Andrew Vitalis
A homegrown pro: Minneapolis’ Casey Borer
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- Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31
By Andrew Vitalis
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
Sitting at the Xcel Energy Center last week watching his brother help lead Breck to a boys’ high school state hockey title, Casey Borer could only think of one other place he would rather be – on the ice himself. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option.
More than 50 games into his second full professional hockey season things changed for Borer. In late February, the team bus, carrying him and his Albany River Rats teammates, flipped onto its side in western Massachusetts. Less than a handful of players were hospitalized stemming from the accident. Not only was Borer one of the players injured, but the former St. Cloud State Husky suffered the most serious injury; a broken neck.
“Our original team bus broke down so we waited in Lowell for two hours. They sent a new bus and driver to pick us up,” remembered Borer. “I was sleeping when it happened. The bus flipped over onto its side and hit a guardrail. Everyone just went flying. Then after we got out of the bus, we had to wait about a half hour for the rescue teams to arrive.
“I think I hit my head on the luggage rack,” continued Borer. “Half of the bus was still on the road so everyone was yelling to get off the bus, people were afraid that the bus was going to get hit by traffic. I just crawled out of the bus and when I got outside, I tried to stand up, but I couldn’t hold my head up. That’s when I pretty much knew something wasn’t right. I just put my coat in the snow and just laid there. At first I just thought it was whiplash. When you hear a broken neck, you think about dying or being paralyzed.”
The end result was a C-5 fracture of the neck, which in simple terms equates to a season-ending injury. Adding to the frustration for Borer is the fact that it’s the second consecutive season where Borer has suffered a season-ending blow. Last March, the Minneapolis native blew out his knee. It’s back to the drawing board – again.
“It’s frustrating, but I try to keep things in perspective. At first, I was kind of like, I’m glad to be walking, glad to be alive,” mentioned Borer. “After awhile, you find yourself getting a little selfish. When that happens, I just try to remember how lucky I am.”
Don’t get him wrong, things could definitely be worse. After going through knee surgery last spring, Borer was finally cleared to play again last July. What followed was a grueling offseason workout, followed by his second NHL training camp in a Carolina Hurricane uniform. Still not fully up to speed, Borer was sent to the Canes AHL affiliate in Albany for the start of his second full season as a pro.
The 6-2, 205-pound defenseman continued to make strides, culminating with his third career NHL call-up in December. In less than five months, Borer had gone from a brace on his knee to the NHL. He’s proven to himself and the organization that he can bounce back from an injury. Now it’s time for Borer to do it again.
“I try and keep that experience in the back of my mind as I go through this,” remarked Borer. “It helps motivate me that’s for sure.”
Adding to the motivation is Borer’s taste of the NHL and his thirst to get back. In 2006-07, after finishing his four-year career with the Huskies, the 2004 third round NHL pick went directly to the Albany for, what he calls it, a one-game try-out. His play was rewarded with a two-year contract.
Then, in the fall of 2007, Borer attended his first NHL training camp, and he did not disappoint. In addition to playing in several exhibition games with the Hurricanes, he made a lasting impression with the organization. After being assigned to Albany to start the 2007-08 season, on Jan. 1, 2008, Borer kicked off the New Year in grand style. While watching a NHL game on television, Borer received a call from the Canes inviting him to his own NHL party.
“It was kind of a scramble. I think I got the call like two hours before my plane was supposed to leave. All of my gear was at the rink so I had to go there and get it and still try and make my flight,” laughed Borer. “I just tried not to be too much in awe of my surroundings. You try to soak it in as much as you can, but at the same time, you want to show that you belong.”
It didn’t take long for Borer to prove that. Just two days after his first NHL game, Borer scored his first career NHL points on Jan. 4, 2008. Playing against Atlanta, Borer first notched an assist, then added his first career NHL goal one period later.
“I remember the puck hit the post and then went in. At first, I thought it was tipped in. Rob Brind’Amour was in front and I thought he got a piece of it, but then I found out he was just there for a screen and he didn’t touch it. He grabbed the puck and gave it to someone who put it in a case for me to keep,” remarked Borer. “It was something I’ll never forget. I remember thinking at the time it was my first goal but I wanted to celebrate like I had been there before.”
