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St. Cloud State University
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Motzko follows Dahl's code
SCSU senior forward Joe Motzko has followed head coach Craig Dahl's steps to become a great hockey player and a deadly scoring threat
By Bobby Hart
Published:
Thursday, February 13, 2003
Media Credit: Stefanie Beniek
Joe Motzko is a senior forward for the SCSU Husky hockey team who scored 5 points last weekend against Michigan Tech.
The task of being the prototypical SCSU men's hockey player doesn't sound as difficult as it may seem; even in a program that has produced numerous successful NHL players and carries one of the most successful reputations since the leap to Division I in 1987.
As simple as it may sound, the writing is on the wall.
Hook a right just inside the Husky locker room and on a big red sign you'll see the three steps listed under the bold white print: 'To Become a Champion.' Those same steps also apply to what head coach Craig Dahl wants all of his players to live by.
1. Practice like a champion. 2. Approach academics like a champion. 3. Behave socially like a champion.
Those three steps have made senior Joe Motzko into the type of player that Dahl wants to base his whole program around.
"Excellent leadership, excellent student, a tremendous work ethic; he epitomizes what we want our program to be all about," Dahl said.
Along with the reputation of being the team's hardest worker, Motzko has some skills too.
Last season he was the 16th SCSU player to reach the Husky 100 point club and is currently the seventh leading scorer in school history with 126 points, while also being tied for fourth (with Brandon Sampair) in career assists with 80.
"Sure he works hard, but he's also one of the quickest guys in the league," senior Ryan Malone said. Malone played on a line with Motzko and Cullen for most of this season and some of last. "When I was on a line with him it was my job just to give him room and let him play one-on-one in the corner. I basically just gave him space to wheel around and do his magic."
Keep in mind that passive role was taken by the same Ryan Malone who currently has 129 career points and is heading to the Pittsburgh Penguins next season.
Motzko seemed almost destined to be a Husky. In 1998 he, along with current SCSU teammates Derek Eastman, Brian Schuster and Malone, all played for the USHL's Omaha Lancers. Motzko still hangs a banner of the team over his bed proudly.
The changes in Motzko's talent since then is as obvious as the changes in his appearance.
"We were all twigs back in juniors, but especially me and Motz. We were both late bloomers," Malone said laughing. "But he's been putting in his work in the summertime. It really shows that he's never lost focus. His main focus is hockey. That's great because he's doing well in school. That's a double bonus for him. He's a really responsible kid."
The good marks as an economics major is only part of the responsibility that has led to his role as team leader, even though he wasn't marked as a captain this season.
"Yeah (I wanted it), but it's just a letter on your jersey," Motzko said. "You talk and listen to everyone, and everyone works together on this team so it's not really a big deal. Obviously being one of the only seniors and being a guy that people look to get big goals from, I definitely see myself as a leader on-and-off the ice."
This season, Motzko took a shot to his leadership role when he endured a senior scoring slump. As 10 games, and about a month-and-a-half have passed, one of the Huskies most prolific scorers was left scratching his head.
As hope seemed to fade, Motzko found himself in Houghton, Mich., Feb. 1 playing against the same Michigan Tech team he had torched for four points last season. He struck again with another four-point performance with one goal and three assists after rifling 12 legitimate shots. He finished the weekend with five points.
"I was getting the chances, I just wasn't putting them in," Motzko said. "Our line had a couple bad games, but we worked through it and I finally got back on the scorecard. Hopefully I can keep it going."
SCSU will need him to do exactly that for the final eight games this season. They are currently clawing for the fifth spot in the conference and a fourth consecutive NCAA bid, but Motzko doesn't seem to be stressing over it.
"Hard work is the basis of this program and that's what coach Dahl stresses," he said. "We have a lot of talent on this team. If we work hard, everything else should work out in the end."
He stands by the words on that red sign that have made him into the player he is today. Joe Motzko followed the steps; all he is waiting for is the results.
