SLU Remembers Lesson of Ice Storm

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

By Max DelSignore

As Joe Marsh's eyes absorbed the devastation left behind by the ice storm, he wrapped his mind around one surefire conclusion.

It was time to for the St. Lawrence University men's hockey coach to start teaching.

Marsh vividly recalls what the chaotic scene in the village of Canton was like around this time 10 years ago. With the community practically crippled by the ice storm of 1998, he and his players put down their skates and offered help.

"It was one of the most teachable moments of my life," Marsh said. "The big thing was I didn't want them to do it because we're the St. Lawrence hockey team. I wanted the guys to get involved in the community on a more personable level."

Current Saints assistant coach Bob Prier knows exactly what Marsh expected of them. Then a junior forward for SLU, Prier and a few of his teammates were scheduled to read to students at the F.S. Banford Elementary School in Canton the morning after the storm. Instead, Prier assisted the elderly and moved them from the Riverside Drive apartments and the nursing home to SUNY Canton's gymnasium. Prier also pumped out flooded basements, while others folded towels and served meals.

"We were fortunate to be around a place like St. Lawrence and a town like Canton where everybody rallied together," Prier said. "I think the whole community made something as drastic as the ice storm and made it much better than it could've been."

Marsh gathered his players on occasion in the following days, preaching a pivotal lesson. He told them to look beyond hockey and be grateful for what they have.

"I told them about why we're playing this game as opposed to how," Marsh said. "It's the camaraderie and being there for each other that transcends the sport."

No one thought about hockey since the ice at Appleton Arena was ruined by a power outage. Marsh stayed as far away from the rink as possible.

"I didn't have the heart to look out there," Marsh said. "It was depressing. I like the winter, and I didn't mind being out. Everything was entombed in ice, except where the ice was supposed to be."

Prier said some players skated on the frozen football field for fun, but the Saints didn't practice until the night before a road game at Vermont. SLU practiced for one hour at Massena Arena. They managed to nab a 3-2 victory over the Catamounts charged on pure emotion, but they were psychologically drained in a 4-1 loss to Dartmouth.

Even though St. Lawrence finished with a 9-20-4 record and tied for ninth in the ECAC, Marsh said his team didn't come close to underachieving.

"That team set the tone for 2000 when we made the Frozen Four," Marsh said. "The ice storm played a significant role in laying the foundation about what's important about the sport and this program."