16 -The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, July 5, 1995
Editor's note: This is the first of a three-part seriesc
newest sports franchise, the Motor City Mustangs of Rollet
ternational.
By Nicholas J. Cotsonika
Daily Sports Editor
ETROIT - Motor City hockey fans had becomei
this. A three-point night by No. 91 was just nothin
The Russian had melted the Detroit ice so many ti
such performances were to be expected.
But when Fedorov scored two goals and an assist on J
something was a little different. He was wearing purple, c
green instead of red and white. He was on wheels, notste
And his name was Anton, not Sergei.
The Detroit Red Wings' Joe Louis Arena is just a slat
from Anton's home at Cobo. Nevertheless, Anton Fedor(
pretend to be 1994 NHL MVP Sergei Fedorov -"I sugg
(wearing No. 91) as a joke ... I told them to give me No.
Fedorov says - but he wouldn't mind putting the puck i
himself once and awhile.
After all, it's his job. The for
Michigan icer is a taxi squad me
Motor City Mustangs, who are1
inaugural season with Roller H
International.
"The first time I heard abou
hockey), I said, 'I'm not stupidf
do that,"' Fedorov says. "But af
S' about it and felt comfortable on
rollerblades, I said, 'Why not m
Why not? Fedorov is a Russ
revolutionary. His life has been
Fedorov new frontiers, new challenges a
nots. He left the Soviet Union fi
Arbor in June of 1991 to become the first Russian-born,'
Division I hockey player.
It changed his life.
In the U.S.S.R., Fedorov was a late-bloomer. His gra
Tetyana, taught him how to skate in the old, worn ice rin
Leningrad. But it wasn't until Anton was 7-years-old tha
strapped on his gear alongside his comrades.
"There were 100 little boys that tried out for the juni
Fedorov reborn on rollerblades
MARK A. HICKS/Motor City Mustangs
on Detroit's team," Fedorov says."There was a lot of competition
rHockey In- for 20 spots. I was glad to make it."
A frontier. A challenge. A "Why not me?"
A 7-year-old's dream then became a teenager's
life. Besides his schoolwork and later his coursework
used to at St. Petersburg State University, Fedorov was on the
tg new. road. To Moscow. To Kiev. To Minsk and the Baltics.
mes before, He played with Red Army until age 18.
"Then, in 1991, we went on a tour of the Unted w
une 18, States, playing high school and minor league teams,"
orange and Fedorov says. "We played (Ann Arbor high schools)
el blades. Pioneer and Huron, and (Michigan hockey coach)
Red Berenson saw me, liked me and gave me a full
pshot away scholarship." -
ov doesn't So Fedorov packed his bags, grabbed his student
gested visa and headed to Michigan to play for the
13," Wolverines. He stayed only three years - he had
n the net already earned 27 credits in the Soviet Union - and t
played sparingly.-
rmer Yet, Anton holds no grudges. "I love the
mber of the University. I love the guys. I love Michigan -
playing their period," Fedorov says. "Coach (Berenson) taught
ockey me a lot. He taught me how to be a good citizen,
and he taught me how to play defense. That's what
t (roller has let me continue in hockey. I have to thank him
enough to for that, because if you get beaten here, you're
ter I learned done."
Fedorov gained more than defensive knowledge
ie?"' from Michigan, however. He gained a wife. Fedorov
ian married Amy Van Assche during his sophomore year
a series of and became a U.S. citizen.
ad why Now that Fedorov was a par of Aerica, he ' ,--
or Ann decided to see it. He toured the country while pursuing
NCAA a career in pro hockey after his collegiate one ended in Former Michigan Icer Anton Fedorov Is now a Mustang.
1994. In the past two years, Fedorov had stints with
the Colonial Hockey League's Detroit Falcons and the East Coast Then, the phone rang. Fedorov s agent had heard about an
indmother, Hockey League's Raliegh Ice Caps. But after being hampered by opening with the Charlestown Chiefs (famous for their depiction i
ks of injuries and not playing up to expectations, he was released each the movie Slapshot), also of the ECHL. So Fedorov packed his bag
it he time. again and flew to Pennsylvania. He played well enough to be invite
"I thought my career was over," Fedorov says. "I got a job and back and will report in September.
or Red Army settled down with Amy." Another frontier. Another challenge. Another "Why not me?"
But after the season, Anton needed a summer job to supp
his family. It was Amy who found it for him. She was casually
telling a stranger that her husband played hockey when she fou
out that stranger was Mustang General Manager Micheal Nepi.
Fedorov was invited to try out, but didn't exactly say "Why not
me?" at first.
"The first time I put on (rollerblades), I said, 'Oh, my God! I
can't do this,"' Fedorov says. "I just said, 'Wow!'
He learned quickly enough. Fedorov made cut after cut, and th
Mustangs, coached by hockey legend Gordie Howe's son Marty,
brought in Fedorov to reinforce their line up. They were especially
impressed with his speed and puck-handling skills in camp and
expect him to develop as he gains experience on blades.
"He's just on the taxi squad, but there might be nights when we
really need him - like tonight," Howe said after Motor City's 7-5
win over the Orlando RollerGators on June 18. "I just wanted to gi
him a chance to play, and then he goes out and gets three points."
Points or no points, Fedorov is no superstar. But he is one of a
number of CCHA alumni that are involved with RHI, and you co
say, he's come a long way. The league has played a role in his rebir
as a hockey player, but No. 91 isn't content yet.
"The league has good potential and you get good exposure," he
says. "We're good, we're learning, but I won't be happy until ss
win the whole thing. I don't see why not."
Another frontier. Another challenge. Another "Why not me?"
JONATAN LU/-Daly If only his grandma Tetyana could see him now.
Fedorov and his Mustang teammates hit the SportCourt. Next week: The making of the Mustangs.
Some young Motor City fans cheer as Anton