THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 15, 1996 TAG: 9603150614
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Ferdo and Slavica Majic not only will watch the Hampton Roads Admirals and South Carolina Stingrays play hockey tonight, they'll also watch a 25-year example of perseverance and hard work.
Their son.
It's the first time they've ever ventured out of Sault St. Marie, Ontario, to see Ron Majic play with the Admirals. Hampton Roads and the ECHL isn't where many people thought Majic would wind up.
They viewed his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame, watched him struggle to skate fluidly, and wrote him off. At best, they pegged him for a fighter. The Huntington Blizzard had him for 21 games during the 1993-94 season, and his role was clear. He had 161 penalty minutes before moving to Louisville. There, he tacked on another 74 penalty minutes in eight games.
Goals? Don't ask. Assists? Three at each stop.
``I wasn't the best player, but I still wanted to be around hockey, so I did whatever I had to do to stay in the game,'' Majic said after Thursday's practice at Scope. ``I loved the game, but as I got older, I noticed that my skills weren't as good as other players. I still wanted to play. I still wanted to get better.''
Last season, ex-Admirals John Porco and Trevor Halverson told coach John Brophy they had a friend who could help the team. Brophy took him on.
``He's the one who took a chance on me,'' Majic said. ``I wasn't much of a hockey player when I came here. He can take someone and make something out of him - something I'll never forget about the guy.''
Brophy brushes off any bouquets about the impact he's had on Majic, saying it's just part of the job. But it's clear he looked at Majic differently than other coaches had.
``No one ever let him play, as far as I know,'' Brophy says, shrugging. ``A player knows he has to go out and do his job physically. He does that without anyone asking him. But then, he wants a little reward. He wants to play. Ron isn't a stupid guy. He's a very smart guy.''
And a guy totally committed to hard work. Brophy lengthened Majic's skating stride, allowing him to take advantage of his leg drive. Brophy worked on his puck-handling, on how he used the stick around the opposing goal. You name it, Brophy has had an influence on how Majic does it.
Statistically, the results haven't been eye-popping - until you compare them to the past. In 39 games, Majic has nine goals, seven assists. He already has one point more than he accumulated in 51 games last season. His 193 penalty minutes is but fourth-highest on the team.
``He does very well on the power play, and he's very good around the net,'' Brophy said. ``When he gets the time, he gets a good shot. There's nothing wrong with the guy. He's in great condition and he plays with intensity all the time. He can sit there for three or four shifts, then come out and be just fine. A lot of guys can't do that.''
Majic is an unabashed Brophy fan. He says the reasons go beyond hockey. Majic says the fiery coach has taught him something about life.
``I had a good work ethic, but he's shown me how to work harder,'' he said. ``He's helped me with how to treat people, how to leave what happens on the ice on the ice. Because of Broph, I don't know what the limit is right now. This could be it, though I don't want to think that. I want to think I can always improve my skating. I can always understand the game better. I can always work for consistency. And someday, I'll put those lessons to use in the real world.''
Ferdo and Slavica couldn't have said it better. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ron Majic says Admirals coach John Brophy has worked him hard to
make something out of him.
by CNB