Inside College Hockey | INCH Measures Up Scott Polaski

March 30, 2005
NCAA Frozen Four
INCH Measures Up CC's Scott Polaski

By James Jahnke

He’s on probably the most famous line in college hockey this season, but not many outside the WCHA know his name.

Meet Colorado College forward Scott Polaski, who grew up near campus in Colorado Springs but now lives in the considerable shadow of his linemates, Brett Sterling and Marty Sertich – two front-runners for the Hobey Baker Award. The anonymity is fine by Polaski, a down-to-earth 6-foot-2 power forward whose duty it is to clear space for his 5-foot-something cohorts to create their offensive magic.

He’s one of just three seniors on the young Tigers squad that will play archrival Denver in the Frozen Four next week. With just two goals this year, his scoring pace is down from when he tallied nine as a junior, but his 15 assists are a career high. Wonder why that is...

After CC’s first practice for the Frozen Four this week, Inside College Hockey spoke with Polaski for a few minutes about the rivalry with DU, what he tries to do when he’s on the ice, his famous aunt and more.

Senior wing Scott Polaski is Colorado College's most experienced player, having appeared in 157 career games.

Inside College Hockey: Now that you’ve had a couple of days to reflect and let it sink in, how are you feeling about going to the Frozen Four this year?

Scott Polaski: Oh, it’s extremely exciting, especially in the way we got to the Frozen with a come-from-behind (4-3) victory (over Michigan). For the first day or two afterward, it was still really exciting. But now that we’ve gotten back to practice and everything, we realize that the main thing is still on the line. Our goal hasn’t been accomplished, so we still have a serious job to do.

INCH: Are you pumped to play Denver again or would it be cooler for you to be playing some team from out East that you’ve never seen before?

SP: Well, there are two sides to that. First, it’s great that the WCHA got four teams in the Frozen Four. That’s great for the league. But it would be exciting to play someone we haven’t played before. With DU, it’s the sixth time this year. There aren’t a lot of surprises when we play. We know what they do and they know what we do. It’s like pro teams playing against each other. So I guess this is like a six-game playoff series, they lead 3-2, and we have to tie it up.

INCH: Given the rivalry, would it sting even worse if you were to lose to DU this weekend? Or would it be the same if any team beat you?

SP: It doesn’t matter who we lose to, it would be a bitter ending. Maybe a little extra against DU, because I grew up in Colorado Springs and I’ve been around this rivalry my whole life.

INCH Measures Up:
Frozen Four Edition

Denver: Matt Carle
Minnesota: Barry Tallackson
North Dakota: Drew Stafford

INCH: Were you neutral in the rivalry growing up? Or have you always been on the CC side?

SP: Being from Colorado Springs, I’ve always been on the CC side.

INCH: Is the CC-DU rivalry as intense as some of the top rivalries in college hockey, such as BC-BU, Michigan-Michigan State and Cornell-Harvard?

SP: I think so. In fact, I think it’s even bigger because it’s what I know. I’m sure it’s just as big. We’re right there, both playing off I-25, and I think it’s the oldest rivalry in college hockey. CC had a hand in starting the national tournament at the old Broadmoor, and I think DU was right there, too. But I’m not sure about that. You’d have to look it up.

INCH: Is there anything that stands out about DU as a team?

SP: They are extremely fast and extremely defensive, too. It’s really hard to get to the net against them. They have a great ability to stand around the goalie and protect the goalie and not allow any real good chances.

INCH: But they’re a little more offensive-minded than they were last year, right?

SP: Yeah, probably. But it all comes from their defensive play.

INCH: Most of the stars of your team – Sertich, Sterling, Stuart, Crabb, etc. – are juniors. But you’re a senior. This is your last shot. Do you think you feel more pressure than those guys to get something done this year?

SP: I guess there could be a little added pressure, but I’ve been playing one game at a time all year long, and I’m not going to change now. These last two games could have been my last games, too, and those turned out pretty well. So I’m just going to go out and play.

INCH: Being from Colorado Springs, do you feel the need to be a tour guide or anything like that when freshmen first get onto campus?

SP: No, not really. I mean, if guys need to know good places to eat or go or need directions to the doctor’s office or something, they know who to ask.

INCH: Do you ever give them wrong directions just to mess with them?

SP: (Laughs) No, no. I’m pretty good with that stuff.

INCH: Not to discredit your game or anything, but most people probably think of you as the third guy on the Sertich-Sterling line. Does that bug you?

SP: Not at all. Those guys deserve all the credit they’ve been given. They’re both phenomenal players, and if I’m just the guy playing with Marty and Brett, at least I’m the guy. I think my game helps them out. Just go out and hit and get the puck to those two and let them go. I chip in on the penalty kill and play a little bit more of a defensive style of game. If I get a chance to score some goals, I’m more than happy to do that. But I’m not going to be flashy with my stickhandling and stuff like that. I’m more like giving the puck, getting open, shooting as often as I can, using my speed and using my body to be effective. I’m just trying to play my part on a championship team.

INCH: How long have you been playing with Marty and Brett?

SP: This year, for the past month. But I’ve played with them in previous years, too.

INCH: So you would be as qualified as anyone to answer this: Who should get the Hobey Baker?

SP: That’s an extremely hard question. I’d love to give it to both. They’re such different players, it’s hard to pick one over the other. Marty’s just such a great playmaker, and he has added goal-scoring to his repertoire this year. And Brett’s such a great shooter. They’re both really good.

INCH: Last thing I want to ask you about is being Bonnie Blair’s nephew.
Do you have a close relationship with her? Does she come to many of your games?

SP: I’m extremely close with her. I live with her and her husband (skating and strength coach Dave Cruikshank, another former Olympic speedskater) in Milwaukee during the summers. Bonnie’s been to two more of my games than Dave this year. They were in Minneapolis both times we were there, once for the Final Five and once for the Gophers, and they’re going to be in Columbus. Actually, I think I’m going to have about 20 family and friends in Columbus.

INCH: Did Bonnie teach you how to skate?

SP: Actually, my mom (Mary) also is a speedskater and has been a world team coach for a long time. She’s the one who taught me to skate.

INCH: Is speedskating much different from hockey skating?
SP: Not really. Pretty much, you’re just trying to get as much power into the ice as you can. Speedskating is a lot more mechanical than hockey skating, though.

INCH: So are you one of the best skaters at CC?
SP: I’d like to think so. We have a really fast team, but I think I am.

INCH: You must have been pretty young when your aunt was having all of her success. Do you remember much about it or do you just hear stories around the dinner table?

SP: Let’s see, she won her first gold medal when I was six, and her last two when I was 12. The only Olympics I went to was in Calgary, and I don’t remember much about that. But I remember watching her on TV with my parents around and it was pretty cool.