Borer played a total of eight games with the Canes during his first call-up, then added three more NHL games to his resume one month later. Now to date, with 14 career NHL games under his belt, the urge to return to that level has left him with plenty of motivation to get healthy again. It worked out before and Borer has no doubt it will work out again.
“For everyone playing in the minors, you never know when your chance might come,” explained Borer. “It always comes down to what they need up there. You just never know. Not being able to play, you find yourself not even being an option. That’s pretty frustrating. For me though, it’s kind of like I’m back to the drawing board again. More or less, I need to re-prove myself. I was able to do it before when I hurt my knee. I just need to keep that in mind as I go through this. It helps motivate me.”
Don’t count him out. After all, his neck may be broken, but his heart is just fine.
A homegrown pro: Vadnais Heights’ Luke Beaverson
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- Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31
By Andrew Vitalis
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
Ahh, the subtle tricks of the trade you learn along the way. There certainly are a lot of them to pay attention to when you’re a professional hockey player. Just ask Vadnais Heights native Luke Beaverson. Earlier this season, while on the road with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL, Beaverson got a quick lesson in being prepared.
“It’s hard when you get called up and you’re already on the road,” Beaverson said, commenting on his short notice call-up to the Rochester Americans. “You’re packed for a road trip and you get called up and you really don’t have much, just a pair of pants, a suit, a few shirts, socks and stuff like that. You learn pretty quickly that you have to be flexible. I’ve learned that you need your passport with you at all times. You never know when you’re going to get called somewhere and all of a sudden you have to go to Canada. You have to be prepared.”
On the bright side, Beaverson already knows a thing or two about traveling. After playing four seasons with Alaska Anchorage, the former Seawolf went directly to Rochester, N.Y., playing six games with the Rochester Americans to close out the 2007-08 season. There was a lot to learn in just 360 minutes of hockey.
“The game is a lot more controlled and positional. Every person on the ice is extremely skilled and really fast,” mentioned Beaverson. “In the AHL, everybody knows their position and they stay in their position. It is a lot more controlled. The passing is unbelievable and everyone can pass. I think the game seems a lot faster because everyone knows how to move the puck.”
Now 30 games into his first full season as a pro, the learning experience continues. After starting the season with Rochester, Beaverson found himself in unfamiliar territory being the odd man out. Beaverson, a ninth round draft pick by the Florida Panthers in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, was a staple in the Anchorage lineup during his four years there, playing in a total of 138 games with the Seawolves. Now a rookie all over again, Beaverson has been forced to deal with a game of numbers, as in roster spots. Just to get him in the lineup, the defenseman has even played a few games at forward this season.
“Early on in the season, I wasn’t playing much,” mentioned Beaverson. “It’s been really frustrating for me. I’m used to playing every game. It is hard, but at the same time, I realize it’s my first year in. I’m just trying to keep a positive outlook on things and try and control what I can control. That’s really all you can do.”
Which is what makes Beaverson’s current situation so hard to swallow. After beginning the season in Rochester, he was sent down to the ECHL where he played 18 games with Florida. Beaverson played well, so well that shortly after being sent down, he was sent back to Rochester. However, just a handful of games after his promotion, the 6’5”, 227-pound defenseman got injured during a fight, suffering a concussion after hitting his head on the ice. The injury happened more than two weeks ago and he just returned to the lineup this past weekend. Something he hasn’t been able to control.
“Obviously it’s frustrating. I had just really gotten called back up when I got hurt. It’s difficult to deal with, but you realize its part of the game and stuff like that is bound to happen during your career,” stated Beaverson. “It’s a tough injury to have because you can’t really even work out if you’re still having symptoms. It’s not like a shoulder injury where you can still ride the bike and stay in shape. I’m getting there though. I finally got cleared by the doctors to start working out (the last few weeks) and the workouts are slowly progressing. You start slow by maybe doing 20 minutes on the bike with no resistance, and then you add a little resistance as you go along. It’s a tough injury because you definitely don’t want to rush things and overdo it.”
For a 25 year-old rookie, recognizing the importance of patience is an invaluable tool that Beaverson has already been able to master. As for what happens next, he’s just taking things in stride and enjoying every minute of it.
“I want to finish out here (Rochester) this season. I’m sure at the end of the season, assuming Rochester doesn’t make the playoffs, I’ll be sent back down to Florida. They are one of the top teams in their division so I’m sure they’re going to make a playoff run. I’m looking forward to that. I think a long playoff run would be fun to be a part of and would give me some much-needed big game experience,” commented Beaverson. “For the next season, I want to be full time in the AHL. I don’t want to be an in and out of the lineup guy. I want to be a reliable defenseman, an everyday defenseman.
