John Madden is a workman-like, blue collar, independent, joke-telling hockey player, who keeps his personal life to himself. Now this may sound like an odd assortment of characteristics and a lot to swallow, but if any of these traits were not included, then people wouldn't get the full package that Madden holds.
The senior center displays an unrelenting work ethic on the ice during practices and games. He plays an extremely competitive round of golf with his teammates, even if he is not able to refrain from blowing his top and cursing on the links. He often amuses his teammates with an animated joke in the Michigan locker room.
But once he leaves the ice and the hockey arena, a whole different side of Madden appears - independent, reserved and serious.
"I don't really tell them any of my personal life or any of my problems," Madden says." I just keep it to myself. That's the way I've always been."
A common schedule after a game or a practice won't include Madden calling his parents. He has been away from his folks since he was 15, and he doesn't consider himself close to his family.
He won't head to his Ann Arbor house where he lives with five teammates.
Instead, he'll walk over to his girlfriend's house and spend time with her. Madden has been seeing Michigan gymnast Lauren LaBranch for 1 1/2 years, and they are very close, knowing what it is like to live the life of a Michigan athlete.
He walks down the campus streets without anyone noticing him - even after winning last season's national championship. Madden likes it that way. He expects players like captain Brendan Morrison to receive all the attention around campus.
"I have no clue if anyone notices me," Madden says. "I would rather have it that way. Not that I'm some big celebrity. I'm no Juwan Howard."
But he is Howard in a way. Fab Fivers Chris Webber and Juwan Howard could be compared to Morrison and Madden. Both Webber and Morrison have received all the attention for the dunks and pretty goals - entertaining skills that the two possess. But like Howard, Madden gets the job done in a workman-like manner.
There may not be as much show, but the results are always there.
And it can't be more evident with Madden's numbers this year. Eight goals, five shorthanded, 25 assists. Just this weekend against Ferris State, Madden picked up six assists, a career-high mark. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound forward has scored at least one point in all but two of the 17 games the Wolverines have played this year.
"(Madden) is not really big, he's not really small," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "He's not really conspicuous until he gets on the ice and you watch him outwork other players."
He's had to work all his life. In home, in the junior hockey leagues, in Michigan, in his classes - all by himself.
Born on May 5, 1973, in Toronto, Madden did not live in a stable home.
His father, John Sr., who played hockey in his his childhood and now plays in a senior league in Barrie, Ontario, left Madden's life when he was eight. Madden's parents got divorced then, and tough times surrounded the Madden household thereafter. His mother, Elizabeth, had two jobs and worked during the weekends. Therefore, Madden and his two sisters, Lana and Brenda - now 25 and 21, - took care of each other at home.
With Madden so young at the time, he wasn't affected as much as his older sister. There was a two-year period right after the divorce when Madden's father didn't show, but Madden pressed on.
"I don't know why but I rolled with what was going on," Madden says. "I never let it get to me. My older sister was older at the time, she knew what was going on, so I think it affected her more than me."
Madden left home in Toronto for good when he moved on to play for the Barrie Colts in the Junior A Central Ontario League, at age 15.
A new beginning, a new home - hockey was his new family. But these were tough times.
"At times, it was lonely," Madden says. "You are with people you really don't know. After practices, you don't really know the town or people so you kind of confide in your teammates and stay in your room."
Berenson liked what he had heard about Madden when recruiting him - a talented forward who possessed an extreme work ethic. Madden got a full scholarship to go to Michigan and is now a sports management major in the Division of Kineseology. If he hadn't gotten the scholarship, he says, he wouldn't have had enough money to go to school.
His freshman year, Madden roomed with forward Mike Legg in the dorms. During that 1993-94 season, Madden scored six goals and added 11 assists.
He remembers the nerves he experienced during his first collegiate season. Madden was scared just to walk in the dressing room. Michigan goaltender Steve Shields (1990-1994) gave him advice on "what to do and what not to do, when to speak and when not to speak."
His goal and assist total increased from freshman to sophomore year and then from sophomore to junior year. In last year's championship season, he tacked on 27 goals and added 30 assists.
