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The Michigan Daily - Faceoff 2
6B - The Michigan Daily - Faceoff 2004 - Thursday, October 14, 2004
SUMMER
Continued from page 3B
Maloney said. "But the (American Hockey
League) is a rough league with players who
are much older than Al, so I think Michi-
gan will be good for him this year."
Two others, Montoya's mother and
Michigan coach Red Berenson, passion-
ately supported the decision.
"Education is always number one," Silva
said. "I want him to graduate, and that's
what I'm working on with him now."
Said Berenson: "I think he made a
good decision to come back. It shouldn't
just be about money. It's about develop-
ment. He had good family support, and
I think we need more of that now. I'm a
strong supporter of a four-year career in
college hockey."
After the decision, Montoya's tour of
North America took him to Grand Forks,
N.D., for the USA Hockey National Junior
Evaluation Camp and to Calgary for a
Rangers training camp. But after all the
summer travel, Montoya is back where he
started - in Ann Arbor.
"When I came up to visit, I've never
seen him happier," his mother said. "I
know he made the right decision. It's
exciting to be drafted, but he's got two
years of school left."
When he does finally sign a contract
with the Rangers - whether it's next year
or the year after - Montoya has something
special planned for his mom.
"I have a certain gift in mind," Montoya
said. "But that's between me and her."
His mother, unaware of her son's
thoughtful intentions, says she has already
received her reward.
"The biggest gift you can have is to see
your children happy," the single mother of
four said. "It's great to see them make the
right choices."
NCAA to crack
down on penties
I
By Ian Herbert
Daily Sports Writer
You were never supposed to do it. But
now you really can't do it at all.
That's essentially what the CCHA and
all of the other collegiate hockey leagues
around the country are saying to their hock-
ey players. There haven't been any changes
to the official regulations, but throughout
this season there will be a nationwide
crackdown on penalty enforcement.
It has always been an unspoken rule in
hockey that when the game approaches
its conclusion - or goes into overtime
- players can pretty much get away with
murder. The conventional wisdom is that
it's too much of an advantage to give one
team a power play so late in the contest, and
the NCAA doesn't want the referees decid-
ing the outcome of the games.
But that's all about to change.
According to the NCAA, referees will no
longer tolerate - at any point in the game
- the tugging and grabbing on jerseys and
sticks that they have in the past. They will
crack down on pinning players against the
boards who don't have a puck. They will
stop players from using their sticks in the
open ice. Essentially, it will be a return to
the way the game used to be played.
"Rule interpretation is not maintained
at a strict standard," said Tom Anastos,
the commissioner of the CCHA. "It allows
illegal tactics to neutralize a superior offen-
sive advantage."
Anastos said that the league is very com-
mitted to the national standard. He said it is
important that all of the collegiate hockey
leagues around the nation are on board
so that there are no discrepancies when it
comes time for the NCAA tournament at
the end of the season. Anastos said that
previous attempts to change the enforce-
ment policies have fallen short because the
league backed off after complaints from
players, coaches and fans. He hopes that
this season, with support from the NCAA,
the rules will be fully enforced and the style
of play will change.
Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson
agreed with Anastos that it would be good
for the game of hockey.
"I hope that it becomes a positive for
the fans and the players," Berenson said.
"Because the players are going to have to
certainly make some adjustments. And
when I say adjustments, some of those
things that you just do automatically, you
aren't going to be able to do."
One thing is certain - more penalties
will be called. In Michigan's exhibition
game against Windsor on Oct. 2, there were
14 penalties. Last weekend, 32 penalties
were called during Michigan's two games.
It's going to be an adjustment, and a big
question at the start of the season is: Who
will the new enforcement rules favor most?
Berenson said he doesn't think the
new rules helped any team in particu-
lar, but some of the other coaches and
players thought that they might favor
faster and more skilled teams.