“Being my rookie season, I’ve been really trying to learn the game,” added Beaverson. “You realize pretty quick that it’s not about playing harder, it’s about playing smarter.”
He may be a rookie in terms of play, but when it comes to the mental approach on the game, he’s well on his way towards becoming a veteran.
A homegrown pro: Sauk Rapids’ Nate Raduns
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- Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31
By Andrew Vitalis
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
In December of 2000, a rough old man looked at an inexperienced hockey announcer, pointed at the Sauk Rapids high school hockey roster, and made a bold statement. ”Wait until you see that kid, he’s something special.” That hockey announcer was me. The “kid” he was referring to was Nate Raduns. Now nine years later, it’s safe to say that old man knew what he was talking about. Raduns didn’t disappoint then and he hasn’t since.
Since that winter evening, Raduns has played for the USA National Development team, the St. Cloud State Huskies, and this past November, the small-town “kid-made-good” even sharpened his skates with the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL. Like I said before, the man in the press box that day was right on.
“I have just tried not to get too far ahead of myself,” stated Raduns, when asked about his journey from Sauk Rapids to the NHL. “In high school, I wasn’t really thinking a whole lot about college. I played a couple of years away from Sauk Rapids (while in high school). I developed a lot and started getting recruited by colleges. When you’re in college, you just focus on that. I just try to take it day by day, do my best that day, and hope things works out.”
That philosophy on the game has steered the Minnesota native from the then-Rum River conference, all the way to the pros. After starring at Sauk Rapids, Raduns left the Storm after his sophomore season, opting to take his game to the next level by playing for the USA National Development U-18 program.
Then as a high school senior, Raduns moved south, playing for the River City Lancers of the USHL for one season. To this day, when asked about leaving his high school team behind, Raduns calls the decision tough, but necessary.
“It really was a no-brainer,” mentioned Raduns. “Towards the end of my sophomore season (with Sauk Rapids), I wasn’t as happy as I thought I should’ve been. I decided to make the move and it really opened up a lot of doors for me. I started to get recruited by different colleges and things took off from there.”
He had options, but Raduns was looking for one school in particular – St. Cloud State. Growing up just a short drive away from St. Cloud, Raduns had always dreamt of being a Husky. After receiving, and accepting a scholarship from St. Cloud, his dream became reality.
“I always went to SCSU hockey games, probably from middle school all the way up,” stated Raduns. “I followed them since I was a little kid. Talking to Craig Dahl (former St. Cloud State head coach), I just felt comfortable with the program.”
When it was all said and done, Raduns played four seasons with the Huskies, playing in 143 career games, scoring 19 goals and adding 31 assists. Still, after finishing off his senior season, Raduns remembers sitting at home in the summer of 2007, wondering where he was going next. He wouldn’t have to wait long.
Searching for a home, Raduns remembers receiving a call from the San Jose Sharks, inviting him to their rookie camp. Unsigned and unfamiliar with the professional game, Raduns beat the odds and immediately made a name for himself, playing his way right into an AHL contract.
“I didn’t really expect to get a call from San Jose. I had decided I was going to go and play wherever I could for a year and see what happens,” remembers Raduns. “It was a big break for me to get that opportunity and I seized it.”
And he’s never looked back. As a member of the Worcester Sharks of the AHL, Raduns played in 56 games, scoring 27 points. How good did he play during his rookie campaign? Consider that during his entire college career, Raduns scored 19 goals. Last season with Worcester, Raduns scored 12. In fact, he scored a goal in each of first four professional games.
After one season with Worcester, Raduns signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia Phantoms. It didn’t take long for Raduns to make an impact there either.
Just four months after signing with the Phantoms, Raduns received a phone call on Nov. 4, 2009, that changed everything. The call came from the Philadelphia Flyers. Their next game was against the Ottawa Senators and they wanted him in the line-up. With just over a year of experience under his belt as a pro, Raduns had made it to the top. Yes, something special indeed.
“That’s what you hope for. I definitely wasn’t expecting it. I thought I was playing well at the time, but you don’t expect something like that,” remembers Raduns. “You call people close to you and tell them. I was definitely excited but I was participating with the team the next day. They keep you so busy you really don’t have a lot of time to be nervous.
