SLU prepares for Clarkson; Raley draws

Joe Marsh has experienced plenty during his 25-year tenure as head coach at St. Lawrence University. Hosting Clarkson in the playoffs isn't one of them.

But that's where the Saints stand, currently, as the Golden Knights travel the 10 miles from Potsdam to Appleton Arena on Friday.

“Isn't that amazing?” Marsh said. “That's because they've been ahead of us. We've gone over there.”

In eight previous playoff series, Clarkson has been the victor against SLU. Those were all at Cheel Arena.

“We'd rather be here than over there,” St. Lawrence forward Mike McKenzie said. “You can't count on home ice advantage, though. They're a 12th-place team, but in rivalry games, that seems to erase seedings.”

The Saints beat, lost and tied Clarkson in their three meetings this season, two of which were played at Cheel Arena. St. Lawrence's lone win came away from Appleton, where it boasts an 8-3-4 record.

“(Clarkson) is a much better team than how they ended up,” Marsh said. “I think they're a very dangerous team.”

St. Lawrence isn't feeling the pressure from the fans or the playoffs, however. The Saints are looking at it as a chance to keep their season alive.

“This is opportunity. It's not pressure,” Marsh said. “We know them better than anybody else. (But) with rivalry comes that great equalizing kind of factor. You never know how it's going to play out.”

Clarkson's season was marked with illness and injury, but in February, the Golden Knights won three games — more than they had the previous three months combined.

“They were really struggling and finding ways to lose,” McKenzie said. “Now, it seems like they're finding ways to win.”

Said Marsh: “There's a reason why they had a tough year in the regular season. I think they're a better team than what people think. They had a better month of February than we had.”

St. Lawrence managed one win — the last of the regular season — in Feb. The Saints went 1-4-3 in its last eight games. Getting a win to finally end the streak has boosted the Saints as they head into the ECAC Hockey first round.

“Just to get that one under our belt — it didn't mean a ton in the standings really — was huge to get a little confidence,” McKenzie said. “When it comes down to it, both teams have to play their game and play their shifts.”

This best of three series is also a new experience for everyone on the ice. No player from Clarkson or St. Lawrence has faced each other in the playoffs. The last time the two schools met in the postseason was in 2001.

“It's something unique; It's something that's going to be crazy,” senior Jeff Caister said. “There's going to be a ton of energy in the building from both teams.”

RALEY ART

St. Lawrence junior Matt Raley likes to draw, compose and synthesize images and put them on skateboards, sketchbooks, canvas or anything else he can find.

His work, while not on display anywhere but his high school, could be soon.

“My brother's working on getting (the skateboards) to an actual company,” Raley said of his designs. “It's just been more of a hobby. It's the most relaxing thing I can do.”

Raley has been interested in modern abstract art since grade school. His work has developed and stayed with him through the rigors of junior hockey and his first three seasons with the Saints.

“I try not to incorporate too much hockey into my art,” he said. “It's something that's totally different. It's a different form of expression.”

Raley consistently creates art for friends and teammates. He's even designed tattoos. Now, he's working with St. Lawrence goalie Robby Moss, whose nickname is “Moose,” to design his goalie mask for next season.

“He wants me to try and incorporate a moose on there,” Raley said. “I really have to play around with it.”

It isn't new territory for Raley, who said he often gets requests to take pictures and memories of his friends' lives and create art.

“It's not like they're limiting me to one thing,” he said. “They're trusting my creative instincts and let me do whatever I want. It's usually pretty good.”

Raley doesn't necessarily intend on pursuing an art career once his playing days are over. Instead, he wants to be on Wall Street. He's interning with Goldman Sachs this summer to help make that goal a reality after hockey.

INJURY REPORT

Forward Mark Armstrong skated all week and expects to play against Clarkson this weekend... Defenseman Pete Child tweaked his recovering knee in SLU's 4-3 win over Harvard last week. He is expected to play, despite taking a day off from practice this week.