Brown aims for more chances
By Ryan Dixon, The Hockey News – The hockey world has become much more sensitive to the manner in which hits get dolled out over the past few seasons, but we should try to remember there’s two sides to every slam.
The hockey world has become much more sensitive to the manner in which hits get dolled out over the past few seasons, but we should try to remember there’s two sides to every slam.
This goes beyond the basics of always glancing over both shoulders if you’re a defenseman heading into the corner or not turning your back to an oncoming checker if you’re standing two feet from the boards.
That stuff should all be second nature to a high-level hockey player. But more than that, there’s something to be said for the art of absorption – the ability to minimize impact without completely dodging a hit.
To put it in another context, think of the difference between an NFL running back who tries to run over every potential tackler, versus a shifty back who spins off hits and tears down field.
Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown is getting an education in how to elude big contact from new teammate Ryan Smyth. Brown is a bulldog if ever there was one, the kind of player who takes direct routes to every loose puck. While you never want to temper that trait in a bump-‘n’-grinder like Brown, the 25-year-old said he’s definitely seen the upside of Smyth’s more slippery approach.
“He’s almost like a rubber band,” Brown said. “He absorbs hits very well, something I could definitely improve on in my game. I’m more of a physical, try to reverse-hit guys; he’ll just kind of take the hit and spin off. A lot of the time that’s how he gets free.”
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Dustin Brown Storm bio… Dustin was originally selected by the Storm in the 2nd round (26th overall) of the 2000 OHL Priority Selection… Brown would go on to represent the USA at the World Junior Championship on two occasions (2002, 2003)… The Syracuse native was a 3rd Team OHL All-Star in 2002-03, a 1st Team All-Rookie Team member (2000-01), a three-time Bobby Smith Award winner as the OHL’s top scholastic player and the CHL Scholastic Player of the Year in 2002-03… Brown graduated from the Storm with a year of junior eligibility remaining to suit up for the LA Kings in 2003-04.
A total of 75 former CHL players will represent their country at the upcoming 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. The Guelph Storm is one of only five CHL teams to have five different former players going for Gold.
During the last 10 days, the 12 nations that will compete in the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games announced provisional rosters. Former Storm players named to their national teams include (pictured left to right) Herbert Vasiljevs (Latvia), Fedor Tyutin (Russia), Drew Doughty (Canada), Ryan Callahan (USA) and Dustin Brown (USA).
