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| Last updated at 10:58 AM on 05/01/09 |
5 minutes with...Danny Cleary 
BY ROBIN SHORT
The Telegram
Growing up in Harbour Grace, young Danny Cleary wasn't much of a baseball fan. Hockey, of course, was his preferred game. Basketball, too.
But he does remember Joe Carter's walk-off home run to beat the Philadelphia Phillies and win Toronto its second World Series 15 years ago, so the thoughts of playing hockey in the venerable Chicago baseball shrine of Wrigley Field isn't lost on the Detroit Red Wings' forward.
"I went to Wrigley once (when he was a member of the NHL's Blackhawks) and it was an awesome experience," Cleary recalled. "I was looking forward to getting back there. I just didn't think it would be playing hockey."
The Wings and Blackhawks faceoff Thursday in the latest version of the NHL's Winter Classic, an outdoor hockey game that will be staged at Wrigley starting 2:30 p.m. (NL time, CBC).
Some hockey purists may consider the event gimmicky, but if Cleary's enthusiasm is any indication, the players are excited to challenge the Windy City outdoors.
"I think it should be awesome," Cleary said. "I'm very excited about it. It's creating a buzz in the U.S. and with Chicago being a top four team in the west, it should be an exciting game.
"They're a very good, young, highly skilled team. They play us tough."
A preview to Thursday's game was staged last night at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena where the Blackhawks dropped by to meet the Wings.
As the NHL nears the midway point of its schedule, its three top teams - San Jose, Boston and Detroit - each have Newfoundlanders playing important roles.
Fermeuse-born Ryane Clowe, who resides in Mount Pearl, is fifth in scoring on the first-place Sharks (entering Wednesday's games) with 15 goals and 14 assists in 36 games. In Boston, Bonavista's Michael Ryder is fourth in Bruins' scoring (14-12-26 in 36 games) and has registered seven goals in his last eight games. As for Cleary, who missed eight games with an eye infection, he's got six goals and 18 points in 27 starts. Like Ryder, Cleary's on a bit of a roll of late with 11 points in his last dozen games.
"Isn't it awesome?" Cleary said. "It's about time, if you ask me. To be honest, I always believed that Newfoundland had a lot of undiscovered, talented hockey players with character and grit. But I'm not sure if I ever thought there would be three Newfoundlanders leading the three best teams in '08-09."
Like Clowe and Ryder, and just about every other Newfoundland born-and-bred hockey player, Cleary headed off to mainland Canada to pursue his hockey career as a teen. That was after he was initially identified at the Atlantic peewee hockey championship.
During the days of the American Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in St. John's, pro and junior scouts and front office personnel often passed through the city, taking the moment to drop by local rinks and check out local talent.
With Newfoundland now off the hockey map, it's gotten a bit harder to get noticed.
"With nothing there, no junior or minor pro, I do think young players will be at a disadvantage," Cleary said. "Especially not having junior hockey. That's such a crucial step in their development, being seen by scouts, getting drafted, etc. It's a lot easier for a kid to move to St. John's rather than move to Ontario.
"And playing senior hockey isn't going to cut it. My advice would be to move away from home and go play hockey where you can be seen on nightly basis. If I didn't leave at 14 I wouldn't be in the NHL now. That's a fact. I followed (John) Slaney, (Dwayne) Norris, etc. I'm sure Ryder and Clowe followed me. It's really sad that we lost our junior team."
And speaking of junior hockey, yes, Cleary is keeping an eye to the world junior championship in Ottawa.
Despite his scoring prowess in Belleville, Ont. back in the day, Cleary was cut from the national junior team three years running. But any feeling of bitterness has long since dissipated.
"I actually feel, looking back now, that it helped me get to where I am today," said the Stanley Cup winner. "It was adversity that I had to face early in my career. It doesn't bug me at all that I never made the team. There have been players who made those teams and never went on to become NHLers.
"We have different nationalities on our team and myself and Drapes (Kris Draper) always take action when Canada plays Sweden, the U.S., Russia, etc.
"The one thing I like about this year's tournament is that Angelo Esposito made the team. I'm really happy for him."
Esposito, a Montreal native, had been cut from the national junior team three straight years before finally making this year's squad.
"I couldn't have him have that record all by himself," Cleary laughed.
Q: You're in the first year of a new contract paying you $2.5 million per season. Any big purchases?
A: "Nothing yet. Wife won't allow it (laughing). We have a home in Scottsdale, Ariz. and two vehicles already. Although I would like to get a new car. So far, I haven't been able to persuade the wife yet on that. I'm working on it as we speak."
Q: What's on your IPod?
A: "Green Day, U2 and The Killers. Before games, I run the music in the locker room and we have a mixture."
Q: What's your favourite movie, sports or otherwise.
A: "Braveheart."
Q: Who's had the biggest impact on your career?
A: "That has to be my dad, and (minor hockey coach) Dick Power. Dad is obvious as to why he had a big impact. He's always there for me every day, no matter what. Dick was special because he saw something in me when I was real young and had the confidence to send me away. He was like a second dad. He would also teach me life lessons as well."
Q: What's your favourite sporting moment?
A: "Lifting the Cup last June. A lifetime dream come true."
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05/01/09
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