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St. Cloud State University
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Local skaters make area proud
By Ben Birnell
Published:
Thursday, December 9, 2004
Media Credit: Tim Gruber
St. Cloud area natives Matt Hartman (left) and Nate Raduns grew up watching the Huskies play at the National Hockey Center as children. This weekend, the duo take on two other St. Cloud natives, Chris Harrington and Mike Howe, from the No. 1 ranked University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
There's a possibility that somewhere around the St. Cloud area at this moment, there are youngsters lacing up their skates or practicing their slap shots hoping to become Huskies like sophomore Nate Raduns and first-year forward Matt Hartman.
Raduns, a native of nearby Sauk Rapids, and Hartman, a graduate of St. Cloud Apollo High School, had aspirations as youngsters of one day playing for the Huskies.
As kids growing up, they sat in the National Hockey Center stands and watched the likes of former Husky and NHL stars Dan O'Shea, Matt Cullen and Mark Parrish.
Now, they are living their dream as they don the cardinal red and black for the Huskies.
"Every day is kind of a dream come true," Hartman said. "Those first few games, I was pretty jittery and it is always in the back of my mind that I'm from here."
This weekend will be big for St. Cloud area children looking for some inspiration, as the Huskies take the ice against the consensus No. 1 ranked University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Gophers Chris Harrington and Mike Howe are both graduates of Apollo High School.
It will be the first time that three or more St. Cloud area residents have skated in a Division I game at the NHC. It could have happened when the Huskies took on Michigan Tech in mid-November, when fellow Apollo grad Brandon Schwartz was on the ice for Michigan Tech, but Raduns was forced to sit out due to an eye injury.
It might be trivial to some, but for Raduns and Hartman, they enjoy the "record," as Howe is a friend to both underclassmen.
"We're friends with Mike, so being able to pull off a sweep against the Gophers would definitely be great to have," Raduns said.
Hartman said for him the rivalry between the trio is even more special because his Sioux City USHL team beat Howe's team to knock them out of the playoffs last year.
"There's definitely different bragging rights," he said. "This is definitely a game to circle on the calendar. I'm a team guy, so I don't want to say I want to win for me, but it's an added bonus when you beat Howe or those other guys."
For Hartman, he knew it would it would be a strange and new experience the first time he stepped on the NHC ice.
Knowing that Raduns had been through the same thing, he picked Raduns' brain for advice before the season started.
"I told him that the first couple of games, 'you are going to be pretty nervous,' but to not worry about it," Raduns said. " 'Obviously, people are going to be watching you, but just go out there, play your game and you'll be alright.' "
Raduns and Hartman have been friends for some time. They played against each other in high school, are workout partners in the summer and for most of the season have been line mates on the ice.
It should be no surprise then that the friends have been known around the Husky locker room as two hardworking players.
"With Nate, as last year went on, he got better and better," head coach Craig Dahl said. "You can see this year that he's controlling the puck. Matt does that too. It is always nice to have those local players on the team. Not only is good for the fans, but it is good for the younger kids to see and say 'hey, if I listen to my coaches and parents, I can play Division I hockey too.'"
For Raduns, he feels this season has been better for him, despite missing two games against Michigan Tech after a badminton birdie was hit into his eye. Last year, he was tossed around the lineup with different teammates throughout the season and had 11 points to his credit. This year, he's more than halfway to that point total with seven points in 13 games. He says it has a lot to do with confidence.
"My season is going really well right now. I feel a lot more confident than I did last year and I'm playing a lot better. I feel like I'm getting better," Raduns said.
Raduns said some of his success this season might be due to having Hartman on the same line.
"I think it helps, especially because me and Matt are similar types of players. We both know each other's styles and we are able to help each other out."
Hartman said he has enjoyed playing his first-year thus far and remembers waiting after Husky games trying to get a broken stick or something from a player.
"You'd see a broken stick and think it was unbelievable," he said. "So I try to give something to the kids every now and then if they ask for a puck or something."
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