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Malone is ready for anything
 Media Credit: Michael Martin/Managing Editor Michigan Tech’s Bob Rangus, left, and Clay Wilson wrap up SCSU’s Ryan Malone Oct. 20, 2001, at the National Hockey Center.
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It was 1:30 p.m. and a person couldn't have looked more lost.
The SCSU men's hockey team locker room can prove to be quite a mystery to someone who's never seen any of the players out of uniform, but this paticular player wasn't hard to identify.
The 6-4, 210 pound Ryan Malone has a way of sticking out of a crowd.
We walked down the hall towards the rink where the interview would take place.
"How's it going?"
The senior assistant captain looked over with the calm smile that he's known so well for, then let out a sigh, "School… you know how it is."
One couldn't blame him for his dense optimism. After the devastating loss to Michigan in the NCAA tournament last year, and after being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins and having the option to leave over the summer to start his National Hockey League career, Ryan Malone is still here.
Although he admitted school wasn't his favorite thing in the world (who thinks it is?), his lack of excitement about it was more than made up for with his happiness of playing hockey another year at SCSU.
"I talked to Herb Brooks and Coach (Craig) Dahl, and although I don't like school all that much, someday I'll need the education to become a college coach," Malone said. "I thought it was better to come back for my last year. I have this bitter taste in my mouth after losing to Michigan, and I just didn't think going out that way was the way to finish my career here."
SCSU is relieved to have Malone back after losing their two biggest offensive weapons in Mark Hartigan and Nate Dicasmirro. Hartigan led the WCHA as the top regular season scorer, and Dicasmirro was an All-WCHA forward .
Malone had a breakthrough 2001-02 season being ranked 15th in the nation in scoring (third on the team) with 49 points, and 11th in goals scored with 24 (second on the team). Last season, Malone also scored his 100th point against Minnesota on Mar. 2, posted 14 multi-point games, including three four point performances, and etched his first hat trick against Minnesota State, Mankato last Dec. 22.
Although his offensive stats have shown improvement, many observers wonder if Malone will be able to have that mindset of a cutthroat sniper like Hartigan had.
"He's a very unselfish guy, and he's always kind of thought of himself as a playmaker before the last year or so," head coach Craig Dahl said.
Malone admitted unselfishness will always be part of his game, but he will not let that get in the way of him and an open shot.
"Hartigan always told me, 'just shoot the puck.' I usually like to look to pass first, but this year I'll try to shoot a little more and maybe I'll get a couple lucky bounces."
Anyone who has followed Malone's hockey career knows that lucky bounces have nothing to do with his success. His talent has been watched since he was a little kid, partially because his father, Greg Malone, played in the NHL from 1976-1987.
Coincidently, Greg played most of his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the same team that drafted Ryan. However, the ties of Ryan Malone to Pittsburgh don't end there.
"I grew up in Pittsburgh, so I know Craig Patrick and Joe Mullen and basically the whole coaching staff. They just ended up drafting me. A lot of people say it was because of my dad, so I'll take that I guess," Malone said.
"I've also known Chuck Grillo since I was 15, and he's been running the Minnesota Hockey camp in Nisswa where I've been training forever. I believe he used to be part of player personnel for San Jose. Just in the last two years he signed with Pittsburgh, so it's kind of funny. We're just a big family."
It wouldn't be fair or relevant to say that Malone is going pro just because of his Pittsburgh connections. He has many tools that have left many NHL scouts drooling.
"He's got very soft hands for a big guy," Dahl said. "He doesn't only play the big man's game, but he can also play the finesse game, so it's a rare combination for a guy his size."
This season Malone is looking to have his best season yet, for a couple different reasons:
One, he will be moved from wing over to center, where he will be able to touch the puck a little more, and use his big frame to his advantage in the defensive zone.
"We're trying to build a line that will not only help us succeed, but will help him succeed at the next level. We think that center will be the position for him there," Dahl said.
"He's going to step up big this year, even more than he has in the past. Particularly because he's going to be a major go-to guy. He doesn't have any older guys around him, so now he's the elder statesmen."
Secondly, the hard work he put into the off-season. Malone spent eight weeks of his summer at Grillo's Minnesota Hockey camp in Nisswa. Malone has attended the camp that has earned the reputation of housing the best players in the nation, since he was 15.
This year Malone, along with about 10 other Huskies attending the camp, had the opportunity to play alongside Boston College captain Ben Eaves, Gopher forward Grant Potulny, and with former Huskies' Hartigan, and Duvie Westcott.
Malone is coming into the 2002-03 season as one of the most watched players in the WCHA, and even the nation, with some expectations being as high as Hobey Baker canadicey. But Malone says he doesn't necessarily feel the pressure.
"I don't feel like there's too much pressure on myself," he said. "We have guys like Motzy, (Joe Motzko) Cully, (Jon Cullen) and really a lot of other guys that can score, so I'm not by myself. I think we'll do it as a team."
It was about 2:15 p.m and the interview was running smoothly. Trying to wrap it up, the question was raised about what was special about this year's squad. As soon as the question was asked, a puck whizzed over the boards directly over our seats about seven rows up from the ice. Then another one was fired a little closer.
"That's Joe Motzko firing pucks at us," Malone said, as the calm smile appeared again.
Malone continued to glare at the ice as a few more players skated out to start practice.
"We're just more of an all-around team, and obviously we all get along great," he said. "I'll always keep my roots here. When you move to the NHL, you'll never be a team like you were in college. This is college, and it's supposed to be the best years of your life. Hopefully that will continue for me with a national championship."
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