PREPARING TO SAY GOODBYE

POTSDAM — Clarkson University senior Mike Arciero realizes his days as a competitive hockey player will soon come to an end.

The Golden Knights have just eight games left in the regular season and are assured only two playoff games.

Unlike many of his classmates, Arciero will not be playing professional hockey when his career ends. He already has a job lined up as a financial analyst in the global securities desk of the Goldman Sachs investment firm. He'll begin that career July 14 in Manhattan.

"It's a relief," Arciero said. "I know how hard it is to find a good job right out of college. But I always wanted to play pro hockey. It's too bad I don't have the talent to make it there. It's always bittersweet when you have to say goodbye to the sport. I've been playing it since I was four."

Arciero, who spent much of his childhood living on the campus of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, is a realist when it comes to his hockey career.

He played in 58 games as a freshman and sophomore. But as Clarkson's recruiting classes continued to get stronger, his playing time dwindled. He played in seven games last year and has played in eight games so far this season. He has one goal this season and four goals and six assists in 73 career games.

"I'm not going to lie, in the beginning (sitting) was a little hard," Arciero said. "There were two things I realized: One, it's always great when the team is doing well and we're winning. That is what matters most. Being on the sidelines is never good, but as long as the team is being successful and everybody is firing on all cylinders, I'm happy and proud of the guys.

"Two, I have a lot of trust and faith built up with the coaches over the years. (Head coach George Roll, associate head coach Greg Drechsel and assistant coach Jean-Francois Houle) could tell me anything, and I'm going to believe every word they say."

Arciero may admit he's not talented enough for pro hockey, but don't confuse that for defeatism.

Even if he's made the lineup only eight times this season, you'd be hard-pressed to find any player on the roster working harder to earn playing time.

A few weeks ago, Arciero showed up at Cheel Arena at 9 a.m. on a Saturday and equipment manager Jerry Deon said to him, "You're not here to work out again are you? You have to take some time off."

Arciero grinned recalling the incident and said, "I just love being around there. There are eight games left before the playoffs. You have four years of college hockey and that's it. I want to soak up all the time I have left. I could be there 24 hours a day.

"It's always been in me. I love the sport. Maybe it's a good thing, maybe a little bad thing. Because of my talent, I'm always trying to get better. I'm in the weight room constantly. I was always trying to build towards getting more ice time and getting those opportunities."

Even when he has to watch a game from the stands in a suit and tie, Arciero finds ways to stay involved. After Clarkson's home game against Rensselaer on Jan. 25, he was giving freshman Brandon DeFazio advice on the elevator about what to say as they headed up to the room where players meet the boosters.

"It's always hard to accept (not playing) and you don't want them to accept it," Roll said. "He's never been negative, and he's remained positive through it all. He's always urging the guys. He provides energy. He works hard. He's a good role model for our program and has been a wonderful kid to be around."

In the midst of all the games and statistics it's easy to forget that Clarkson's players are both students and athletes. Crowds don't gather to watch players take exams, but that's another area where Arciero tries to both excel and teach the younger players.

As a freshman Arciero said he dropped a few classes, because he didn't want to pick up Cs. Now he's paying a price by having to take six classes to graduate on time.

"I tell (the freshmen) that I'm not able to put my feet back and relax," Arciero said. "I try to give them the advice to work really hard the first three years so they can have it easier the final year."

Arciero's father, Robert, is an orthopedic surgeon and was a team doctor for Army's football, hockey and basketball squads. Arciero said his house was across the street from Army's football stadium and he spent time as a kid selling programs on game days.

But the military academy life also instilled much of Arciero's work ethic and overall character.

"With my dad's military background, it's always been about being as well-rounded as you can," Arciero said. "With academics, that definitely had a great impact on me. I always cared to a good extent about how I was doing in the classroom. If I get a homework assignment, I really care that it gets done and that it gets done as well as I can do it. That's something I really came out of West Point with. After going to Clarkson, I wouldn't take that back for anything in the world, but West Point would have been a great fit for me as well."

Arciero attended the Avon Old Farms Prep School in Connecticut before attending Clarkson and was a team captain on a squad that went 27-1. He knew if he chose Clarkson over other schools recruiting him, like Yale, Union and Providence, that it probably would have meant having to work harder for playing time.

"I knew about Clarkson's history and I thought I was a good hockey player," Arciero said. "I wanted to shoot high and Clarkson was obviously that. My dream was to play (NCAA) Division I hockey, but at the highest level. I wanted to be working towards something every year. I knew it would be a battle, but I wouldn't have it any other way. If I had my way, I'd be playing every game, but the sport is nothing without the day-in and day-out competition.

"I wouldn't give up the bonds and relationships I've made between the coaches and players I've known through the years. When I wasn't playing last year in the playoffs, and we made the run and won the ECACs, I wouldn't give up any of those memories. In the small town of Potsdam, there are not many places to go, but you are part of a big family. I always feel like I'm going to high school, you know everybody. I really like that fact about it."