A Look Back At The Devils Alumni Classic

Last Saturday was a very fun experience for all those involved at the Skylands Rink in Sussex County, NJ.  It was a rare opportunity for a good friend of mine, Mat Laskowski, to play with some former New Jersey Devils.  We did a quick little Q+A with him and are very grateful.

Mat was kind enough to answer all of our questions.  Here are his answers.

1. What were your thoughts going into the game?

Honestly I was really nervous. I had no idea what to expect, other than the fact that there was going to be 4 Stanley Cup winners on the ice (Dowd, Daneyko, Driver and Kamensky), aside from the other professionals. I also didn’t want look foolish out there. I’ve been on skates since I was 3, played organized hockey since I was 5 and I’ve kept that going up to today (turning 34 in November), however that was as a skater, playing mostly defense. I’ve only been a goalie for a little over 3 years. I can hold my own and I’ve been to multiple adult hockey camps (as a goalie) to get some proper coaching but this was a whole new experience. My father thought I was crazy for picking up goal at 31, but I asked him if would have rather I did it as a kid when I was outgrowing gear every season or now when I picked up everything on my own money. I think he favored the latter.

Further, the guys I was teamed up with usually skate with each other. The core of “Team X” plays in the men’s league at Skylands, making a handful of others and myself, add-ons. So that was a little nerve wracking at first as well. I at least wanted to be as good as or as close as possible to the other goalie in terms of skill.

I was also worried about the crowd a bit. While we have “one’s” of fans who come out for our beer league games, playing in front of a decent sized crowd was a little bothersome. I basically ended up blocking it out and focusing on the game. I think on the 3rd shot against me I managed a Dominik Hasek “throw everything toward the puck” sprawling save and somehow got my paddle on the shot and the crowd went nuts… that was cool. I really settled in after that, and mentally just made it another game… against players with unreal skill level… but a game just the same. You have to look at it that way, if you don’t you just make it the task even harder.

2. Who did you face in the opposing net?

The goalie for the Devils Alumni was Anthony Felice. He played for the Brooklyn Aces in the EPHL and he is the emergency backup for the Trenton Devils. Last I read, he is in the Trenton Devils camp on a try-out contract but I don’t know what his current status is. Nice guy.

3. Who was the first player that scored on you and did he say anything to you on the way back to center ice?

I believe the first guy to score on me was Brian Mullen… a Ranger… urgh. He didn’t say anything. At that point it was already 4-0. The other goalie and I were splitting periods and I took the bottom halves. Driver joked as I hopped on the ice that “they (Team X) were pulling the goalie already.”

4. Was there any advice given to you by former players?

Sadly no… no sagely advice from the pros. Felice was complimentary to both of us in goal. He knew those guys could realistically score any time they wanted to, but the Alumni gave us chances to make the stops. We let in 13 on over 50 shots. Seems like a lot but all things considered I don’t think it wasn’t that horrible.

5. Who did you meet up with after the game?

I spoke with Randy Valicheck for a bit after the game. He was asking about the charity and then we just talked hockey. I talked to Felice about “goalie stuff” and some of his experiences. I also spent some time chatting with Dowd. I grew up playing in the travel leagues in Brick, so he was and still is a local hero. I recalled him coming out on the ice when I was a mite during one of our practices. I told him if someone told me 25 years ago that I’d be trying to stop shots against him in an Alumni game that they would be crazy. Me?.. a goalie?… against pros?… yeah right!

All of the players were great, signing autographs, taking pictures and chatting it up. Dano had to leave earlier as he had to appear on Hockey Night Live that night.

It seemed like all of the pros enjoyed themselves and thought it was a great cause and a respectful game. We were told that sometimes when they play in these games, sticks come up, there’s hooking, basically a potential for getting injured and they don’t take too kindly to that sort of thing. Everyone behaved on Team X and hopefully the pros will come again next season.

6. Here is the most important question. Did your team ultimately win?

Well… we all won. The charity made a lot of money. Fans got to see the pros in a relaxed and more intimate setting. The players seemed to have a nice time. Team X got the thrill of a lifetime squaring off against these guys… but in terms of the score… Team X came up a little short, we lost 13-5. We did win the 3rd period though. I don’t think anyone in our room had any delusions of actually winning the game.

7. What were your thoughts on the whole experience?

It was an amazing experience. It’s one thing to sit and watch two pro teams square off against each other. It’s usually two evenly skilled teams and it comes down to who makes less mistakes. In this case, it was a pro team against a rec team. Watching these guys pass to each other was a thing of beauty. You see how instinctual the game is for them. They know where to be, they know where to pass and they just see the game differently. Sitting in goal, having a front row seat for it, just really opened my eyes to how great these players are. I could only imagine what it would be like at full speed.

As the pros weren’t wearing helmets, there was a no slap shot rule, so the game became a lot more about passing and plays right around the crease. I was joking with a friend that I’d almost rather have harder shots from the points and on top of the circles. I have a decent glove hand and as long as you keep yourself square to the puck you have a chance. The play around the crease and their cycling really pulled the goalies from side to side, up and down. It was nothing like I’ve experienced in my men’s league. I was more tired playing in half of that game than I am playing an entire game with my team.

Their hands are fantastic. On one play, in the second period, Kamensky was coming up the side. I was totally square on him and he managed to find a little hole over my left shoulder and threaded the needle… just amazing.

One of the highlights for me was I owned Ken Daneyko that afternoon. Twice while I was in goal he had an open lane from the top of the circle and let a nice one-time snap shot go that had some speed to it. I stopped both of them. In the 3rd period he had a breakaway and came up on my left side, he curled in front pulling me from left to right, but I slid through the crease and stoned him. My goalie coach, Jimmy Copel, would have been proud!

I also made a pretty sweet save on Brian Mullen in the third picking up a one-timer stretching across the goal and he gave me a little tap on the pads after the whistle. It’s nice when a pro acknowledges that you did something right.

As I said it was a fantastic experience and I’m thankful to my employer, the law firm of Porzio, Bromberg and Newman, which helped sponsor the event. Their sponsorship is what opened up spots for a co-worker and I to play. They were able to help knock something off my “bucket list” while supporting a great charity and I’ll never forget it.

8. What, if anything, would you do different next year?

Well I hope to be back. It’s a great charity and I hope Team X would like to have me back for another go at it. If I’m able to participate again, in this game or another like it, I’ll definitely be less nervous. I know what I’m getting in to and I also have a better handle how they will play. It would be great to beat them, but I’d settle for keeping the score a little closer… maybe make them work a little harder for their points.

 

Thanks again Mat and hopefully that GAA comes down a bit when you play in your beer league.  Look for more of these little special articles as the season goes on.