2008 Woodie Awards
Young team growing up
by Pat Ottum
Issue date: 2/7/08
Section: Mens Sports
It's no easy task for a freshman to make an immediate impact on the team. The speed of the game at the collegiate level can only be adapted to through experience. In no sport is that more true than hockey in the WCHA, arguably the nation's deepest and toughest conference. None know this better than Andrew Sackrison, a freshman forward on the Minnesota State men's hockey team.
Aside from the pressure of being a newcomer, Sackrison's previous accolades have created greater expectations for an immediate impact. A fifth-round draft choice by the St. Louis Blues in the 2006 NHL amateur draft, Sackrison was also named Second Team All-State in 2006 and was a finalist for Minnesota's Mr. Hockey award, which is given to the state's top high school hockey player.
Like any freshman, Sackrison struggled, noting the learning curve.
"Way back against Bemidji, coming off a weekend where I was healthy scratch was a turning point for me," Sackrison said. "I didn't want to sit out any more games."
"I realized what it takes to get points - it's a confidence thing."
Sackrison enjoyed his first career three-point night Friday against Denver. He has recorded three goals and three assists in his last three games and is MSU's top-scoring newcomer with 15 points. He and his line mates, Jason Wiley and Geoff Irwin, have combined for 16 points in the last four games to lead a Maverick offense that has been explosive of lately, scoring 18 goals in the last four games.
"Those guys work hard to get me the puck, and I couldn't ask for anything more from them," Sackrison said. "I try to do my job for them, too."
Aside from Sackrison, the Mavericks have an array of maturing, youthful talent, a big reason for MSU's late-season success.
Saturday against the Pioneers, eight of the 12 forwards in the lineup were sophomores.
"I wouldn't call them full-fledged veterans yet, but they're very close," head coach Troy Jutting said. "Those guys have played a lot of important minutes for us."
The young team's maturation has been the cornerstone of recent success. The Mavericks are making plays and battling through adversity to be successful, both of which are signs of a confident team, and confidence shows maturity.
The Mavericks, who have stormed into the national rankings this week at No. 15, host Alaska-Anchorage this weekend at Alltel Center. With the sweep last weekend over No. 7 Denver, MSU is now just one point behind UMD and Wisconsin, who are tied for fourth place. With UMD idle this weekend, the Mavericks have a golden opportunity to make up even more ground.
Pat Ottum is a Reporter staff writer
Aside from the pressure of being a newcomer, Sackrison's previous accolades have created greater expectations for an immediate impact. A fifth-round draft choice by the St. Louis Blues in the 2006 NHL amateur draft, Sackrison was also named Second Team All-State in 2006 and was a finalist for Minnesota's Mr. Hockey award, which is given to the state's top high school hockey player.
Like any freshman, Sackrison struggled, noting the learning curve.
"Way back against Bemidji, coming off a weekend where I was healthy scratch was a turning point for me," Sackrison said. "I didn't want to sit out any more games."
"I realized what it takes to get points - it's a confidence thing."
Sackrison enjoyed his first career three-point night Friday against Denver. He has recorded three goals and three assists in his last three games and is MSU's top-scoring newcomer with 15 points. He and his line mates, Jason Wiley and Geoff Irwin, have combined for 16 points in the last four games to lead a Maverick offense that has been explosive of lately, scoring 18 goals in the last four games.
"Those guys work hard to get me the puck, and I couldn't ask for anything more from them," Sackrison said. "I try to do my job for them, too."
Aside from Sackrison, the Mavericks have an array of maturing, youthful talent, a big reason for MSU's late-season success.
Saturday against the Pioneers, eight of the 12 forwards in the lineup were sophomores.
"I wouldn't call them full-fledged veterans yet, but they're very close," head coach Troy Jutting said. "Those guys have played a lot of important minutes for us."
The young team's maturation has been the cornerstone of recent success. The Mavericks are making plays and battling through adversity to be successful, both of which are signs of a confident team, and confidence shows maturity.
The Mavericks, who have stormed into the national rankings this week at No. 15, host Alaska-Anchorage this weekend at Alltel Center. With the sweep last weekend over No. 7 Denver, MSU is now just one point behind UMD and Wisconsin, who are tied for fourth place. With UMD idle this weekend, the Mavericks have a golden opportunity to make up even more ground.
Pat Ottum is a Reporter staff writer
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