Re: SLU 2009-2010 Season
Calgary article on Peverley
Peverley endures long road to the NHL
John Down, Calgary Herald
Published: Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Talk about perseverance or flying under the radar and you could talk about Rich Peverley.
Four years of U.S. college hockey, stints in the East Coast Hockey League, the American Hockey League and, as a walk-on, finally landing a fragile job in the National Hockey League.
Undrafted and then unwanted, the 27-year-old from Guelph, Ont., now is a prominent member of the Atlanta Thrashers.
"He had a tremendous amount of upside and we needed some help," smiled Thrashers head coach John Anderson, following Tuesday's brief practice at the Stampede Corral. "We were a team that had an opportunity for him because we were floundering.
"We brought him in, put him on our second line with (Ilya) Kovalchuk and he was flying and has been ever since."
How about 10 goals and 26 points in 27 games for the six-foot, 200-pounder who was ignored by the NHL in his draft years and then waived by the Nashville Predators midway through last season.
But the Thrashers wanted him before he hit the waiver wire. Anderson, who coached in the AHL, was totally familiar with Peverley from his minor-league days. Atlanta GM Don Waddell even tried to make a trade for him, but that fell through and then, bing, there he was for the taking.
"Fortunately or unfortunately, we were second or third last in the league, so we got to pick first," added Anderson.
"There were five claims on him, but we got to bat first."
The coach was looking to beef up his offence with Peverley, a 30-goal scorer in both the ECHL and AHL, and he hasn't disappointed.
"I've just been given an opportunity to play a lot of minutes, key minutes . . . power play, penalty kill, the last minute of the game and whenever you play a lot, you're going to develop a lot of confidence," said Peverley.
"I always felt I could play at the NHL level . . . it's just that it takes me awhile to adjust. Even my first year in the ECHL, it took me awhile to adjust to the pace. It was a step and once I got to the American league, I felt I could be a good player and then I had it in my sights to be in the National league.
"Once I started to feel confident and be able to use my speed and offensive skills, I felt I could be a good offensive player."
But it wasn't easy. He was always having to prove himself to the doubters, even after he was given a chance.
"Nashville gave me an opportunity to play, get my foot in the door," he said. "They could have easily called up drafted guys, but I was a free agent, walked on and they gave me an opportunity to play, get some exposure, so I'll always be thankful for that.
"A lot of it is being in the right place at the right time. I could have easily been back in the American league last year and I was committed to working my way back up if that was the case, but I was lucky and got the opportunity here.
"But I'm not sure I would have got the opportunity to play as much as I have anywhere else."
Which may or may not be an accurate statement. He could have continued on as a diamond in the rough, a third- or fourth-liner with little playing time if not for the gut feelings of Anderson.
"They knew my game and I think that comfort level . . . that I didn't have to show them what my strengths were . . . I kind of came in, played almost 20 minutes the first game and ever since then I've been able to play a lot," said Peverley.
Given his start to this season, which will be his second full one in the NHL, is it safe to say his period of adjustment is over?
"You can always be better," he said. "I haven't been going so good lately. I was off to a good start . . . I just want to prove I can be a good player in the league."
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)! As we enter a new decade, lets hope for some new banners in Appleton (for both programs)!!!
