UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE

by Ihor Stelmach

Resilient Devils outlast ducks

The unknown hockey name Michael Rupp was added to the Hall of Fame distinguished list of Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Jean Beliveau and Gordie Howe. Mike Rupp was a 23-year-old rookie centerman with only 26 games of National Hockey League experience entering the 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs.

In a somewhat desperate move, the New Jersey Devils activated and dressed the rookie halfway into the finals series against Anaheim. Seems those pesky Mighty Ducks were very mighty, indeed, controlling most key face-offs. Rupp was thrown in as a stopgap attempt to try and win more draws.

A role player/spare forward, he certainly never dreamed he would go on to tally a Stanley Cup-winning goal. "Tough to believe," he said about the Devils' 3-0 victory in Game 7 that forever earned him a spot on the above elite goal scoring list.

"Those are great names, but the most important names I'll be linked with are the New Jersey Devils on the 2003 Stanley Cup", spoken by a young man who truly knows his place on a perennial championship team.

Probably the most obscure player on one of the most obscure Stanley Cup winning teams in recent league history, he skated into the high slot, where he managed to maintain position early in the second period. Rupp's deflection of a Scott Niedermayer shot from the point was a typical power forward's move - fight for a precious spot not too far from the net, stand your ground and pray a slapper from a shooting defenseman bounces off your stick or body for a score.

The 6'5" 230-pound Rupp raised his arms in celebrated shock when the deflected shot trickled its way through the pads of Ducks' netminder Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Of course, this was Rupp's first ever playoff goal, the first goal of this seventh playoff game and the only one Devils' goaltender Martin Brodeur would need.

The shutout was Brodeur's record seventh in the playoffs and third in the finals. Such masterful goaltending was not enough to claim the Conn Smythe Trophy as post-season MVP, which was won by his counterpart in net, Giguere. As the New Jersey crowd booed the Conn Smythe announcement, the Devils players politely applauded when Giguere accepted the award. The Devils could readily afford to be magnanimous, as they had just won their third Cup in nine years. Though far from being the most imposing of the franchise's winners, the 2002-2003 edition may just have been the grittiest.

The Devils played a near-perfect Game 7, stifling the Anaheim attack with their zone trap and getting two goals from former Duck Jeff Friesen. Coming off shaky performances in Games 5 and 6, Brodeur was in total control. He stopped 24 shots on goal and handled the puck with control and care. During the post-game celebrations, he did an excellent job handling the Stanley Cup. Of course, he's had plenty of practice in the past nine years.

No new jerseys for Daneyko

Kenny Daneyko's NHL career did not get off to a very rousing start. In only his 11th game with the New Jersey Devils, on the night of November 2, 1983, Daneyko suffered a broken leg at the Hartford Civic Center. The injury halted his inaugural campaign and left some hockey folks wondering how long the young defenseman could withstand the physicality of the NHL.

"I don't think anybody could have predicted I'd still be here and still be playing for the Devils," Daneyko said. "I just wanted to get a few years in. You take it in steps. To still be here after all these years since the franchise started is hard for me to put into perspective."

An analysis of the hockey archives reveals the amazing fact that only three players in NHL history have played more games all with one team than Daneyko, who was over 1,280 and counting. Alex Delvecchio is the all-time leader with 1,549 games, all as a Detroit Red Wing. He is followed by Stan Mikita (1,394 with the Chicago Blackhawks) and Steve Yzerman (1,375+ with Detroit).

Going back to the time Daneyko first wore a Devils Jersey for his debut on October 5, 1983, he has played longer than four NHL cities existed in the league. Hockey in Hartford, Quebec, Winnipeg and Minnesota (North Stars) came and went during Daneyko's NHL career. He has played during the terms of four U.S. presidents (Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush) while being able to call some 220 fellow Devils his teammates. He has played for all 11 of New Jersey's head coaches.

"It has been very special to me," Daneyko said. "Sometimes I sit at home and think how it has gone by so quickly that I can't believe it. I've given my heart and soul to this team and I think they appreciate it, which is why I'm still here."

