Sports

Life beyond the ice

For Van Dyk, a game driven by tragedy

By Steven McCarthy

Posted on Jan. 26, 2009, at 12:00 a.m.

Each time the University of Maine men’s hockey team prepares for the start of a game, Josh Van Dyk takes a moment to reflect on the fact that there is more to life than hockey.

The sophomore defenseman from Ontario has experienced at 22 years old an event most fear as an unequaled tragedy. The passing of Van Dyk’s 19-year old brother Nicholas of cancer in July 2008 devastated the tight knit family of four.

As Van Dyk prepared for his second season in a UMaine uniform, he developed what coach Tim Whitehead describes as “a clearer perspective on what’s important in life,” and dedicates every shift to his late brother, who was also an avid hockey player.

“I try and talk to him during every national anthem,” Van Dyk said. “But I just know he’s watching, so I just try and play well for him every night.”

“He’s been through something you don’t wish on anyone to go through, but he’s handled it as well as anyone could,” acknowledged Whitehead.

The modest blueliner is making the most of an opportunity a select few junior hockey players are talented enough to pursue. Playing for a successful program in front of the faithful Alfond Arena crowd was an immediate convincing point during Van Dyk’s recruiting visit to UMaine.

“I always like to win,” Van Dyk said with a smile.

After failing to record his first collegiate point as a freshman, Van Dyk has emerged as a consistent two-way player contributing to the Black Bears early season success. His seven assists is tied for tops among UMaine defensemen along with freshman Will O’Neill and is three less than the freshman Gustav Nyquist’s 10.

Van Dyk saw time in 31 games as a freshman, which was tied for most among first year players with fellow defenseman Jeff Dimmen.

“I was happy to dress as much as I did [as a freshman],” Van Dyk said. “Of course you always like putting up points, but you’ve just got to play defense, and if you play good, the points will come.”

Normally paired with senior Simon Danis-Pepin, the two have had a hand in 12 of 51 UMaine goals in the first half of the season, made possible by their ability to get the puck through to the net front and generate scoring opportunities.

“They both handle the puck real well, have very good hockey sense, and they seem to connect pretty naturally together,” Whitehead said of his most offensively productive line of defensemen.

Van Dyk is also featured on the power play unit, which is the fifth most efficient in Hockey East with a 17.3 scoring percentage.

“He’s our best player coming up the ice on the power play, making decisions on the break-out, and making sure that the puck is in the right spot,” Whitehead explained.

The Black Bears will graduate two of their top defensemen at the end of the season in Danis-Pepin and Matt Duffy, but the stingiest defense in Hockey East has been complimented by a trio of sophomores emerging into roles of increased importance.

“Our team is so young this year; it was important for a lot of our sophomores to really become leaders on our team,” said Whitehead. “With our defensive core in particular, we’ve seen all three sophomore defensemen [Van Dyk, Dimmen, Mike Banwell], all elevate their game to become a very important part of our team. I’m confident that once Simon and Matt graduate, that these guys will be ready to take on even more responsibility.”

With 54 goals allowed, UMaine’s defense is tied for third best in Hockey East.

After losing the top six scorers from last year’s team, a consistent defensive effort will be vital to the success of the young Black Bears.

“Defense is absolutely the most important,” Van Dyk acknowledged. “You play defense first, and then it leads to offense. It’s not just our goaltending, or our ‘D’, or our forwards. Everybody as a unit is playing well defensively.”

Coach Whitehead has seen a noticeable progression in Van Dyk as both a person and as an athlete since recruiting him out of the Hamilton, Ontario Red Wings junior program.

“He’s playing with a lot more confidence, a lot more toughness and a lot more courage to make plays. And I’m very proud of how he’s playing. He’s become a very complete player for us.”

Off the ice Whitehead sees Van Dyk as “a great student, and he’s a very good friend to his teammates, and he’s certainly impressive as an athlete.”

Before coming to UMaine, Van Dyk got 19 goals and 40 assists in 46 games in his final season with Hamilton, and was named the team’s top defenseman. Yet to score his first collegiate goal, Van Dyk knows if he continues to play well defensively, his moment will come.

“I’m sure it’s just a matter of time. I’m not going to rush it or try and hog the puck or anything. If it’ll come, it’ll come.”

Like most Division I players, Van Dyk has hopes of advancing to the professional ranks, but has a back-up option in the business field. At UMaine, Van Dyk is studying business, with a double concentration in finance and management.

“Obviously I want to play as long as I can, play pro or overseas, then just get into the business world after,” Van Dyk said.

Van Dyk was also named to the Hockey East Academic Honor roll during his first year.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 26th, 2009, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.