Tales from the New Jersey Devils Locker Room by Mike Kerwick

Author:Mike Kerwick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sports Publishing

CULTURE SHOCK

Culture shock is going from Jihlava, Czech Republic, to Hartford, Connecticut. Jihlava is the city where Bobby Holik was born. Hartford is the city where Bobby first got his start in the National Hockey League.

Then Bobby switched again. He was traded from Hartford, a relatively small market, to New Jersey, a market that attracts the New York City dailies.

“Coming to New Jersey was a great thing,” Holik said. “It was a time when the organization was finding its own identity.”

Bobby’s arrival coincided with the departure of goalie Sean Burke. On August 28, 1992, Burkey went north and Bobby came south, I’ve seen a lot of Bobby over the years, and he reminds me of Bryan Trottier, a guy I used to play with on the Islanders.

A few seasons after he arrived in New Jersey, Bobby was playing between Randy McKay and Mike Peluso on the unforgettable Crash Line.

“ [Coach Jacques Lemaire] just had a vision of what he wanted the team to be,” Holik said. “ You kind of accepted the role you were given and made the most of it.”

Jacques was good for Bobby. Then again, Jacques was good for a lot of the guys on those early ’90s Devils teams.

“He was one of the greatest influences on me in professional hockey,” Holik said. “When I turned pro and came to the NHL, he made the difference. He showed us how to win, how to play winning hockey.”

Winning made the culture shock disappear in a hurry.

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