After his four years at Michigan, Knuble has moved on. And even though he hasn't moved too far away from Ann Arbor, his game has come a long way. He is now in his rookie season in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings. Last year, as the Wings won the S
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The Daily's Jordan Field recently spoke with Knuble about making it to the NHL, the fans at Yost Ice Arena and his days as a student athlete.
Daily: I know that most of the guys on this team, and in the NHL for that matter, didn't go the college route that you took to reach this league. What do you tell your teammates about your college experience at U of M?
Knuble: They like to hear bits and pieces about stuff. About the football games, just about life in college, like about the parties and stuff like that. They are all interested now in Michigan football, because I make them watch the games. I know when Aaron (Ward) and I took the cup to Michigan Stadium some of the guys saw that on TV, so it's nice to tell them about my experiences and to let them know what it was like taking classes and playing hockey for a top University.
D: It sounds like you've made some of your teammates here Michigan fans. Is that true?
K: For sure. When Michigan wins everyone will congratulate me and people here will be pulling for my old teams too. But if they lose, then the guys are all over me asking questions like, 'what's going on with your team?' Especially how the University has been in the media recently in kind of a negative light for the allegations with the basketball program, everyone was bugging me and asking me about it.
D: What do you tell everyone about the fans at Yost?
K: I'm definitely going to bring some of the younger guys down with me this year to see a game at Yost. I think people here would be really excited to see a game and see what it's all about. I speak really highly of the games at Michigan, and they'd be interested to see it. But I still think they'd be in for a surprise when they really see what it's all about. People screaming swear words and the band playing, it's a whole other world in that stadium.
D: What are you best memories as a student-athlete at U of M?
K: Well, we only played maybe twice a week during the season, so most of my best memories come from the hanging out with the guys that I lived with. Just messing around in the house, and stupid stuff like that. I still talk to those guys once or twice a week. We really made life-long friends and have gone to each other's weddings.
D: How did you benefit from attending college to play hockey rather than playing juniors?
K: As far as hockey went, that was really the best way for me. I was a late bloomer, and not really a high recruit or anything, so I needed the work on the ice. Had I gone to juniors or something, I may not have had the time, and could have finished my career by the time I was 20. But at 20, I was in my second year of college and still had time to develop in a great environment. The way Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson runs things I had great opportunities to improve on the ice and as a person. We had tough conditioning and off season stuff, he wanted us to be champions and work hard like champions. Aside from hockey, I came to college so naive, I didn't know anything. I was scared, but I came a long way being a student and grew a lot, especially socially. Michigan is a big school, and I really learned a lot. I wish I could do it again knowing what I know now.
D: How has it benefited you to not only stay in the metro Detroit area after graduation, but to also have former Wolverine teammate, Aaron Ward, playing with you here on the Wings?
K: Boy, it really is a small world. For all the teams we could have played for, I never would have thought we would be together again. We played together a lot even before Michigan. I played with him in the minors, then Michigan and now here. It's almost like he's my brother. It's almost like he's a part of the family. It's great playing with him and it would be really weird to play against him ever. And it is nice to stay here in Michigan. It's almost like I'm sheltered here. Growing up part of my life here, playing at Michigan and playing for the Wings, it's kind of a corny story, but it's been great and lucky for me. I couldn't imagine playing any place else. I went to a top college program and now a top professional organization all in the same area. I've really been lucky.
D: Do you still feel ties to Red Berenson and your former teammates at Michigan?
K: Sure. I still see those guys, or speak to Red or the other coaches. But it's hard to stay in contact with that many people. I wish I could, but people are very busy. I'll watch for people in the paper, and look up their stats, or if I play against people, I'll always meet with them after the game to catch up on each other's lives. It's nice to always have that bond of the old memories together. Sometimes I'll go visit Red just to say 'hi' and he'll start talking hockey and picking apart my game. That's just the kind of guy Red is, he loves hockey. But he and I got along real well. He pushed me to work hard and always kept an eye out for us.
D: The year after you graduated, Michigan hockey won the NCAA title, and last year you spent most of the season with (the Red Wings farm system team in) Adirondack while the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. Just a case of bad luck, missing two championship by one year?
K: Well, I certainly would have liked to be in this position with the team last season. But, I guess it is just missing out on being in the right place at the right time. It took me a little while there in the minors to really be ready for this level, and unfortunately I was just one year behind. But things worked out in the end and I worked my way up here. Things are going well now, so even though I missed out on the Cup, I really have no complaints. At Michigan it was just to bad we couldn't win it while I was there, because we were so close. I knew it was just a matter of time for that team. I was sorry to miss out on it, but I just couldn't have been happier for everyone there. It was big for the program because we were right there on the edge for so many years and then we finally crossed over.
D: You were in a small group of people whose names were left off the Stanley Cup last year. Was that a major disappointment for you?
K: Well, it was pretty expected. I knew I didn't make the qualifications to be on the cup. Sure I really do wish my name could be on the Stanley Cup with everyone else, because that is something you can really be proud of, but I understand. Now I just need to come up with a good story why I have the ring, but my name's not on the cup. I guess it's extra incentive to want it this year. Everyone else in this lockerroom would love to repeat, but that's something I have over the other guys.
12-01-97
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