Two NHL.com articles on Ratchuk & Giroux

[swflyers25]

Michael Ratchuk, drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Flyers, will attend Michigan State University in the fall of 2006.

By Shawn Roarke | NHL.com Senior Writer
Aug. 14, 2006

Unlike most young players who merely mouth the well-worn mantra, Mike Ratchuk knows his recent second-round selection by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2006 Entry Draft means very little going forward.

He intrinsically understands that he must now make the most of the opportunity presented to him if he hopes to chase down his childhood dream of playing in the NHL.

Ratchuk, who hails from the hockey hotbed of Buffalo, N.Y., already has seen the sometimes cruel whims of the hockey gods up close and personal. He has learned not to take the hockey gifts he has been given lightly. You see, his older brother, Peter, once stood at the career precipice that Mike Ratchuk presently finds himself.

Peter Ratchuk, 10 years Mike's senior, was a first-round choice of the Colorado Avalanche in the 1996 Entry Draft. At the time, Peter had the hockey world at his feet as one of the game's top prospects, a slick-skating, point-producing defenseman who was considered a can't-miss prospect by many.

Somehow, though, Peter Ratchuk did miss delivering on the potential forecast for him. He made his NHL debut during the 1998-99 season, playing 24 games for the Florida Panthers, but was quickly returned to the minors, stopping in not-so-exotic hockey locales like New Haven, Conn., and Louisville. Another eight-game cup-of-coffee stop with the Panthers in 2000-01 was followed by stops in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pa., and Rochester, N.Y.

Sensing his NHL options were severely limited at that point, Peter traveled overseas to begin a three-year odyssey through Germany's top professional league. This fall, the older Ratchuk will attempt to catch on with the Minnesota Wild, having recently signed a two-way contract.

Mike Ratchuk has watched all these developments intently, cataloguing the pain and frustration of his older brother's attempts to stick in the NHL. He also has listened raptly to the hard-earned advice dispensed by Peter.

"I've taken a lot of advice from him," Mike Ratchuk admits. "He's always tried to prepare for that stuff. You know, don't expect too much, too soon and stuff like that. I'd like to think I'm better prepared for (the business side of hockey) because of it."

Still, Peter remains Mike's inspiration.

"I learned the game from him," Mike says. "I watched him play the game religiously since I was little, so that's why I have kind of developed the style of play he plays, because I watched him so closely. He's definitely a resource for me. I still, to this day, love to watch him play."

The similarities between the brothers is startling. As mentioned, Peter was a smooth-skating, point-producer from the outset. He had 54 points with the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League the year before he turned pro. In 2001-02, he put up 39 points for the Baby Penguins. In Europe, he averaged 38 points during his three seasons in the DEL.

Mike, at 5-10, 175 pounds, is three inches shorter and 10 pounds lighter than his older brother, but possesses the same offensive-zone instincts.

Last season, Ratchuk had 11 goals and 15 assists for the United States National Developmental Team's U-18 squad. He helped lead that U-18 team to a gold medal at the U-18 World Championships. This summer, he is one 16 defensemen at USA Hockey's National Junior Evaluation Camp, competing for a spot on the team that will play at this winter's World Junior Championships in Sweden.

At the evaluation camp, his already impressive offensive skills are being further honed through on-ice instruction from former NHL defenseman Phil Housley, who forged a memorable career during a 21-season NHL tenure with eight different teams.

"When he talks, I tend to listen a little bit more because his style of play is like my style," Ratchuk said. "He was at the World Championships in April (serving as a radio analyst). That's when I first met him. He's been a great help to me."

Already schooled in the potentially hard-knock life of a drafted player, Mike Ratchuk knows his tenure with the Flyers, if it happens, is likely a few seasons away. This fall, he reports to Michigan State to continue his development toward that ultimate goal.

Ratchuk believes the collegiate game can only help him continue to refine the skills that already make him a valued prospect; plus it is a step he has been looking forward to making since he was a youngster. College hockey always has been on Ratchuk's to-do list, he insists.

"I've always wanted to play college hockey since I was little," he says. "Obviously, my goal is to play in the NHL, that is what I have worked toward my whole life. I'm going to Michigan State this year, and we'll see what happens from there."

So, why the Spartans?

"Everything fit," he explained. "There was nothing wrong with it. The campus was gorgeous, the rink was beautiful, I knew I would fit into their roster well and it's a great bunch of guys. The coaches were great. Everything about it was perfect."

