Dec. 19, 2001

By Marty Sundvall
SCSU Athletic Media Relations

Here is St. Cloud State University junior forward Mark Hartigan, carrying the puck hard into the zone, 2-on-1 with Matt Hendricks against the Bemidji State Beavers before a typically-raucous crowd at the National Hockey Center. The BSU defender tries to assess the situation and makes a good play, cutting the passing lane to Hendricks and forcing Hartigan too deep into the zone for a shot.

Many players would have tried to force the action by throwing the puck in front of the net. But the great players have that knack for making something else happen, or better, waiting for something to happen, as was the case on this now-foiled 2-on-1. Hartigan puts on the brakes and pauses, just for an instant.

"I was trying to get the puck to Hendy (Hendricks), but (the defender) did a good job and I couldn't get it over to him," Hartigan said. "So I took an extra second and opened my body so I could see the whole play. I thought everybody in the building could hear (Matt) Gens screaming, 'Hartie!!!'

"In my side vision, I see him flying into the slot. I tried to give him a buttercup of a pass." Gens buried a slapshot in the upper corner. Goal Huskies, and one of seven weekend points for Hartigan, the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week (Dec. 17).

The Gens' set-up was just yet another example of how patience has paid off for Mark Hartigan (Fort St. John, B.C.), and in turn, for the Huskies. Some players have that extra something, that ability to play Houdini with the puck, the ability to take time and let the play open up instead of simply acting immediately. Hartigan is one of them, and all you need do is watch to know he's got the extra, unlabeled ingredient which makes him a natural.

"I don't think patience is something you learn, you just do it," said Hartigan. "I learned a long time ago that it's always better to hang onto the puck for that extra second and let the play develop, instead of you developing the play."

There is Mark Hartigan, intercepting an errant pass and skating in on an opposing goaltender all alone. Now, as those special players have the inherent ability to let the play open before them, also do the great players have the ability to make the crowd gasp.

He'd done this move before, probably most memorably against Alaska-Anchorage during the 2000-01 season. But here it was again, and the regulars at the National Hockey Center know its coming. Hartigan gets to within 15 feet of the net and cocks the trigger on a lethal slap shot. Earlier in the period he almost took the goaltender's head off with a slap shot, and the goalie flinches in anticipation of getting pelted. He's beat. Hartigan holds off the shot, pulls the puck in, takes a stride to his left and scores in the open net. Fans don't so much applaud as ask each other, 'Did you see that?"

"I love that move. I always try and burn our goalies with it in practice," Hartigan said. "The way I do that move, I make sure I know the goalie knows I'm looking at him, then I put my head down like I'm getting ready to shoot. The goalie will come out to cut off the angle and because I don't lift my head, they think I'm going to shoot. I don't even look after that because they've already made their move."

Goal, Huskies!

"The ability to be patient on the ice comes from having the confidence to know you can do it. He has the ability to try different moves, but his puck smarts are inbred. He's smart enough to analyze what just happened, what worked and what didn't," said SCSU head coach Craig Dahl.

It seems Hartigan has the trifecta necessary to make him one of if not the most complete hockey players in Husky hockey history. He's skilled, he's smart, and moreover he works hard for the benefit of the team and himself.

"When you have all three, you're going to have a special player," said Dahl.

People with a lax work ethic have a hard time fitting into Dahl's system. Each player must make strides to improve, both on and off the ice, that is something that is expected, and that is how championships are won. In his two-plus seasons in a Huskies' uniform, Hartigan has improved as a hockey player. He said his defense has been the biggest improvement, but Dahl said his biggest improvement has been in the most basic of all hockey fundamentals.

"When we recruited him he was the leading scorer and MVP of the Saskatchewan junior league, but he wasn't a very good skater. We told him what he needed to work on and he did what he had to do to make himself a better skater. When you work on skating, or any other fundamental, all areas of your game are going to improve," Dahl said. "He always had the ability, but he also has the work ethic to get better. Players like that succeed in this program. He's to the point where he can go as far as his ability will take him."

That improvement has made him the leading scorer in all of Division I college hockey with 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points after 18 games. That improvement will also quite likely make Mark Hartigan a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award this season. And that improvement has lent greatly to the Huskies' 15-2-1 start this season, a No.-1 ranking in two national polls and aspirations of league and possibly national championships.

"We're all having fun right now and I think the fast start has something to do with that. There's no cliques on this team, there's great chemistry. But we know we have to keep getting better because every other team is trying to do the same thing," Hartigan said.

It is most likely after his career at SCSU, Hartigan will try to play in the National Hockey League. He is a free agent and can sign with the team of his choice, should the opportunity present itself.

"If the team keeps winning, people will notice, and it may be nice to have that option (of playing in the NHL) some day," Hartigan said.

But that is not foremost on his mind on this Tuesday after completing a final examination. Instead there is something else in this now-empty arena, an aura of Hartigan's quiet confidence, a genuine belief that his practice will pay off in success.

"I hope so," Hartigan said.

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