The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Sports

December 17, 2009

Refreshed Canzanello back on form

Senior blueliner again a fixture for MSU

By Shane Frederick

MANKATO — In his second season with the Minnesota State men’s hockey team, defenseman Nick Canzanello played in 33 games, scored 11 points and was a plus player on the plus-minus list.

For a player who came to the Mavericks straight out of Rochester Mayo High School and southern Minnesota’s Big Nine Conference, it looked like his future was bright.

But Canzanello’s sophomore slump came a year late.

“I was in and out of the lineup and missed the most games I’ve ever missed,” he said. “I just didn’t get out on the right foot.”

Canzanello played in 24 games as a junior, had a career-low four points and a career-high 28 penalty minutes. He was also minus-3 for the year.

“Mentally, I struggled,” he said. “I got in a slump, and it took a long time to get out of it.”

After finishing some courses at MSU last summer, Canzanello decided he needed to get away and lived with his brother, Andrew, in Colorado for awhile. Andrew Canzanello, who played hockey at Colorado College until 2004 and is now a professional player in Germany, had some advice for his little brother.

“He just said I needed to be mentally tough, not get too hard on myself and stay confident,” Nick Canzanello said. “He’s been through it all before. ...

“I spent the previous summer in Mankato, and as much as I love this town, it was nice to get away.”

When Minnesota State hosts Nebraska-Omaha in a nonconference game tonight, Canzanello is expected to be in the lineup for 10th game in a row. Although he has just one assist through the first half of his final college season, he has played regularly 15 of the Mavericks’ 18 games.

“I think Nick’s playing with a little more urgency, and he’s been practicing with a little more urgency,” MSU coach Troy Jutting said. “It’s his senior year; it’s important. He’s playing with a little more jump in his game.”

There was plenty of jump in Canzanello’s game during his high school days. Just ask opposing players from Mankato West and Mankato East/Loyola. Canzanello finished his prep career with 132 points.

He joined the Mavericks without playing junior hockey, something he now says might have benefited him.

It’s been tough, he said, not being able to compile the big scoring numbers he put up at Mayo.

In 103 career games wit the Mavericks, the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder has three goals and 21 assists.

“I’ve been trying to find my point-getting ability,” Canzanello said. “I feel like I’m playing better hockey this year, but I’m not contributing (to the offense) as much as I expected. That was a huge change from high school; the scoring came so easy.”

Jutting has said that he likes all eight defensemen on his roster but can only dress six for a game. With younger players eager to get playing time, the coach has opted to go with the veteran. Two weeks ago, Canzanello became the 100th player in MSU history to play in 100 games.

“He’s a senior,” Jutting said. “It’s nice to have his experience back there. He’s doing a solid job for us.”

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