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Up Close with Russell Goodman

It’s funny how things can change in an instant. One moment you’re on top of the world, ready to face all of life’s challenges with determination, and the next sends you hurtling back to reality.

A wise man once said that the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Now Nanaimo Clippers forward Russell Goodman is certainly not a mouse (nor does he play hockey like one) but the point is you never really know what the world is going to serve up next, a lesson that Goodman now knows all too well.

Let’s go back to last December. The Clippers had been on an absolute tear, compiling a ridiculous 25-6-0-3 record over their first 34 games and running roughshod over the rest of the league. Coming off a strong rookie season where he averaged over a point a game, Goodman had already put up 45 points in the Clippers first 30 games. He’d also recently returned from the World Junior A Challenge, where he played for Team Canada West and won a gold medal.

He’s also been named to the BCHL All-Star Game and, to top it all off, he was on target to be selected in the 2008 NHL Draft according to the league’s Central Scouting service. Indeed, Goodman seemed to have almost everything going for him in early December 2007.

And then it happened.

Goodman was forced to leave the Nanaimo’s game on December 9th against the Penticton Vees with a serious knee injury. His diagnosis was unclear; the only thing certain was that he wouldn’t be suiting up for the Clippers anytime soon.

A six-foot-one, 190-pound forward, Goodman grew up in the hockey-mad town of Saskatoon and developed a passion for the game while living on the prairies. He cites Ryan Smyth and Joe Sakic as players he looked up to as a youngster.

“It was always exciting and a thrill to play hockey,” said Goodman. “There were a bunch of rinks close to home and everyone played.”

Goodman praised the coaches he had during his minor hockey years for their insistence on hard work and the time they gave to help him learn the basic skills of the game.

The hard work paid off in 2004 when Russell’s Midget AAA team won the prestigious Mac’s Hockey Tournament. Held in Calgary, the tournament is generally regarded as the premier event for midget-aged players in Canada. Players such as Sidney Crosby, Mike Modano and Scott Gomez all participated in the tournament as teenagers. In winning a gold medal at the event, Goodman is undoubtedly in a rare group and his performance there captured the eyes of many scouts, most notably Clippers GM and head coach Bill Bestwick.

“We saw a complete player,” said Bestwick. “He was a quality two-way player and we loved his checking and potential as a power forward.”

Russell accepted the Clippers’ offer and made the long 1,700 km plus trip from Saskatoon to Nanaimo. No longer could Russell see small animals running for days across the prairies; he now had to become accustomed to British Columbia’s oceans, mountains and, of course, rainfall. Thankfully, for Russell, hockey is universal and he took little time to adjust.

“It took me a little while to get used to the speed of the game,” said Goodman.

The 2006/07 campaign saw Russell emerge as a young star in the BCHL. He scored 61 points in 60 games and became an important cog in the Clippers’ machine. Particularly notable was his potency on the power play, where he tallied eight goals.

Even more exceptional was the memorable playoff run that the Clippers had that season. Nanaimo won the league title, eliminating Vernon in the finals. It was an experience that Goodman won’t soon forget.

“It’d say it’s the highlight of my career so far,” said Goodman. “The only downside was that it was my rookie year and everything went by so fast.”

The 07/08 season witnessed the transformation of Goodman into a team leader and a true superstar in the BC Hockey League. The progression from his rookie year was incredible.

“The big word is confidence,” said the radio voice of the Clippers, Dan Marshall. “Russell has always had offensive skills but he’s a very responsible defensive player now too.”

Coach Bestwick agreed, citing Goodman’s “strength and confidence” as two key factors that led to his ascension as a “premier player”.

Indeed, everything seemed on pace for Goodman to have another banner year before he sustained the knee injury. Goodman was sidelined for close to three months, and when he returned for the playoffs but wasn’t quite the same player despite notching 7 points in 12 games. He was passed by in June’s NHL Entry Draft and his hockey future was hazy.

“It was tough,” said Goodman. “It was definitely a low point in my career. Being undrafted did bug me a bit and the re-habbing was difficult. It became more of a mental than physical thing over time.”

Many young players would be devastated by such a reversal of fortune but the attitude that Goodman displayed during these tough times impressed his coach.

“He handled the injury very maturely,” said Coach Bestwick. “He dealt with it and made it a positive challenge. He’s a very strong individual, his dedication to the rehab proved that.”

Goodman was still feeling some of those mental effects early on in this season, according to Marshall.

“Obviously it was tough,” he said. “He worked so hard to get back – only to find out that he couldn’t do the same things he used to. Even at the start of the season he had a slow start by his standards. But after the first 10 games or so you've started to see an extra spring in his step again. The knee has been 100 percent physically since day one of the season, but I don't think Russell was 100 percent confident on it when the season began. He's showing lots of confidence with that knee now and he's not tentative at all.”

The start of the 2008 season saw Goodman gain yet another feather in his cap, as he was named the Clippers’ captain.

“It’s a great honour,” said Goodman, who calls himself a “quiet leader”.

“He leads by example,” said Bestwick. “He does the right things for the organization both on and off the ice and is a great role model to the guys.”

Marshall, who calls Goodman “a great example of what a junior hockey player should be” offered up this anecdote: “There were two other three-year Clippers that may have had some consideration for captain this year – but the way he came back from a knee injury last year showed his commitment to the team. He worked so hard at his rehab that the original expectation of him being out for six to nine months turned out to be three. When he came back he clearly wasn't able to do everything the same way as before the injury – but he never complained – he just battled through it. It was inspiring for the whole team.”

This season, the Clippers are off to a superb start with Goodman once again putting up gaudy numbers. He is pleased with the team’s success thus far, saying that the Clippers are “on the right path”.

Education is another priority for Russell, and he has committed to NCAA powerhouse Colorado College for the 09/10 season. He cited the “nice facilities and beautiful city of Colorado Springs” as focal points in his commitment. Russell also pointed out a keen interest in economics and is leaning towards majoring in that field.

The unpredictability of life has swung violently back and forth for the Nanaimo Clippers star, but with the resiliency and character he’s displayed during his BCHL career, it’s likely that he can accomplish just about anything. Colorado College, the NHL and opposing teams in the BC Hockey League would be wise to take note.

Ben Lypka's bi-weekly player and team features will appear Tuesdays during the BCHL regular season and playoffs.