Justin Kloos’ secret to being a leader is simple: Actions speak much louder than words.

So far the speedy forward has used his actions to lead the University of Minnesota men’s hockey on and off the ice. Kloos finished first on the team in scoring as a junior last year with 43 points while off of it heads up the Gopher leadership group.

Entering his second season captaining Minnesota, Kloos has been one everywhere he spent more than one season. Whether that is at the high school level for Lakeville South, where he was named Minnesota Mr. Hockey in 2012, or his second year in Squirts and Peewees, the senior forward tries to lead by personal example.

Through it all Kloos has learned from experience there is no one exact blueprint to being a leader.

Here he shares his philosophy on being a leader, what it’s like wearing the “C” for a tradition-rich program like Minnesota, and how anyone can be a better teammate.

Minnesota Hockey: What attributes do you expect out of a leader? How would you describe the role of being a captain?

Justin Kloos: First off, it’s got to be work ethic and hard work. If you preach stuff like that and you don’t show it by your actions both on and off the ice, whether it’s in the classroom, or on the ice, or amongst your peers, if you don’t show commitment and work ethic, your preaching and words to the younger guys will never hold at all.

That’s obviously a big one. You got to have confidence and you have to be willing to tell someone, whether it’s on the ice or off the ice, that they’re not doing something which is expected. That’s a couple things that I take pride in as far as being a leader.

MH: How do you balance the difference between leading a team and playing individually?

Kloos: That’s something you have to learn with experience. You don’t know until that first night going out with the guys. You have to make sure to worry about your own game as well, though. If you take too much time making sure everyone is prepared and everyone else knows what is going on, you forget you have to take care of your own end as well.

Take care of your own end first and keep an eye out for everyone else. Hockey is a six-man game so it’s not like you can put everyone on your shoulder at one time. Taking a little pressure off yourself and keeping things simple right away is a good suggestion for future captains.

MH: No player or team is perfect. What do you work on when things don’t go your team’s way?

Kloos: Both keeping the spirit up and getting back to work. Sometimes it’s hard to come in on Mondays (after a weekend not going well). It’s difficult to get back to the grind because as far as seasons go once you get past high school they get to be grinding, whether it’s juniors, college and I’m sure the professional leagues.

It can be tough when you’re down on yourself. You didn’t play well two straight games and have to wait a week to redeem yourself in the game, but realistically Monday through Friday (in practice is the time) to get better and prepare yourself. That’s one of the hardest parts is making sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to getting back to work when things don’t go well.

MH: Does experience matter more than position? Can anyone on the team lead?

Kloos: Yes and no. You learn a lot when you come in as a freshman and come in as a younger guy. There’s a time and a place to lead when you’re a freshman and certainly sophomores. It’s going to be their team eventually.

Being a good follower is as important to being a good leader for those younger guys. That’s one part that we really learned when we were freshmen. If you’re not acting right or practicing right or playing the game right, the leaders are going to step up and you have to take it for what it is.

I think it’s important for older guys to be the leaders (to begin), but for the younger guys by the end of the season they can certainly lead.

MH: You’ve mentioned locker room chemistry is important with the younger guys. Do you take on more of a mentorship role?

Kloos: I think all the older guys do. Some do more on the ice, some do more off the ice. It sometimes depends on personality, but it’s definitely important to mesh.

Things like that are important so there are not separate groups within the team. There’s not a junior group, a sophomore group, a freshman group, but there’s one team meshing together. It doesn’t always mean that you’re going to be together, but when you are together it’s one team, not a couple cliques.

MH: It’s your second year doing it, but what does it mean to wear the “C” at the University of Minnesota?

Kloos: It’s unbelievable. It’s a surreal experience at least thus far. I can’t wait to hit the Mariucci ice for the rest of the season and wear the letter to the best of my ability, and enjoy it along with the rest of the seniors as we all lead this last year.