"You know what?" Alaska-Fairbanks
coach Tavis MacMillan said. "Our team
is built around speed and skill. I think
this actually will enhance our team's
style right now. And not only will it be
good for the game, but it will be good
specifically for us. So I'm all for it. The
challenge now is how are we going to
teach that to our players?"
Some players suggested that schools
with strong special teams would be the
immediate beneficiaries because of the
spike in penalties.
"A penalty is a penalty, and I think it
should be called," Michigan sophomore
wing T.J. Hensick said. "I think it goes to
the advantage of a team that has a good
power play, but if it's a penalty, it needs to
be called."
The players learned of the rules through
a video provided by the NCAA that was
given to all of the coaches around the
nation. The video showed specific penal-
ties that will be called from now on, but
were inconsistently enforced prior to this
season.
The players had mixed reactions about
the new policies, but most of them agreed
that it will open up the game. Fewer hook-
ing and holding penalties being allowed
will ultimately benefit the fans. The idea
is that, once the players are able to get rid
of their old habits and the penalties return
to a normal level, the game should place
more emphasis on good skating, passing
and shooting.
"I guess I'm kind of biased because,
from a defenseman's point of view, it's
not good for us," senior alternate cap-
tain Brandon Rogers said. "But for the
fans and for the overall play, I guess it's
a good thing. It's a good thing for the
offensive part of the game."
Summer of Al
From Carnegie to Shea and back to Yost
By Jake Rosenwasser * Daily Sports Writer
good summer job is tough to come by. Accom- draft," his mother, Irene Silva, remembers. "And he would
plished students send out cover letters and resumes say, 'Why are you congratulating me, I haven't been draft-
with high hopes that often get dashed. All they ed yet.' He didn't want to jinx anything."
want is a chance to prove their worth. The long buildup and whirlwind surrounding the draft
Al Montoya was lucky enough to get a job offer took its toll on Montoya.
- and he didn't even take it. "It was ridiculous," Montoya said. "Up until that
The only catch was that he'd have to leave school and night, I didn't sleep much, and up until my name was
never come back. Fortunately, the company that offered called, I really had no idea where I was going. Most
him the job thinks he has a bright future, so the offer stands people told me I'd go in the first round, but people talk
whenever he's ready. Lucky guy. Maybe you've heard of and tell you 15 different things and you have no idea.
the company - the New York Rangers. So, I just tried to enjoy the day."
So what did Michigan's junior goalie do all summer? It turns out there wasn't anything to toss and turn about.
Sleep late and play videogames all day? Nope. Stay out The Rangers selected Montoya with the sixth pick in the
all night in his hometown of Chicago? Not really. Did he first round, making him the first goalie and the first col-
travel at least? Yeah, but he didn't backpack across Europe legiate player selected.
or anything like that. Instead, he skipped across North Montoya's convoy of family and friends came
America, stopping only to attend the NHL draft and to set from all over the world to take part in the merriment.
New York abuzz. In addition to the usual suspects, Montoya's surro-
After Boston College ousted Michigan in the NCAA gate parents - who housed him when he played for
Northeast regional in March, Montoya stuck around Ann the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey
Arbor for spring term. But in the middle of the shortened League in 2000-01 - made the trip, and his older
semester, Montoya had to travel to Toronto for the NHL brother, who works a Naval intelligence job in Japan,
combine so teams could evaluate him for the upcoming also came in for the celebration.
