November 9, 2007

College Notebook: Clarkson's Marks Man Takes on Bigger Role

The following article appeared November 8 on InsideCollegeHockey.com.

By Joe Gladziszewski

When Clarkson forward Shawn Weller opted to sign a professional contract with the Ottawa Senators last spring, just weeks after helping the Golden Knights back to the NCAA Tournament and back to the top of ECAC Hockey with a team-high 19 goals and 40 points, it was clear that his contributions and style of play would be missed in Potsdam.

But the Golden Knights' coaching staff saw an opportunity for someone to step in and pick up the slack for Weller's departure, and turned to a freshman who played in 37 games last year and produced only six points in a fourth-line role. And while Tim Marks' point production was vastly different from Weller, he did bring attributes that made Weller a highly regarded college player.

Specifically, the 6-foot-3, 217-pound frame of Marks compares favorably with Weller's physical stature (6-1, 200). Clarkson's coaches challenged Marks to get better over the summer, specifically improving his skating and fitness, and he responded by coming back to campus ready to make a difference after working out with former Clarkson stars Craig Conroy and Chris Clark.

 Complete article can be accessed via InsideCollegeHockey.com by clicking here.