Ben Marshall doesn’t want to talk about his suspension a few weeks back. Well, actually, I’m sure he’d love to give his opinion of that decision, but I’m sure he also knows that there are higher-ups that would not be happy hearing him comment on that subject. And we know that too, so we didn’t ask. Instead, we’ll just speak for him. It’s bad enough for a college hockey player to have to miss games with injury (just ask Tommy Serratore about that one). But when they’re ejected from a game, and subsequently suspended for something video replay shows they didn’t do, there may not be anything more frustrating. Not only does it hinder that players team in many ways, but it takes him out of the lineup, where every game is precious to a kid whose time in school is limited. But all of that is behind him now, and it’s time to move on and focus on a post season run.
What was the biggest reason we wanted to interview Marshall? Well, he’s a hockey player. We like Hockey players. He’s also a smart ass. We love smart asses! Proof of his brand of sense of humor can be found in the Gopher Sports production entitled “Seth Ambroz’s Celebrations: Pride on Ice (Overtime)” that centered on Seth Ambroz’ goal celebrations. You can find that on YouTube. The video leads off with Marshall commenting on Ambroz, and his post goal antics. “Ambroz’s goal celebrations are…immature, and…”, Marshall said with a serious face that turned to a grin. He followed that up with “Broz, I think he’s got one or two moves. You know, he’s probably not used to scoring a lot, so he doesn’t need to bust out as many goal moves, but I think they need some improvement”, while trying not to laugh. He apparently knows that Ambroz can take what he’s dishing out.
We tried to draw out more of the smart-ass side of Marshall when we interviewed him, but unfortunately, he was a professional, and took the high road. That’s always disappointing. Still, it’s always interesting to dig a little deeper into a players background, and maybe find out something new. Gopherhole hooked up with Marshall recently before practice at Mariucci, for a one on one interview.
——————————
GH: Take us through the life of a hockey prospect? Coming out of High School, was there any interest from other colleges? How were you contacted by the Gophers, and who contacted you?
BM: “Um….gosh, that was a long time ago. I guess I remember getting letters in the mail, and I talked to some alumni. I played in this program called FIT, which is summer hockey with a lot of past Gophers. So I talked to a few of them there. To be honest, it’s a blur to me. It was a long time ago. I can’t really remember how all of that went down”
GH: Your hockey path had you forgoing your Sr. year at Mahtomedi and heading to Omaha to play for the Lancers. How was that experience?
BM: “It was great. I mean, leaving your Senior year of High School is a big challenge. It’s a huge change living with people you don’t know. But I look back on it, and I thought it was a huge success. I loved playing there, and still keep in touch with some of the guys. I’m very glad I went”
GH: Do you think you grew up a little bit?
BM: “Definitely. I definitely matured. I mean, you’re living somewhat on your own. You live with ‘parents’, and they feed you. Other than that, you’re playing hockey where it’s still fun, but it’s also business now”
GH: Speaking of Mahtomedi, what’s a zephyr?
BM: “A zephyr is God of the west wind”
GH: It’s actually defined as “a light wind or gentle breeze”
BM: “Is it?”
GH: Depends on who you ask. “God of the west wind” is actually one definition. That’s the one the Mahtomedi people like to use. Mahtomedi’s opponents like to use “slight breeze”.
BM: “OK”
GH: Any hazing or pranks that go on in the locker room? Who’s the instigator or instigators on the team?
BM: “I do a lot of that. I like having fun with it. We do water cups. You put water cups in their helmets, so when they go grab their helmet, water falls all over them. Nothing too harsh, just some funny jokes that you play on the younger guys”
GH: Do you have a nickname given to you by teammates?
BM: “Marsh… Marsh… yeah, that’s about it”
GH: Hockey players really aren’t the most creative individuals when it comes to nicknames, are they?
BM: “No, not really. It either ends in a Y, or they shorten up your last name”
GH: Yeah, that’s what I have been contending! They just shorten up your name and throw a Y or an ER on the end. So, technically, you should actually be “Marshy” or “Marsher”
BM: “Exactly”
GH: Any superstitions?
BM: “I have a ton! I have a lot. I’m a very superstitious person. I hate that. I don’t like that I am. I wish I could stop. But, you know, it’s just a simple routine before a game, like going for a walk, or stuff like that. But yeah, I’m extremely superstitious”
GH: How else do you prepare for a game? Particular food? Music?
BM: “I guess I have to listen to certain music, and drink the same thing before the game. I always go for a walk… there’s some other stuff I do that I don’t want to talk about… I’m just a superstitious person”
GH: OK. I guess we’ll leave that one open to speculation. Do you still take an ice bath before every game?
BM: “A what??”
GH: A couple of years ago, you said that you took an ice bath before every game.
BM: “Oh! Nooo. I stopped doing that. That started in Omaha, and I did it my first year here. I don’t really know why I stopped? I guess it was a new year maybe, and I wanted to do new things?”
GH: And you live with four of your teammates?
BM: “I live with five other guys. We’re six Juniors. I live with the whole Junior class”
GH: And I hear you’re the clean guy in the house?
BM: “I am the cleanest person, yeah. By far”
GH: I’ve always been the cleaner too. I know how annoying that can be at times.
BM: “It can be, when no one else wants to clean the house, yeah. It ends up being my job”
GH: Are we gonna have a problem?
BM: “No. I don’t mind doing it. It’s not like it bugs me a lot. And they all chip in now and then, so it’s all good at the house”
GH: Well, before you try to smooth things over here, and play nice with your roommates…. I talked to Parenteau, and with a little encouragement, he used this forum to let A.J. Michaelson know he was going to kick him in the neck, or something like that. Anyone you want to throw a challenge out to here?
BM: “Take a shot at? You mean like a ‘love swing’? (Laughing) I guess I pick on Vinni (Lettieri) a lot. I enjoy that. I like picking on Vinni, he’s my locker mate. We have a lot of fun in the locker room”
GH: What’s your plan? A punch to the back of the head when he’s not looking, or something like that? I won’t say anything.
BM: (Laughing) “No, nothing like that. I’ll just shoot a puck at him or something”
GH: While we’re on the subject of sworn enemies…during your time here, who would you say Minnesota’s top five rivals are? North Dakota an easy one?
BM: “North Dakota’s an easy one. I think Boston College has been a good one recently. We’ve been having big games with them. Wisconsin, always. Duluth too. We love playing Duluth. And my personal favorite is St. Cloud. I love playing St. Cloud, I love going there, they have a great atmosphere, and I love beating them”
GH: What kind of contact do you have with the Red Wings? How do they stay in touch, and do they offer any guidance?
BM: “Yeah. They talk to the Coaches a lot, and there’s a couple of guys that I keep in contact with, their scouts. They ask me how it’s going, and come to some games. I wouldn’t say it’s on a regular basis, but we communicate well”
GH: Does Detroit instruct you on off-season training, or anything like that?
BM: “I know one of the guys from the Red Wings keeps in touch with Cal (Dietz), our Strength Coach. Cal’s a highly respected Strength Coach, so, they trust what he’s doing here”
GH: What are your hopes for your post hockey life/career?
BM: “You know, I would love to do something with hockey. I’ve always loved the sport. Whether it works out in hockey or not, I guess we’ll find out. But right now, as far as school goes, I’ve thought about being a teacher. I’ve got a lot of Aunt’s and Uncle’s who are teachers back in Mahtomedi, and they really love doing what they do. They’ve had great stories when we get together with the family, so it’s something that interests me”
GH: Good enough. Thank you!