On March 18, Matt Carle was a penny-pinching college student who had just completed winter quarter finals at the University of Denver. It was his last day of wearing his baseball cap backward while walking around campus as a typical collegian scared to death about an uncertain future. The next day, the Pioneers' best hockey player in at least 20 years was a guaranteed millionaire and scheduled to be picked up in a limousine at an airport in Oakland, Calif. Today, Carle is a regular for the San Jose Sharks, having played four games - including the club's past three - after signing a maximum three-year, entry-level contract for more than $2.8 million on March 19. That's the day DU was denied an NCAA Tournament bid and a chance to win a third consecutive national championship. Tonight, the Sharks visit the Avalanche at the Pepsi Center in what figures to be an emotional homecoming for Carle, who is favored to win the Hobey Baker Award on Friday as college hockey's best player. InsideCollegeHockey.com and U.S. College Hockey Online have named Carle national player of the year. If Carle wins the Hobey Baker, he will be the first DU player to win in 26 years of the award. Carle is having a big week to go along with a big month. But he's not alone. The entire DU hockey team and countless school administrators and students are scheduled to lend support at tonight's game, which has playoff ramifications for both teams. DU's coaching staff will accompany Carle to Milwaukee for the Hobey Baker announcement at the Frozen Four. "It's kind of been a whirlwind tour ever since the day I signed, and it just seems like it's been going nonstop," Carle said Tuesday at DU after practicing with the Sharks in Westminster. "At the same time, it's been a lot of fun, and every day is a new experience and I learn more and more trying to develop myself as a pro hockey player." Carle, the Sharks' second-round draft choice in 2002, collected a $282,000 signing bonus and will make the prorated portion of a $662,400 salary this season. He is scheduled to make $942,400 in each of the next two seasons. "I have to give a lot of credit to Coach (George) Gwozdecky and his staff for the foundation I've received here at the University of Denver, not only being a hockey player, but as a person," Carle said. Carle has scored two goals with the Sharks, matching what veteran San Jose defenseman Kyle McLaren has in 69 games. Carle has more goals than San Jose blue-liners Rob Davison (69 games) and Josh Gorges (42) and has taken over running the power play while averaging 15 minutes of ice time. "It doesn't surprise me because San Jose really wanted him, and you're not going to sign someone like Matt to have him sit and watch," Gwozdecky said. "They think he's going to be an important piece to the puzzle to get them into the playoffs." Carle, 21, is living in a San Jose hotel and his roommate on the road is former Colorado College star Tom Preissing, who also plays the point on the No. 1 power play. "The guys know we went to rival schools, but nobody really gives us any grief," Carle said. "Tom's a great guy, and he's helped me out a lot." | |||||||||||
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment