Michigan State University Athletics
Hockey Learns to Row
9/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Sept. 15, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - With the hockey team in its preseason training mode, Coach Rick Comley thought it would be a good idea to give the squad a unique team bonding excercise - and along the way, the players gained some appreciation for another varsity sport at Michigan State.On Friday, Sept. 11, the icers headed over to Grand River Park to get a crash course on rowing from the Spartans' two-time defending Big Ten Champion squad.
AUDIO: Rowing Coach Matt | Rower Laura | Hockey player Torey
On Friday, Sept. 11, the icers headed over to Grand River Park to get a crash course on rowing from the Spartans' two-time defending Big Ten Champion squad.
Technique and teamwork are two foundations for a successful crew - and with a young team that features 20 freshmen and sophomores, experiencing both first-hand also allowed them to work together to learn some new skills.
"This was a great opportunity for us, and I think our guys really enjoyed it," noted head coach Rick Comley. "I'd like to set up more days like this where we get out and can interact with other teams, and I think that not only does it help our team bond, but it allows them to have some fun and meet some of the other athletes whose path they might not cross. I think they also learned just how hard these women work at their sport - its not easy! Overall, it really was a great afternoon, and a thanks goes out to Matt Weise and all the rowers for working with us."
The afternoon started after the rowers finished their fall training session. Rowing coach Matt Weise gave both groups an overview of the schedule, and explained to the hockey players some of the important things they would need to know.
The hockey players were randomly assigned one of the five boats - four eights and the 16-seat barge - that were also manned by the rowers. With some tips and techniques from the rowers and their coaching staff, the hockey players learned proper body positioning, some rowing terminology, and how important teamwork really is to move a shell with some speed. Like any new skills, some picked them up faster than others.
After the basics and some practice runs, it was time for some friendly competition. Over three races, one boat emerged victorious each time - with one of the funniest parts of the afternoon when freshman Torey Krug yelled "Seeya!" at the start of the second race - and backed up his smack talk with a dominating win - and three-race sweep - by his crew.