Daneyko, who turned 39 last April 17, freely admits his career was almost permanently derailed by partying too hard off the ice. He battled a drinking problem for many years in the first part of his career, until finally owning up to it in November of 1997. At that time he made the decision to enter the league's substance-abuse program.

"I made a helluva lot of mistakes," he said.

Many hockey experts believe it was his close relationship with former Devils owner Dr. John McMullen that nixed any notions of him being traded any number of times over the past decade. Daneyko does not disagree.

"I think it probably played a factor, but I'm proud of that," he said. "He liked what I gave when I went onto the ice. I don't think he liked me just because I was a nice guy because, God knows, I was at the other end of the spectrum as far as reasons to be traded."

Needless to say he never was traded and his incredible threshold for pain always kept him in the line-up when most other players would have begged out due to serious bumps and bruises. In today's times of pampered egos, high salaries and opinionated agents, pro skaters of the old-time hockey work ethic and value system are few and far in between.

"I work under the old Tom McVie (long-time NHL and minor league head and assistant coach) adage: 'If it ain't broken, you're playing,'" said Daneyko, referring to the two-time New Jersey coach. "A lot of nights I probably shouldn't have played, but I didn't want to come out of the lineup for too long. I knew I might not get back in. I rarely reported injuries."

He had no choice on the night of March 8 in 1995, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee at Madison Square Garden.

"The Rangers doctor told me I was done for sure. He said I should be ready by next September," Daneyko recalled. "But our doctors judged the person. They said I had a 30 percent chance of playing in the playoffs without an operation, so I didn't have one. It was the same injury John MacLean had and he needed an operation (and missed an entire season)."

"A month into rehab I didn't think I would make it. About the fifth week I felt I had a shot. I would have missed my first Stanley Cup," he continued.

Daneyko wound up playing in all 20 post-season games and was the only Devil to appear in all of the franchise's playoff games prior to the recently completed Stanley Cup run. (Daneyko's consecutive playoff games streak ended in 2003 when coach Pat Burns opted to rotate seven defensemen, usually dressing either fellow Uke Oleg Tverdovsky or Daneyko.)

"I don't think you'll see what he has done very much anymore because of the movement and free agency in today's game," said streak-busting Coach Burns.

Daneyko has been a fixture with the franchise for so long he has broken down his favorite teammates into three categories. When he was young, his favorites were Chico Resch, Dave Lewis and Mel Bridgman. "Those guys believed in me," Daneyko said. "I'll never forget, I was being sent down and Chico said, 'Tell them you don't want to go.' And I did."

During the middle of his career there was Kirk Muller, Brendan Shanahan, Dave Maley, Joe Cirella and MacLean. "They were all my buddies," he said. "We were brash, and this team rose to the point where we were no longer doormats."

And now there are the three Stanley Cup-winning editions, with Scott Stevens, Martin Brodeur and Scott Niedermayer. General Manager Lou Lamoriello has not yet addressed next season, but said the situation will take care of itself.

"I've had my ups and downs and in-betweens," said Daneyko. "I've had battles with coaches. But it has all worked out because all I've wanted to do is win. My will to win has been my motivation. I know I can play one more year. I think that's realistic. Then, who knows? Certainly, before I leave here, I'd like to win one more cup."

The Daneyko file

Position: defense
Shoots left
Height: 6-1
Weight: 215
Born: April 17, 1964, Windsor, Ontario
Drafted: 1982 - 18th overall, New Jersey

DANEYKO DISH: An NHL scout says: "He's at his best and most valuable in front of his own net and killing penalties." Daneyko has failed to score a goal in six of his 20 seasons in New Jersey, but remains a vital part of the team's defense. Played in 12 playoff games in 2003 with two penalty minutes and no points. Dressed and on the ice when time ran out and the Devils beat the Mighty Ducks in Game 7 in New Jersey.

(Thanks to Devils beat writer Rich Chere for Daneyko quotes.)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 6, 2003, No. 27, Vol. LXXI

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