Michigan State University Athletics
Maloney's Role Embraces Physical Game, Leadership, Offense
2/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 21, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - MSU junior wing Brian Maloney has a knack for offensive outbursts. However, it's his physical presence that attracts notoriety. The Bassano, Alberta, native has the ability to play strong along the walls and uses his toughness and physical playing style without always earning a trip to the penalty box.
Maloney didn't discover his penchant for banging bodies until his first year of junior hockey.
"When I was younger, I was one of the smaller guys on the team," Maloney remembers. "I had to learn to balance with guys hitting me. I'd surprise them with a hit of my own or find ways to get around or outmuscle the bigger guys.
"As I got stronger, I was able to get on the weights a little more. It just worked to my advantage to know the little tricks out there once I added some strength."
While Maloney has embraced the physical approach to the game, he still posses a scoring touch.
"I was on the team for my offensive abilities," said Maloney, who flourished upon joining the British Columbia Junior Hockey League's Chilliwack Chiefs after a stint with the Olds Grizzlys in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. "I didn't go out and hit too much, but if guys came to hit me, I was able to stand up. I just got stronger and bigger as I played juniors and I was able to play that part of the game, too."
Maloney posted 40-75-115 in 60 games in 1998-99, leading the Chiefs to a second-place finish in the BCHL before coming to East Lansing.
"He had a lot of talent when he came here," said senior team captain and linemate Adam Hall. "He was billed as a big, physical, tough kind of player. I don't think he was known for his scoring touch.
"I think he's proven that in the three years that he's been here. The first year he came in, he didn't seem like a freshman, he seemed like a seasoned veteran. I think his age and the years he spent in juniors helped that along."
The combination of junior hockey experience - as well as being coached by former Spartan Harvey Smyl in Chilliwack - made Maloney's transition to MSU a little easier for the then-20 year old.
"With Harvey, we did a lot of the same drills and had the same work ethic, so when I came here, it made my transfer that much easier," said Maloney, who scored 12-19-31 in 42 games as a freshman. Maloney, who finished fourth on the team in points and goals that season, also led the Spartans with 34 penalties and 87 penalty minutes.
Maloney's success continued as a sophomore, ranking second on the team in scoring with 15-23-38 in 42 games and leading the Spartans with 31 penalties and 86 penalty minutes.
Now a junior and the oldest member of the Spartan team at 23 years old, "Grandpa", as Maloney is sometimes called by his teammates, also serves as a leader. A captain in his final year in Chilliwack, Maloney's had an impact on his current mates.
"I played (in Chilliwack) for four years and he was the best captain we had," said freshman forward Kevin Estrada, who himself was a Chief's captain. "He had the respect of all the players. When he had something to say, everybody listened. He was a leader on the ice as well as off, he was a great all-around captain."
For Estrada, Maloney's role as captain developed into a familial relationship.
"He's always been an older brother figure to me," Estrada said. "Since I've been here he has guided me in what to do, what not to do and how to succeed at MSU. He's been a big influence on me the last couple of years."
And while leadership capabilities, offensive prowess and physical presence remain the keys to his game, the 6-foot-1, 208-pound forward continues to improve.
"He's got a better skating base under him now," said coach Ron Mason. "He's able to accelerate a lot better, giving him a chance to become involved with the play. He's always had a good hard shot, he's always been tough and he's good along the wall."
