It all starts with goaltending.
The University of Minnesota Duluth will carry a seven-game unbeaten streak – its longest in some five years – into the Christmas holiday break and one of the prime reasons for this recent surge has been the stellar play of its puckstopper extraordinaire, Alex Stalock.
During the past seven games, the junior netminder and San Jose Sharks draftee has compiled a miniscule 1.52 goals against average (allowing just four even strength goals in the process) and a .947 saves percentage while going 4-0-3. That effort has vaulted Stalock, a two-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Week honoree already this season, into the top spot on the league's goals against average charts (2.15 overall).
HIS FAVORITES:
Opponent: Minnesota
Opponent Arena: Kohl Center (Wisconsin)
Road Trip: Madison, Wis.
Professional Athlete: Joe Thornton
Professional Team: Minnesota Twins
College Course: Intro. to College Learning
Pastime: Teamming uop with Jordan Fulton in golf and always beating Cody Danberg and MacGregor Sharp
Prized Possession: My 1996 Toyota Camry
Book (Author): Thunder and Lightening: A No B.S. Hockey Memoir (Phil Esposito)
Television Show: NHL on the Fly
Favorite Actor/Actress: Will Ferrell and Eva Mendes
Movie: You, Me and Dupree
Singer/Group: Bruce Springsteen
Food: Roast beef and horse radish
Restaurant: T & T Gallery (South St. Paul, Minn.)
Vacation Spot: My cabin
Web Site: www.nhl.com
PERSONALLY SPEAKING:
Why I Chose UMD: Great program, great school
First Played Competitive Hockey: At age 4
Hockey Strength/Weakness: My leg strength/My pad stacking
Game Day Ritual: I take a nap
Most Memorable Hockey Moment: Winning the 2004-05 Clark Cup (USHL playoff championship) with Cedar Rapids
Best Player I've Ever Played Against: (Former North Dakota forward) Jonathan Toews
Pet Peeve: Loud eaters and bad drivers
My First Job: Working on the grounds crew at Fleming Field Airport when I was 16.
Person I'd Most Like to Meet: Chris Farley
Biggest Fear: Being a passenger in Jordan Fulton's car
What Most People Don't Know About Me: I took third place in the Burnett County Tavern Leage Walleye Tournament in 2006
Advice to an Aspiring Young Athlete: If you can dream it, you can do it!
If I Could Change One Thing About Myself: I would have bigger biceps
Influences on My Athletic Career: My parents
Person I'd Like to be Stranded on a Deserted Island With: Bear Grylls (Man vs. Wild)
Something I Never Leave Home Without: My cell phone
Sport I'd Like to Try But Never Have: Wake Surfing
Post-UMD Plans: Play hockey for as long as I can, then look for a good job