“When you’re a kid, you picture yourself (in the NHL) out on the rink with the jersey on, but you don’t realize how much really goes into it,” continued Raduns. “When you throw in film sessions and practice and stuff like that, you realize that’s it’s actually a pretty big production.”
In all, Raduns played one game with the Flyers before being sent back down to the Phantoms three days later. It was a brief glimpse at the next level; a glimpse that Raduns hopes will last longer next time.
“There are two months left in the season. I’m just trying to focus on my role on the team, trying to do my best to help the team make the playoffs. That’s really all I’m focused on right now,” said Raduns. “If you have made it this far, the scouts and management, they notice if you’re doing the little things. All I can do is do my job and hope things will continue to work out.”
A homegrown pro: Maple Grove’s Joe Jensen
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- Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31
By Andrew Vitalis
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
It’s hard to believe that just one year ago, Joe Jensen was contemplating his hockey future. While playing with Wilkes-Barre of the AHL, Jensen remembers being told that he was being sent down to the East Coast Hockey League. Jensen had already done time in the ECHL, playing 28 games with the Wheeling Nailers during his rookie season. Needless to say, he was less than thrilled when he found out he had to go back.
”I thought I was playing well at the time,” remembered Jensen. “I didn’t really see eye to eye with the head coach. I played a different style than I think he wanted. I didn’t play as much as I thought I should have at times, I didn’t get a chance to play during certain times in the game. It was just really frustrating. To be honest, I was kind of at my last thread with everything. It really forced me to take a step back mentally and look at the big picture. I remembered that my goal was to play in the NHL someday. Thankfully, I decided to keep going and it worked out.”
It’s an understatement that even Jensen laughs at. Frustrated, Jensen turned to his agent.
“I talked to my agent about what was going on and I got traded two weeks later,” said Jensen. “It really turned out to be a great trade for me.”
Donning a new uniform and surrounded by a new system, Jensen’s hockey career catapulted to a whole new level. After being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes organization, Jensen was assigned to the Albany River Rats of the AHL. Immediately, his consistency and work ethic made him an every-game standout. Jensen played in 24 games with Albany during the 2007-08 season, scoring 11 points in 24 games, including eight goals. But still, his best was yet to come.
“I remember talking with one of the coaches and they were telling me that they really liked the way I was playing and not to be surprised if I got called up,” remembered Jensen. “I was like, okay, whatever. Then right after that, one morning I got a call from the organization telling me I was being called up and I was going to be in the line-up that night against New Jersey. It was an unbelievable feeling.”
In a twist right out of a movie, just months after almost hanging up his skates, Joe Jensen had made it to the NHL. Almost one year later, Jensen has a hard time describing the experience, using just one word over and over again – “unbelievable.”
“I was in the ECHL a few months before that. There I was shooting against Marty (Martin) Broduer, skating against Minnesota guys like Jamie Langenbrunner and Zach Parise,” remarked Jensen. “They had a brand new building, just being apart of that environment was something special. To be honest though, once warm-ups started, it really just started to feel like just another game, which was good. I really didn’t have time to be nervous.”
Jensen then found himself back with Carolina for five more games in March of 2008. Playing in his third career NHL game against Atlanta, Jensen’s story took yet another turn when the Maple Grove native scored his first career NHL goal. The script even included an assist from former St. Cloud State teammate Tim Conboy.
“It was just a scrum in front of the net,” remembered Jensen. “I got a pass out front for a one-timer and it went in. It was an unbelievable feeling. I definitely knew right away that it was a milestone goal for me, but I didn’t want to celebrate too much being a rookie. Guys who were there tell me I had a smile on my face from ear to ear.”
However, in a game of peaks and valleys, Jensen was about to experience the latter. After finishing up last season with Carolina, Jensen set his sights on getting back to the NHL, determined to add more milestones to his personal trophy case. Jensen spent this past summer training like never before and entered camp in the best shape of his life, but the grind of the game had other plans. For the first time in his career, Jensen experienced something he hadn’t faced before-injuries. First suffering a torn hip in camp, Jensen missed the first nine games of the season. That was in November. In December, Jensen found himself back in the training room, this time with a sprained shoulder. It didn’t take long for that frustration to re-appear.
