The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 14, 2000 -15
all hockey or "stickball" is a simple yet
essential part of life to many kids in the
streets of Canadian cities.
Especially in Richmond Hill, Ont. Located 20
miles from Toronto, it is the hometown of
Michigan center Mike Cammalleri.
As in most Canadian towns, these games repre-
sent how seriously most Canadians consider the
sport as an aspect of their culture.
"In Toronto, hockey's No. I - that's the differ-
ence," Cammalleri said. "People really love the
game and know the sport. You can ask the mail-
man for the records and roster of the team."
Although Cammalleri now competes in heated
battles at Yost Ice Arena, his fondest memories of
stickball are just as intense.
"Don't kid yourself," Cammalleri said. "You
don't want to lose out there. Because if you did,
you'd hear about it."
After his friends would hang the nets up in the
garage, Cammalleri's competitive fire led him to
argue to bring them back down - the games
weren't over until he was on top.
"He always had to have the last word," his
father, Leo Cammalleri said. "He hated losing
more than anything."
Mike Cammalleri's hatred of losing stems from
his father, a "purist of the game" who was the
main sports influence on his son's life, teaching
him some valuable yet painful lessons in their rit-
ualistic father-son ball hockey games.
Instead of merely letting his son win, Leo would
not only come out on top - he would let everyone
know about it.
After he'd win he'd run up the stairs screaming
I'm the greatest' and rub it in," the younger
Cammalleri said. "I'd follow him up crying my
eyes out, giving him one of my classic lines, I
wasn't ready."'
Although he came up short against his father,
the experiences throughout Cammalleri's life
point to the fact that he is indeed ready for any
obstacles in his path to success.
Whether it is accelerating his way through
school to graduate early, being the youngest play-
er in the CCHA as a freshman and making an
immediate impact, or now, as a sophomore.
becoming one of the most integral parts of
Michigan's team - Cammnalleri dives into the
challenges headfirst, while having a little fun
along the way.
TOUGH BREAK SPARTIES
After watching a 14-year old Cammalleri at one
of his camps, Michigan coach Red Berenson
knew he had found something special.
Taking his game to a whole other level.
Cammalleri then played at age 15 on a junior team
that had mostly 17-18-year-olds. Along with his
small stature (5-10, 185 pounds), Cammalleri was
thought to be at a physical disadvantage.
But no one told Mike Cammalleri. He used his
size to his advantage, becoming a force to be reck-
oned with on the ice.
"He's built low to the ice so it's hard to knock
him off the puck," Michigan associate coach Mel
Pearson said. "That's been one of the keys to his
success against the older players, being veryv tena-
:ious with the puck."
While Berenson and his assistants' mouths
watered at the thought of having Cammalleri in
the Maize and Blue, history predicted that the
young star would become a Spartan.
Cammalleri's coach in juniors helped produce
future Spartans Mike York, Mike Weaver and
Adam Hall in successive recruiting classes, and
some thought that Cammalleri would be next.
Except for Cammallei, who admits that an
unofficial visit to Yost Ice Arena made his decision
even easier. [ie remembers watching the 1998
NCAA Regional when Michigan stunned North
Dakota in one of the most exciting games ever in
Yost.
"After watching the game, (Michigan assistant)
coach Billy Powers said to me, 'If you don't want
to come to Michigan now, than there's nothing else
we can do,"' Cammalleri said.
"I just wanted to be a part of it - getting a great
education and being a part of one of the greatest
hockey programs in the nation."
It was set - Cammalleri was a Wolverine. But
the only question was when.
Cammalleri decided that sooner was better than
later. He took extra courses, night classes, and
three straight summers of school in order to grad-
uate high school in three years - making him eli-
gible to play for Michigan this past season.
This didn't come without a price, however. His
nonstop schedule of hockey and classes wasn't the
life of a normal teenager, which caused
Cammalleri to do some soul-searching.
"I had II classes on the go at one time."