NHL draft. At the event, Montoya faced a barrage of ques- "It was great to have everyone together," Montoya's
tions from 18 different teams. mother said. "When the Rangers drafted him, they joked
"It was a very strenuous week," Montoya said. "Every- that Al brought half of Chicago with him. But he's used to
thing you did was a psychological test. Every person you having a lot of extended family around."
talked to in meetings and even away from meetings was After the draft, Montoya and his family went down to
looking to get bits and pieces from you. There were ques- Hilton Head, S.C., for a family vacation. It was the first
tions after questions about everything from your family to vacation the family had taken together in years. The
your friends, priorities, goals and values." tight-knit group hung out on the beach, chucked a Frisbee
The Rangers were one of the teams that was intrigued around, golfed and kayaked.
by Montoya's play. The organization was especially The Rangers wanted the newly drafted goalie to cut his
impressed when Montoya led the United States to gold in vacation short and head to New York for a public relations
the World Junior Championships in January. tour, but Montoya wanted to spend the previously planned
"Al clearly relished playing in big games," Rangers Assis- vacation with his family in Hilton Head. The Rangers
tant General Manager Don Maloney said. "In our minds, he understood and Montoya traveled up to the Big Apple two
was the MVP of the (World Junior Championships)." days later then the Rangers had originally hoped.
And after members of the organization got a feel for When he arrived in New York, Montoya got a pre-
Montoya as a person, they knew he would be high on their view of what celebrity life might taste like. The Rangers
draft board. brought him to the world-renowned Carnegie Deli where
"We just do the psychological profiles to look for any a sandwich was promptly named in his honor - the deli
red flags," Maloney said. "But with Al there clearly weren't added the "Al Cubano" to the menu. The hefty bite to
any to be found." eat, which is named after Montoya's Cuban heritage
Montoya survived the rigors of the (Montoya's mother left Cuba for the United States
combine and returned to Ann Arbor to when she was 9), is a traditional Cuban pork
complete the spring semester. Then he sandwich.
went home to the Chicago area for a few The Rangers were not done showing
days before heading down to Raleigh off their newest prized possession. The
N.C., for the NHL draft with friends , next stop was the Yankees-Mets Sub-
and family. way Series. At Shea Stadium, Mon-
The Central Scouting Service toya got to meet a number of New York
ranked Montoya higher than all other sports stars, even a Cuban.
goalies entering the draft, but the "It was unbelievable," Montoya said. "I got to
19-year-old tried not to buy go on the field and meet (Derek) Jeter, (Alex)
into all the hype before the .,4, . Rodriguez and (Jose) Contreras. Contre-
big day. ras actually thought I was from Cuba, but
"People were congratu- that would have been pretty impressive
lating him the day before the to make it to the NHL while growing up
RYAN WEINER/D
Junior goalie Al Montoya snags a shot last season.
in Cuba."
Jeter and A-Rod may have to get used to sharing sp,
with Montoya because The New York Post's Page Six g
sip column has already dubbed Montoya the "next athl
heartthrob in New York."
After living it up in New York City, the dreamy dr
pick finally went back home for a few weeks, but he I
a huge decision to make: Should he give up his final t
years of eligibility and sign a contract with the Range
or should he return to Michigan for his junior year?'
Rangers wanted Montoya to play for their minor leag
team in Hartford, Conn., which will play regardless
the NHL lockout.
"It was definitely a tough decision," Montoya said. "I
been dreaming about playing in the NHL my whole life
Montoya sought out the opinions of others who I
been in his place. He spoke to former Wolverine netmii
ers Marty Turco and Steve Shields, both of whom sp
four years between the pipes in Ann Arbor before movi
on to the NHL.
"They were both really helpful and supportive," Mc
toya said. "They told me about the advantages and disc
vantages of both. They both played in the minors and th
said it's not the greatest thing ever. They said it's not li
the NHL, and until you're 110-percent ready, there's
reason to rush it."
Montoya was not sold. He took his time contemplati
while all parties involved waited. Finally, after delayi
until late July to announce his highly anticipated decisi<
Montoya decided to stay at Michigan.
"You have to step back and look at the big pictur
Montoya said. "If I'm good enough, I'll make it one d
It doesn't need to be rushed. And these two years at sch<
could be the best ones of my life. I want to experier
everything."
The Rangers supported the decision and feel like Mc
toya can continue to improve in Ann Arbor.
"If he had wanted to sign, we would have signed him
See SUMMER, page 6
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