14 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, August 5, 2002
TIMES, THEY ARE CHANGING
Daily Sports Editors Joe Smith and Charles Paradis chatted with Boston
Bruins' goalie Steve Shields about the new climate in college hockey
THE MICHIGAN DAILY: You started go to the next level. The only way it back into the draft (The "Van Ryn
as a freshman in goal and Alvaro can be a negative is if they're get- rule" states that if a college player is
Montoya is expected to do the same ting bad advice, being told that they drafted, and he decides to play major
next season. What advice would you are ready before they really are. juniors, the team that drafted him
give him? Guys like Komisarek (a defense- originally will lose their rights to him
STEVE SHIELDS: When I broke in as, men) are probably going to spend a and he will reenter the draft the next
a freshman, there was probably a lit- year in the minors minimum, so you year). When you have your leverage
tle less pressure because the team might as well get it over with earli- you have to take advantage of it.
wasn't as well known as they are now er, then it might be in your best TMD: Do you think that the Van
and wasn't as interest to leave. But you never want Ryn loophole has been bad for col-
consistently good to see guys leave and not play their lege hockey?
as it is now. There four years with guys that have that SS: I think it's bad for the quality
was a junior here commitment. It's negative when the of the game. It might open doors for
to start the sea- guys wait until the last minute to guys that are coming to college won-
son, so there was- leave because you leave the team dering if it's going to be a bad expe-
n't that pressure shorthanded. rience to play in college. It gives
like there has TMD: Do you think that agents guys a chance to come here that
been on the guys have more of a presence today than might not come, but in the same
after me (Marty they did when you played college respect, you're. going to lose some
Turco and Josh hockey? guys early.
Blackburn) that Shields SS: There's more of them, which TMD: What's changed the most?
have had to step in and perform right means there are more bad ones, The kids or the system?
off the bat. Now with the program which means more guys are getting SS: The system has changed, but
being so good, they can get top quali- bad advice. You have to be careful the kids are still the same as the guys
ty goalies that are coming out of high with what you're hearing because the I came in here with. They really have
school that are more than capable of only way an agent gets paid is if pro aspirations when they get here,
coming in and doing the job, and it you're getting paid. You just have to but they're totally focused on going
- looks like Al Montoya is of the same take that into consideration. to school.
mold as the other guys. TMD: Do you think there is more TMD: What are they missing their
TMD: Were you surprised to see pressure on these guys to take the senior year?
Mike Komisarek and Mike Cam- money when they can get it? SS: They're missing a great time,
malleri leave Michigan early to go SS: I think that they have more a chance to win a national champi-
to the NHL? leverage now. (Cammalleri and onship, a chance to graduate with
SS: I didn't have the option like Komisarek) had the option of going your class. If you don't graduate, it's
they have, but there's a lot at stake to play (Major Junior League hock- pretty tough to come back in the
for these guys with the money that's ey), and that's their leverage right summers and do it. There are some
out there for the younger guys. I there - put the team (that drafted guys in my class that are still trying
can't blame the guys for wanting to them) under the gun, and possibly go to finish their degree, but you have to
ALUMNI
Continued from Page 13
V "My senior year was that special
and it all came down to a head where
you kiss the ice for the last time, and
- I think that's an experience in itself.
Age To go three years and not kiss that ice
on Senior Night probably wouldn't
make it all worth it if you didn't have
-'17 778the opportunity to do that."
But Turco and his dedication are
not a thing of the past. Even though
the Dallas netminder graduated four
Sun. Tr 110 a. to 10 p. N.University years ago, some players still maintain
Sr. - t.30 a.. to as: pm that dedicated sensibility. Players like
sHto Jay Vancik, who graduated last year,
returned along side Turco for the
s Alumni game.
.il i "It was sort of strange (playing in
TONY DING/Daily
Former Michigan netminder Steve Shields (1991-1994) was the winning
goaltender Friday night when he faced off with Marty Turco and Kevin O'Malley.
do what you have to do. You are
missing out on a lot of stuff.
TMD: What do you think of the
fact that guys are trading their last
years at Michigan for possibly a year
or two in the minor leagues?
SS: The minors aren't very fun.
Nobody wants to be there. No one
wants to ride the bus. When you turn
pro, it's your job now. When you play
in the minors, you're playing in
towns you don't want to be in with
guys who are battling for spots. If
you're leaving college to play in the
minors, then it's a bad decision. If
you're a goalie or a defenseman,
you're definitely going to play in the
the Alumni Game)," said Vancik, who
will be trying out for a spot in the
AHL in the upcoming weeks. "I don't
feel like an alumni. It's only heen a
few months and I'm already playing
in the Alumni Game. Now you're
thinking about how quick the four
years go by, and it is great to come
back here and see some of my class-
mates and some of the guys before
me that I played with the last four
years."
"In a program, we don't really want
players here that put themselves first,
for whatever reason," Turco said. "I
think the four years are so special
here that the guys that have stayed
and turned down money in the previ-
ous years have shown it was the right
thing to do."
minors 99 percent of the time.
TMD: Do you think that kids real-
ize that even though they may be
"penciled in" an NHL lineup, pencils
have erasers?
SS: They're hearing it from the
team and they're hearing it from their
agents at that point - especially
when they're trying to get a kid out
of school. They'll tell him whatever
he wants to hear. Come training
camp, they might throw you on that
line they promised you, but if you
show up the first day and don't look
good, you're not on that line. That's
the thing about the pros - there's no
more patting you on the back.
M'
Young heads over seas
to compete mn Belgium A~
Former Michigan basketball play-
er Chris Young has signed a con-
tract with Antwerpen in the Belgian
professional league. Young, the
Wolverines' MVP from last season,
averaged 11.4 points and 5.7
rebounds per game. Young opted to
play professionally in Europe
instead of trying his hand in the
NBA's Developmental League, after
failing to make the Pistons' roster
as a free agent.
- Staff reports
Softball attracts junior
transfer to join team
Michigan softhall coach Carol
Hutchins inked one of the premier
junior college transfers to join her
team next season. Jennifer Olds, who
played for national champion Lansing
Community College, led the nation
with 30 homeruns in 195 atbats.
"Her ability to hit for power is a
great asset, especially considering
how big of a role the homerun is
starting to play in college. We also
feel she will be a great fit for our pro-
gram as well as a great representative
of the University of Michigan,"
Hutchins said.
- Staff reports
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