"I got back to (Kevin Cheveldayoff) after a few days (of thinking) and I felt like for me I wanted to get another year of school under my belt and I talked with my family and I felt like that was the best decision for me," said Samberg from his home in Hermantown, MN.
Samberg enters his junior season at UMD and is majoring in entrepreneurship and minoring in coaching. While the decision to move north was tempting, education was at the forefront of his decision.
"My family and I believe an education is important, my parents have harped on that since day one. I feel like I'm only 20 years old right now and I feel like there is no reason to rush it," said Samberg.
"Kind of feels like the same situation in high school. I could have after my junior year left for juniors but I decided to stay back for my senior year and obviously it didn't end up hurting me."
The Jets chose Samberg in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft and while it seems like having him turn pro would be ideal, Samberg said Cheveldayoff and the organization never pressured him during the 2018-19 campaign.
"I felt like I really wanted to concentrate on this past hockey season and then after the season I'd look more into if I was going to leave (school) or not."
"(Cheveldayoff) really understood my point of view which was nice. He didn't want to force me on anything, he understood that if I wanted to get another year of education if it was important to me he understood that."
Samberg will log a lot of important minutes for head coach Scott Sandelin and the Bulldogs in the fall - only helping in his development. Even though Samberg is at least a year away from playing in Manitoba, he is thrilled about the chance to pull on a Jets uniform
"I'm really excited. They have a good organization up there" said Samberg.
"They've been growing over the past few years here and starting to have some success. I'm just really hoping one day I can crack that lineup and stay up there."
You can see Samberg and other Jets prospects in June out at Bell MTS Iceplex for Winnipeg Jets Development camp from June. 24-28.
