Doherty proves lucky for his teams

CANTON — Patrick Doherty was not one of those top-name recruits when he decided to come to St. Lawrence University.

He came from the Eastern Junior Hockey League’s New Hampshire Monarchs, which won the league championship last season. In 33 games, Doherty scored only eight goals and assisted on 22 others.

Before that, he led his high school team to the New Hampshire state title. It seems every team he plays on wins.

This year has been a new experience for Doherty. He’s played in all 26 games and experienced only eight wins.

“It’s been a little bit of a grind,” he said. “Every team goes through it, but I think all the guys in this locker room are working hard. I think it’s going to turn around real soon and we’re going to have a good run.”

St. Lawrence trails first-place Union by 12 points in the ECAC Hockey standings with only 16 points left in the season. It is virtually impossible for SLU to win the ECAC Hockey regular season title, a new experience for Doherty.

But there’s always the ECAC Tournament, which guarantees the champion a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

“I think it’s going to turn around real soon and we’re going to have a good run,” Doherty said. “We’ve kept a pretty positive attitude. With that positive attitude, it’s going to help us turn it around.”

Doherty has played a surprise role this season as linemate to Kyle Flanagan and Greg Carey on the top line. In doing so, he took advantage of more scoring opportunities, especially early in the season. Heading into this weekend, Doherty ranks sixth in team scoring with five goals and five assists.

“You always come in hoping to play,” Doherty said. “Anything else that happens, with lines, has just been added bonuses. It’s all been really, really good.”

The only freshman who has contributed more offensively has been Chris Martin, whose eight goals and seven assists is third-best on the team.

“It’s a lot of fun trying to just do well in school and come to the rink and get a little bit better every day,” Martin said. “Hopefully we can make a run.”

Associate head coach Mike Hurlbut expected Doherty and Martin to contribute like they have eventually. He just didn’t see it coming as quickly as it did.

“It’s always nice to see guys adjust to this level,” Hurlbut said. “Patrick is a very smart player and we knew he’d big a quick complement to Kyle (Flanagan) and Greg (Carey). To play on a line with two players of that caliber speaks to his skill level.”

The toughest adjustment, which has been universal among SLU players coming from junior hockey, is returning to academic life. Players generally enter junior hockey after they graduate high school and come to college or turn professional as 20-year-olds.

Martin turns 21 this year and Doherty will be 22.

“I haven’t really been in school or doing anything like that for the last two years,” Martin said. “Getting back into that can be tiring. You really have to manage your time and do everything well.”

WHERE’S WICK?

Jeremy Wick was once the hard-hitting St. Lawrence enforcer. Hear a loud thud in the corner and it was usually Wick skating away after another brutal check.

The problem was that a whistle often followed, and Wick would have to skate to the penalty box, despite the cheers from the crowd. He took 15 penalties and served 49 minutes in the box as a freshman last season. He also finished with two goals and 10 assists.

Now a sophomore, Wick hasn’t been laying out hard checks and the loud cheers he used to receive have been absent at Appleton Arena. He also has just four assists and no goals this year.

“The big hits, even though they’re legal, it just seems like they find some reason to call a penalty because it is a big hit,” Hurlbut said. “It’s unfortunate, it was a big part of his game.

“We brought him in here and told him to take that energy to make the big hits and apply it to other parts of his game,” Hurlbut added. “He was a scorer in juniors and he needs to develop that. It would be a welcome addition if he does.”

The game is moving toward less aggressive checks, like it or not, and players like Wick are more penalized than ever.

“It’s always frustrating to see the penalties called,” Hurlbut said. “I know how difficult it is for these guys to not get a penalty called because they call it so differently now. At the same time, rules are rules and you have to adjust.”

Sportswriter Daniel J. Cassavaugh covers St. Lawrence University hockey for the Times. You may reach him at dcassavaugh@wdt.net.