“I’ve been hurt for a total of 25 games this season,” stated Jensen. “It’s been hard because this is the first season where it’s been like this, where I’ve missed more games than I’ve played. It’s really been hard to find that confidence and get into a groove. It takes a few games to find that chemistry again with your linemates. It certainly makes the season a lot shorter than what I’m used to.”
These days, Jensen continues to work hard at getting back into the groove. While frustrated at times, Jensen is comforted by the fact that he’s been frustrated before and found a way to play through it. The last time, he played his way all the way to the NHL. This time? The script is still being written.
“You always want to be thankful for the experiences, but never satisfied,” said Jensen. “My goal was always to get to the NHL, but now my goal is to get back there. I know that I have a lot of confidence in my ability and I know the organization has a lot of confidence in me. I just thank God everyday that I’ve been put in that position to be successful. It’s really been an unbelievable ride and I hope it continues.”
Unbelievable – there’s that word again. It’s one word that has been able to tell an amazing story. To be continued.
A homegrown pro: Plymouth’s Derek Peltier
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- Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31
By Andrew Vitalis
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
Talking to him on the phone, you can almost hear him smiling. Why not? As Derek Peltier openly admits, he’s living the dream. Playing for the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL, a Colorado Avalanche affiliate, Peltier has been a monster on the ice.
“It’s going pretty good so far,” smiled Peltier. “It’s definitely different. There are a lot of weeks where you’re playing four games in five nights or you play three games in three nights. It’s a schedule that I’m not really used to, but I’m definitely having fun doing it.”
It’s certainly been an adjustment for the Plymouth native. After touching off his senior season with the University of Minnesota last year, Peltier went directly to Lake Erie, taking part in six games to close out the year. His first taste of professional hockey was quick, yet effective. Peltier quickly realized what it was going to take to play at that level.
“Talking to some of the older guys, they told me to be in the best shape you can be. You find things out as you go along, things that work for you, but I think the biggest piece of advice I got was to be in the best shape of your life going in,” mentioned Peltier.
The advice was right on the mark. Peltier spent the off-season on the ice and in the weight room. Two weeks before training camp, he traveled to Denver and began working out with the Avalanche. Rookie camp followed, then training camp. If the pace wasn’t hectic enough, consider the fact that it was Peltier’s first camp with the Avs. Needless to say, it was a lot to take in for a 23-year-old rookie.
“I was out there a couple of weeks before the season, a lot of the older guys hadn’t even shown up yet,” remembered Peltier. “One day, I was sitting in the locker room and Joe Sakic came in and sat down right next to me and he started talking to me. It was a pretty neat experience. There is a moment where you realize that you’re living your dream, but you have to remember that you’ve got more things to accomplish.”
What’s left for Peltier is a game in a NHL uniform. He’s well on his way.
Now a constant in the Lake Erie line-up, the former Gopher blueliner is 40 games into his first full professional season. Playing in the second year of a two-year deal with the Avs, he finally feels at home on the ice.
“Right around the 15 to 20 game mark, I started to finally feel comfortable. I felt more confident. Things started to slow down for me,” stated Peltier. “The biggest thing is that here, guys are a lot bigger and stronger and they are good at everything. You can’t take a shift off or you’re going to get burned. You have to be ready for every shift you play.”
He has been. To date, Peltier has tallied one goal and 10 assists. This first professional goal, as he puts it, was a “lucky bounce.” However, the fact that Peltier has adjusted so quickly to the pro game has nothing to do with luck.
Throughout his entire career, he’s always been ahead of the curve. During the 2002-03 campaign, Peltier left high school and began playing in the USHL with Cedar Rapids. After two seasons there, Peltier accomplished a life-long dream by accepting a scholarship with the hometown Gophers.
“That was amazing,” said Peltier. “I grew up a Gopher fan. My dad had season tickets so I went to all of the home games as a kid. It was a dream come true for me.”
Now the sights are firmly set on what’s next – the NHL.
“You just have to go out there with a day by day mentality. You try to work as hard as you can because that’s really all you can do. For me, it’s important for me to know and feel like I’m playing well. You see (transactions) every day. Guys are always getting called up or being sent down. You definitely see that it’s part of the game. You do kind of get caught up in it once in awhile, but you quickly realize you can’t do that. You just have to go out there and play, go out there and compete. Everything else is out of your hands.”