But what has become his forte is the art of a shorthanded goal. Last season, he led the nation with 10 shorthanded goals and his five this year make it 20 for his career.
It's not a penalty killing situation, it's a Madden power play.
"As soon as we get the puck, rather than give up and say, 'OK, now we are just going to dump it down the ice,' he jumps in the hole," Berenson said. "He wants to do more than kill the penalty."
If you hear it from Madden, the word shorthanded doesn't cross his mind.
"I never think shorthanded, because whenever I think shorthanded, I never score," Madden says. "Those opportunities come when I am working hard to kill a penalty, jump on a loose puck or create a turnover."
The guy is like a magnet to the puck. Wherever the play is, Madden always seems to be there. And it's not just the goals or assists he racks up. He deflects pucks. He forechecks in the opponents' zone, and he constantly wins faceoffs.
Case and point. Saturday night against Ferris State, in the first period alone, Madden had two assists, four scoring chances - one shot that hit the post - nine out of 13 faceoffs won and two hits.
After excelling in the beginning of the season, coaches in the league marvel at the talents and the effort Madden puts out. Bowling Green coach Buddy Powers called him "the best all-around player in college hockey."
But that's his hockey side, his workman side. There are times when he lets loose and becomes the class clown. A different side, but not to be overlooked.
If you've been around Madden for a while, you know the flip-sides he has. And if you know him well enough, like fellow teammate and housemate Turco does, then you know there are no gray areas with Madden.
"He is a very extreme person," Turco says. "When he is happy, he is really happy, and when he is sad, he is really sad. The thing that I like about Johnny is that he doesn't let anything bother him."
And then there are the jokes in the locker room. After talking to his teammates, the final verdict is in. Come around and listen to the team joke-teller.
"No one can tell a better animate joke than (Madden)," Turco says. " If there is anybody telling a joke at my wedding, I would definitely call on J. Mads to tell the story."
It's something that Madden enjoys - letting loose and laughing. It's a break from his everyday serious nature and his reserved self. It's a breath of fresh air.
"I always come up with some crazy ideas or a crazy story," Madden says. "Sometimes, I feel the need to step away from reality and jump out of my skin for a bit. That is the way I relieve myself."
Madden has no real hobbies, but has taken up golf lately. His first time out on the links, though, was quite an event.
About four years ago, Madden asked Legg if he could go with him for his first time to play golf.
"First day, I told him that I don't think you have the temperament for golf," Legg says. "Short fuse, he'll snap and go bananas on the course."
So Legg, Madden, Blake Sloan and Harold Schock set out for the golf course. Madden started off well, but then came a par-three hole where you had to clear a lake to reach the green.
The three golf pros cleared the water, but then up stepped Madden to the tee. He wasn't sure of what club to hit, but then he pulled out a six-iron and took a whack.
Splash. The ball landed in the middle of the lake. Madden went ballistic, swearing and then ...
"(Madden) helicopters his six-iron into the middle of the lake," Legg says. "We are just trying to hold back, because we didn't want to get him any more riled up. He was fuming."
So he took a mulligan. This time, Madden chose a seven-iron.
Splash, splash. Same result, same reaction. Once again, Madden chucked his club into the lake and his golfing partners had to cover up in the golf cart because they were laughing so hard.
"Now, he has got two balls and two clubs in the middle of the lake," Legg says. "He jumps in the cart and sits down and says, 'That's it, my golf career's over!'"
Madden's golf career didn't end, however. He says his golf game has improved. But his hockey career is what will not end after his senior year.
He says that the NHL can always use a player "that is 5-11 and 185 pounds as a two-way forward, who can score goals and kill penalties and muck it up."
Tears will flow when he leaves Michigan, he says. If it wasn't for Michigan, he would be home with his friends doing nothing.
But he is still on his own. He still keeps to himself and remains serious most of the time.
"As much as he helped shape Michigan, Michigan helped shape him as a man and helped him grow up a lot," Turco says.
"You have to build your own confidence," Madden says. "You've got to have pride in what you do. You don't have someone waking you up every morning telling you to go somewhere or you have to do this or that."
But Madden is used to it. He's been in this situation for most of his life. Madden doesn't need a wake-up call. He controls his own clock.
