Senior assistant captain Matt Curley was looking for a team, and newly-hired Head Coach George Roll needed players. Clarkson had endured a tough 2002-03 season in which the team went 12-20-3 and Head Coach Mark Morris was fired in mid-November. Roll was then brought in following the season, left to his own devices to scrap together a last-minute recruiting class.
Curley, a native of nearby Madrid, was playing junior hockey in Hawkesbury, Ontario at the time. He had talked to Coach Morris during the summer of 2002 but, upon his firing, communication with the team fell through until Roll was brought in.
“I knew from (former Clarkson player) Josh [Bartell] that (then assistant coach) Fred Parker wasn’t going to be here,” said Curley. “He told me who was going to be coming in, that Coach Roll was a likely candidate. As soon as he got hired I got in contact with him. He needed guys on such late notice; it was a blessing in disguise.”
Curley is the hard-nosed type of player that may not be flashy, but gets the job done on the ice. “I’m sure [Roll] heard about me, maybe not so much as a blue chip. I think it was mutual; he needed guys, some good character, hard-working guys, and I was willing to do whatever it took. I’d like to think of it as a win-win situation,” reflected Curley.
Curley had watched years of Clarkson hockey including a lot of local kids that gave him an added connection to the team. “I remember watching guys from around here,” Curley said, “Matt Reid from Massena, Chris Cameron, (and) Josh Bartell, who ended up being my coach after he graduated.”
These players, along with Clarkson’s winning history, were intimidating heading into the season. “It was really nerve-racking. It’s always been a tradition here of winning, that whole pressure behind you,” said Curley.
As a freshman and sophomore, Curley played in 35 and 37 games, respectively. As a junior, however, tough times fell upon Matt as he played in just 15 games that season.
“It was difficult for him. At times we felt that Matt was struggling with his confidence and I think it snowballed for him a little bit,” commented Roll. “It’s always difficult when you’ve played for two years and all of a sudden you’re not in the lineup. But Matt handled it well, was professional about it, and has bounced back with a great senior year.”
This season, after years of both success and hard times, Curley has been named assistant captain. “The players voted on him, and [the coaches] have agreed with their choice,” said Roll, “It speaks volumes of his work ethic and his commitment to the program and the type of person that he is.”
Aside from the work that Curley does on the ice, he is also very involved in the local community, doing a lot with hockey as well as Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a Vermont-based group providing recreational activities and camp opportunities for children with cancer, with which Clarkson Hockey has been involved for several years. “As far as hockey goes, with Potsdam Minor Hockey, I’ve been doing that every Monday night for four years,” said Curley.
His help with local hockey has also extended to the minor hockey programs in Massena and Ogdensburg. “All of the different communities, really everywhere except for Canton (home to rival St. Lawrence), which is, I guess, understandable,” said Curley.
“(In regards to) Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, I’ve been doing that since my sophomore year. I’ve worked with some of the past guys like Jamie McKinven, Chris Brekelmans, and this year Mike Willemsen and Grant Clitsome,” said Curley, “Being able to play here has allowed me to do those things.”
As seen by Curley’s determination to play collegiate hockey, his performance on the ice, and his hockey work in the community, the 2006-07 season is not intended to be the end of hockey in Matt’s life.
“I’d like to continue playing,” said Curley. “I certainly have aspirations of going as far as I can. What I’d really like to do is go over to Europe. I find Europe an attractive option. After that I’d like to come back [to the States] and coach, and stay with the game.”
Curley continued to talk on the topic of coaching, giving further insight into the quality person that he is both on and off the ice.
“A lot of guys, myself included, aren’t going to be making a living for the next 10, 15 years playing the game, so what are they going to do afterwards? How are you going to influence and shape their lives afterwards? It’s those college years where you shape what kind of men these guys are going to be. I know it’s kind of a cliché, when it comes to college coaches, but I think it really is true.”