And, he knows that while he is in East Lansing, Mich., the pro game will continue to evolve to more fit his style. As NHL teams come to grips with the new interpretation of the rules -- designed to introduce more skating and offensive play -- strong-skating, offensive-minded defensemen will be even more coveted than they already are now.

That is a realization that dawned on Ratchuk this season as he watched NHL games, but it is also a fact that he refuses to take for granted.

"For me, it wasn't even a thing right away of me thinking about myself," Ratchuk said. "For me, it was just so exciting to watch the game. I watched a lot more NHL games this year than I probably ever have because of how much fun it was to watch.

"Absolutely, though, I couldn't help but think about how much it's hopefully going to better my chances of being able to play in the NHL one day because that is the style of play the rules encourage now and that's the style I have always played."

NHL.com

[swflyers25]

Claude Giroux lists Alexei Kovalev as his favorite player, and patterns his own game after him.

Giroux has a story to tell
By Russ Cohen | NHL.com Correspondent
Aug. 14, 2006

When the Philadelphia Flyers selected forward Claude Giroux with the 22nd overall pick in the 2006 Entry Draft, there was a bit of confusion. Flyers GM Bob Clarke hit the stage and had a momentary lapse, forgetting the name of the player the his team was selecting.

Clarke quickly redeemed himself by announcing Giroux, the standout from the "Q".

"I think it was funny and I was waiting to get up and I wasn't sure when to go," Giroux laughed about the mix-up. "I didn't think I was going to go that early, but it's amazing."

The Flyers made a solid selection and they added a bit of comic relief to the festivities. The 5-foot-10, 169-pound winger has the speed and the offensive ability to be able to make an impact in the NHL in the near future. He, for one, can't wait to play with some of Philadelphia's young stars like R.J. Umberger, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards and Joni Pitkanen.

"They have a good young team and they have a lot of talent and I can't wait to meet all of the players," Giroux said.

The Hearst, Ontario native was tied for 11th place as one of the leading scorers in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season with 103 points in 69 games, along with 64 PIMS. He was named the rookie of the month twice and he was the league's top rookie scorer, edging out 16-year-old phenom Angelo Esposito, who should be a top-five pick in the 2007 Entry Draft.

This talented forward could be one of the weapons on Team Canada in the upcoming World Junior Championships. He should have every opportunity to make the team because of his offensive potential. Plus, he doesn't shy away from the physical game and he describes his game best.

"I'm more of a playmaker," Giroux said. "And I have a lot of heart and I want to win."

Players with that kind of attitude always have had a place on the Flyers and in the hearts of their fans. But this first-rounder is new to the Philadelphia culture and all it has to offer. Food is one of the things that the City of Brotherly Love is famous for and cheesesteak's are the most popular dish in town. But has this kid from Ontario ever tasted one?


Giroux may be a few years away from playing at the Wachovia Center, but he should help the Flyers upon arrival.

"No," he said. But then he quickly fired back with, "I'll try it."

In 2003, the Flyers drafted David Tremblay as the 140th overall selection and a year later selected David Laliberte with the 124th overall pick, so Philadelphia has invested a lot of its future hopes with players from the QMJHL. As a matter of fact Giroux played with the Gatineau, Olympiques, and he was a teammate of Tremblay, who spoke highly of Philadelphia.

"Yes well Tremblay is a teammate and he told me it's a great city with great guys and I just can't wait," Giroux said.

Like most young athletes, this high-scorer likes other sports and it turns out that he is a baseball fan. The Phillies are the main team in town but it turns out that he likes a team north of the border. "I like the Blue Jays, he said with a smile.

That smile was a bit devilish since it was the Blue Jays who kept the Phillies from winning it all back in the 1993 World Series when Joe Carter hit his famous home run. But you can't fault a kid from Canada for liking a winner like that team and maybe he will be a part of something that big with the Flyers someday. With the young talent that the franchise has drafted in the past few years, this team has a solid, young nucleus that could be playing together before you know it.

As far as Giroux goes he will likely play two or three more years before he ever sets foot on the ice at the Wachovia Center. But at that time the Flyers may be looking for just one more piece to give them a team that could make a run at the Stanley Cup.

NHL.com

[Ryan20]

Good read(s)
And for the record, BOOOO Spartans, GO BLUE!

[Pitkanen44]

Originally Posted by Ryan20

Good read(s)
And for the record, BOOOO Spartans, GO BLUE!

Qft.