but we were hoping that some of our sophomore class like Ty Loney, Daniel Doremus, Matt Tabrum and Zac Larraza would pick up the slack and fill in some of the holes that were left.”

After a slow start to the season, Larraza went home for winter break, which proved to be a change in his game, according to him.

In the second half of the season, Larraza has stepped in to fill the holes, scoring four goals in the last four games for the Pioneers, including a game-winner, putting his total points at 13 off six goals and seven assists in the 22 games he has played so far this season.

“It all started when I went home for break; I got some rest and skated with my dad, which is always a good confidence booster,” said Larraza. “I came back and went as hard as I could in the games and didn’t hold anything back. In the first game back against BU, we killed them and I got a goal, and from there it’s just kept rolling. I’m just feeling it right now; I don’t know how else to explain it.”