Cammalleri said. "I remember one night not being
able to go to sleep because I was so stressed out. I
thought to myself that it wasn't worth it"
After discussing with his father in a late night
chat the thought of waiting one more year,
Cammalleri made the decision to not back down
from the challenge and stuck with it.
"You've got to prioritize,' Cammalleri said. "I
thought that if I worked hard here it would work
out well and I'll have four fun years at Michigan."
FrING RIGHT IN
It didn't take very long for Cammalleri to make
a name for himself. He tallied 26 points as the
youngest player in the CCHA this past season -
turning 17 just three months before the season
started -- and shone in a conference that boasted
some 23-24 year olds, earning CCHA All-Rookie
Honorable Mention honors in the process.
"Every shift he's dangerous with the puck,"
Berenson said. "He's strong on his feet, creative
and scores big goals in big games.-
Not only did he use his crafty puckhandling to
make opposing defensemen look silly, he also
unselfishly did the little things that Berenson says
make a player great.
"If you can ask your best players to do every-
thing that everyone else is supposed to do, includ-,
ing backchecking and blocking shots -
Cammalleri has no problem with that and goes
into it headfirst."
Cammalleri caught the eyes of coaches around
the CCIIA. drawing comparisons to Michigan's
leading scorer this past year - lobey Baker
finalist Mike C'omric.
"I think he's a great player," Michigan State
coach Ron Mason said. "I even feel that he's bet-
ter than Mike Comine"
Other than being short, left-handed, Canadian
playmakers who are dangerous every time they
touch the puck, the two friends and former team-
mates share similarities that run deeper than ice
level, in the form of passion and desire.
"They're both competitive," Pearson said. "Both
do a lot away from the ice that you don't see in
order to become the best."
In fact, much like Corrie, Cammalleri is often
one of the last off'the ice after practices.
"They both love the game," Pearson said.
"There are some guys who just want to get out of
there after practice, but they both enjoy just stay-
ing out there -- like rink rats'
Cammalleri says that although he knows prac-
tices may be long and grueling, there's no place
he'd rather be.
"I'll be in class and I can't wait to get there'
Cammalleri said. "The bottom line is that every
day I can't wait to get to the rink"
AiwAYs TIME FOR FUN
In a ritual game of "rebound" after practice,
Cammalleri puts a shot past Kevin O'Malley and
starts to celebrate like he just scored the game-
winner against Michigan State.
While he's as intense as anyone once the puck
drops, Cammalleri is also one of the most animat-
ed guys on the team -- he knows how to loosen
things up while playing the game he loves.
Just ask forward Craig Murray about the day
last offseason when Cammalleri gave him a spe-
cial wakeup call at five in the morning, dumping a
bucket of cold water on his head. This sparked a
"prank war" that has continued through the team's
trip to Alaska this season.
"He's just a goofball," forward Andy Fj1bert
said. "He likes to joke and is fun to be around.
Coaches agree that his outgoing personalt is
beneficial in the locker room, loosening thigs up
in tense moments.
"I think its just the Italian in him, Pearson
joked. "I mean you need that type ofthin. There's
enough pressure on everyone academically -and
athletically so its nice to have a player like Mike
who can have a lighthearted moment that spreads
arotnd the team.
KNOW VYOUR ROLE
Cammalleri's role has increased even m.&-.this
year - the sophomore has taken on key res ns
bilities such as "quarterbacking~ the power play
and penalty kill units. Also, claimed by teammates
to have "eves in the back of his head," heusedhis
vis on to tally nine assists so far this season.
"You knew he'd step up' Berenson said.. He's
matured to the point where he's going to be one of
our top players this year."
Cammalleri is expected to take on an eveiarg-
er role in the future - the senior class, whicwas
part of the 1998 NCAA championship team is
graduating this May.
But Cammallei said that he will leave no sme
unturned as he strives to win that ultimate pi
And it's fitting that with Cammallieri attude
and competitiveness, he gives only one response
to his challengers.
."Bring it on.
I
I
a
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