Just bring it

Mike Cammalleri welcomes an even larger role in the Wolverines' quest for the NCAA title

By Joe Smith

Daily Sports Writer

Ball hockey or "stickball" is a simple yet essential part of life to many kids in the streets of Canadian cities.

Especially in Richmond Hill, Ont. Located 20 miles from Toronto, it is the hometown of Michigan center Mike Cammalleri.

As in most Canadian towns, these games represent how seriously most Canadians consider the sport as an aspect of their culture.

"In Toronto, hockey's No. 1 - that's the difference," Cammalleri said. "People really love the game and know the sport. You can ask the mailman for the records and roster of the team."

Although Cammalleri now competes in heated battles at Yost Ice Arena, his fondest memories of stickball are just as intense.

"Don't kid yourself," Cammalleri said. "You don't want to lose out there. Because if you did, you'd hear about it."

After his friends would hang the nets up in the garage, Cammalleri's competitive fire led him to argue to bring them back down - the games weren't over until he was on top.

"He always had to have the last word," his father, Leo Cammalleri said. "He hated losing more than anything."

Mike Cammalleri's hatred of losing stems from his father, a "purist of the game" who was the main sports influence on his son's life, teaching him some valuable yet painful lessons in their ritualistic father-son ball hockey games.

Instead of merely letting his son win, Leo would not only come out on top - he would let everyone know about it.

"After he'd win he'd run up the stairs screaming 'I'm the greatest' and rub it in," the younger Cammalleri said. "I'd follow him up crying my eyes out, giving him one of my classic lines, 'I wasn't ready.'"

Although he came up short against his father, the experiences throughout Cammalleri's life point to the fact that he is indeed ready for any obstacles in his path to success.

Whether it is accelerating his way through school to graduate early, being the youngest player in the CCHA as a freshman and making an immediate impact, or now, as a sophomore, becoming one of the most integral parts of Michigan's team - Cammalleri dives into the challenges headfirst, while having a little fun along the way.

Tough break Sparties

After watching a 14-year old Cammalleri at one of his camps, Michigan coach Red Berenson knew he had found something special.

Taking his game to a whole other level, Cammalleri then played at age 15 on a junior team that had mostly 17-18-year-olds. Along with his small stature (5-10, 185 pounds), Cammalleri was thought to be at a physical disadvantage.

But no one told Mike Cammalleri. He used his size to his advantage, becoming a force to be reckoned with on the ice.

"He's built low to the ice so it's hard to knock him off the puck," Michigan associate coach Mel Pearson said. "That's been one of the keys to his success against the older players, being very tenacious with the puck."

While Berenson and his assistants' mouths watered at the thought of having Cammalleri in the Maize and Blue, history predicted that the young star would become a Spartan.

Cammalleri's coach in juniors helped produce future Spartans Mike York, Mike Weaver and Adam Hall in successive recruiting classes, and some thought that Cammalleri would be next.

Except for Cammalleri, who admits that an unofficial visit to Yost Ice Arena made his decision even easier. He remembers watching the 1998 NCAA Regional when Michigan stunned North Dakota in one of the most exciting games ever in Yost.

"After watching the game, (Michigan assistant) coach Billy Powers said to me, 'If you don't want to come to Michigan now, than there's nothing else we can do,''' Cammalleri said.

"I just wanted to be a part of it - getting a great education and being a part of one of the greatest hockey programs in the nation."

It was set - Cammalleri was a Wolverine. But the only question was when.

Cammalleri decided that sooner was better than later. He took extra courses, night classes, and three straight summers of school in order to graduate high school in three years - making him eligible to play for Michigan this past season.

This didn't come without a price, however. His nonstop schedule of hockey and classes wasn't the life of a normal teenager, which caused Cammalleri to do some soul-searching.

"I had 11 classes on the go at one time," Cammalleri said. "I remember one night not being able to go to sleep because I was so stressed out. I thought to myself that it wasn't worth it."

After discussing with his father in a late night chat the thought of waiting one more year, Cammalleri made the decision to not back down from the challenge and stuck with it.

"You've got to prioritize," Cammalleri said. "I thought that if I worked hard here it would work out well and I'll have four fun years at Michigan."

Fitting right in

It didn't take very long for Cammalleri to make a name for himself. He tallied 26 points as the youngest player in the CCHA this past season - turning 17 just three months before the season started - and shone in a conference that boasted some 23-24 year olds, earning CCHA All-Rookie Honorable Mention honors in the process.

"Every shift he's dangerous with the puck," Berenson said. "He's strong on his feet, creative and scores big goals in big games."

Not only did he use his crafty puckhandling to make opposing defensemen look silly, he also unselfishly did the little things that Berenson says make a player great.

"If you can ask your best players to do everything that everyone else is supposed to do, including backchecking and blocking shots - Cammalleri has no problem with that and goes into it headfirst."

Cammalleri caught the eyes of coaches around the CCHA, drawing comparisons to Michigan's leading scorer this past year - Hobey Baker finalist Mike Comrie.

"I think he's a great player," Michigan State coach Ron Mason said. "I even feel that he's better than Mike Comrie."

Other than being short, left-handed, Canadian playmakers who are dangerous every time they touch the puck, the two friends and former teammates share similarities that run deeper than ice level, in the form of passion and desire.

"They're both competitive," Pearson said. "Both do a lot away from the ice that you don't see in order to become the best."

In fact, much like Comrie, Cammalleri is often one of the last off the ice after practices.

"They both love the game," Pearson said. "There are some guys who just want to get out of there after practice, but they both enjoy just staying out there - like 'rink rats'."

Cammalleri says that although he knows practices may be long and grueling, there's no place he'd rather be.

"I'll be in class and I can't wait to get there," Cammalleri said. "The bottom line is that every day I can't wait to get to the rink."

Always time for fun

In a ritual game of "rebound" after practice, Cammalleri puts a shot past Kevin O'Malley and starts to celebrate like he just scored the game-winner against Michigan State.

While he's as intense as anyone once the puck drops, Cammalleri is also one of the most animated guys on the team - he knows how to loosen things up while playing the game he loves.

Just ask forward Craig Murray about the day last offseason when Cammalleri gave him a special wakeup call at five in the morning, dumping a bucket of cold water on his head. This sparked a "prank war" that has continued through the team's trip to Alaska this season.

"He's just a goofball," forward Andy Hilbert said. "He likes to joke and is fun to be around."

Coaches agree that his outgoing personality is beneficial in the locker room, loosening things up in tense moments.

"I think its just the Italian in him," Pearson joked. "I mean you need that type of thing. There's enough pressure on everyone academically and athletically so its nice to have a player like Mike who can have a lighthearted moment that spreads around the team."

Know your role

Cammalleri's role has increased even more this year - the sophomore has taken on key responsibilities such as "quarterbacking" the power play and penalty kill units. Also, claimed by teammates to have "eyes in the back of his head," he used his vision to tally nine assists so far this season.

"You knew he'd step up," Berenson said. "He's matured to the point where he's going to be one of our top players this year."

Cammalleri is expected to take on an even larger role in the future - the senior class, which was part of the 1998 NCAA championship team, is graduating this May.

But Cammalleri said that he will leave no stone unturned as he strives to win that ultimate prize.

And it's fitting that with Cammalleri's attitude and competitiveness, he gives only one response to his challengers.

"Bring it on."