Clarkson Takes the Plunge

The following article appeared in the January 10 issue of The Watertown Daily Times.

By Cap Carey

POTSDAM - Ranked among the nation's best teams, there's no doubting the ability of the Clarkson University men's hockey players on frozen water.

The wet variety, however, is another issue.

But, taking advantage of the mid-semester break, Clarkson's players took to the pool on Tuesday afternoon and conducted a team-building session under the tutelage of Dan Davis, the school's wellness coordinator.

Clarkson's players spent about two hours in the water, competing in various odd relay races, including one in which players were required to hold either a rubber fish, pig or chicken in their mouths while they walked from one end of the pool to another. The day ended with a 15-minute water polo game with Matt Beca providing a goal in the final second to give his team a 3-2 win.

"It was nice to do something different," Clarkson defenseman Grant Clitsome said.

Tuesday's event was the seventh different team-building session the players have had this year.

Earlier this season the players navigated through a mud swamp and also spent time in a Native American sweat lodge. Next month the team plans to take a ride down the 1980 Winter Olympic bobsled track in Lake Placid.

"It enhances communication and a sense of well-being, not just as an individual, but as a team," Davis said of the various sessions. "Play is real important with team building. Normally it's much more concentrated. I see who interacts with who and who doesn't. I do a debriefing with the coaches. (Tuesday) was a less serious purpose. It was more about interacting."

Davis has incorporated similar exercises with almost all of Clarkson's athletic teams.

"This is a very unique type group of young people," Davis said of the men's hockey team. "They feel as a team. They lose as a team and they win as a team. I think they grasp the concept that no one player is greater than the sense of team."

How have the players reacted to some of the different activities?

"Most of the team is going into it with an open mind," Clitsome said. "I'm kind of excited about (the bobsled ride)."

Senior forward David Cayer was one of the goalies in the water polo game, making a save late in the contest to preserve the tie before Beca gave his team the win.

"It's so much fun," Cayer said. "The objective is to bring the whole team together. We're not in that kind of environment too often. It's been interesting. You get to try new things."