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Stingers Classroom To Messier. |
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Cincinnati Enquirer by Terry Flynn |
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12-07-1978 |
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While Mark Messier's friends in St. Albert,
Alberta, are on Christmas break from their
senior year in high school, he is learning a
trade.
But 17-year-old Messier isn't attending a
vocational school. He's being tutored by Floyd
Smith and Associates in the art of becoming a
professional hockey player. He gets on the job
training and earns as he learns.
Messier is the most recent addition to the
Cincinnati Stingers. The young center has signed
a contract for the remainder of the season and
has already shown definite signs of developing
into an excellent player.
"I always though I'd play pro hockey," the
6-foot-1, 185-pound forward said. "But I never
thought it would happen this soon."
The Stingers were able to sign the youngster
without incurring the wrath of the Canadian
junior hockey bosses because he hasn't moved to
the major junior ranks, where the players are
required to sign a contract.
Messier, who traveled and practiced with the
Stingers for nearly three weeks before deciding
to accept the team's offer, played in what is
known as Tier Two for the St. Albert Junior
Saints. The coach of the Saints just happens to
be Mark's father, Doug Messier.
The elder Messier teaches ninth grade special
education classed in Edmonton and has been
visiting Mark in Cincinnati during the holiday
break from his teaching duties. He is a former
minor league hockey player who was once the
property of the Detroit Red Wings and spent 10
years in professional hockey.
Messier Senior, with a masters degree from
University of Portland (Ore.), wants to see his
son finish high school but also understands
Mark's desire to play hockey.
"We wanted him to finish school, but this was a
great opportunity for him," Messier explained.
"I'm going to send him course material (from
Edmonton) during the season and he'll probably
be able to finish during the summer."
Mark's father probably had something to do with
the move to the Stingers because he knew Stinger
coach Smith from their minor league days and
because he once played in Cincinnati. "I played
with the Cincinnati Wings in 1963," he said.
"That was the team that moved here from
Indianapolis after the explosion wrecked the
arena there."
Mark, whose older brother, Paul, signed with the
Colorado Rockies out of Denver University, said
he can't tell at this point if he has what it
takes to remain in the major leagues.
"I'll just have to keep trying, keep working,
and see how it goes," he said with a grin.
Stingers coach Smith already sees signs of
greatness in Messier in the youngsters' skating,
shooting and strength. "He's the kind of player
who will be the future of the Stingers," Smith
said.
Messier will be seeing plenty of ice time
tonight when the Stingers host the New England
Whalers. And that will be perhaps the biggest
thrill in his 17 years because he will be
sharing the Riverfront Coliseum ice with
all-time hockey legend Gordie Howe.
"Wouldn't it be great if I could get a picture
of myself skating on the same ice with him,"
Messier remarked. He may be a hockey star of the
future, but he's still a schoolboy when it comes
to Gordie Howe. |
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