February
5, 2003
INCH
Measures Up: Mike Kompon
 |
Miami's
Mike Kompon |
Miami's
Mike Kompon is in the midst of a textbook breakout season. The
Thunder Bay, Ontario, product scored 18 goals and added 27 assists
in his first two seasons with the RedHawks, certainly respectable
numbers. Now a junior, Kompon has nearly matched those numbers
–
he ranks tied for second in the CCHA in overall scoring with 15
goals and 23 assists and is a major reason Miami is in contention
for an NCAA Tournament berth.
Inside College Hockey tracked down Kompon following the RedHawks'
series at Michigan State last weekend.
Inside College Hockey: The RedHawks just endured a stretch during
which you were 2-7-1, but you’ve since split with Ferris
State and Michigan State. What’s made the difference over
the last four games?
Mike
Kompon: We just had to start being consistent again and
play hard. A lot of those games we played hard, but we didn’t
play hard the whole 60 minutes. In this league, it’s so
tough –
if you don’t play hard for a full 60 minutes, they’ll
score two or three goals on you. Just like (Saturday), there was
a 10-minute lapse, (Michigan State) scored two goals on us and
it’s tough to rebound against a good team like that.
INCH:
On a personal level, you’ve had a great season. Your numbers
for this year are almost equal to your totals for your first two
seasons combined. Are you doing anything differently this season,
or is it just a matter of confidence that comes with being an
upperclassman?
MK:
I’ve been trying to play hard every night. I think in the
past I’d take one night off and then one night on. The older
guys taught me that you’ve got to play hard or the coaches
get on you. I’m just trying to work hard every day in practice
and trying to be consistent. And I have to give a lot of credit
to my teammates. Without them, a lot of the goals I wouldn’t
get. I’ve been hanging around getting rebound goals, so
it’s my teammates, too. They’ve helped me a lot.
INCH:
There are only three seniors on your roster. As a junior, do you
feel like you’ve got to assume a leadership role with the
team because of the lack of seniors?
MK:
The thing about our seniors is, we’ve got three great leaders.
Those guys are our hardest workers day in and day out. Those are
the guys we turn to whenever we need help. They’re the centerpiece
of our team. Without them, I think we’d be in big trouble.
INCH:
You’ve never missed a game in your college career. Do you
take a lot of pride in that streak?
MK: I’ve
been lucky so far, knock on wood. We’ve got great trainers.
There are times I’ll be hurt and they’ll fix me up
right away. I feel lucky to get the chance to play every night,
because there are a lot of guys who don’t and would do everything
the can to get in there and I don’t want to lose my spot.
INCH:
The RedHawk roster consists of players from 12 different states
and provinces. With all these guys from varying backgrounds, does
it make for a unique locker room?
MK: We spend
a lot of time together and we all have a lot in common. We learn
from one another. One thing that helps us is we all stay (in Oxford)
in the summer. Once the season is over, we get ready for next
year. I think that really helps because we don’t leave each
other; we’re always there.
INCH:
Miami has been one of the nation’s most successful teams
at home this season. In your opinion, do you think it’s
crucial for you guys to get a home-ice berth for the first round
of the CCHA playoffs in order to make a run at the conference
title?
MK: It’s
always good to get home ice but I think our team, especially after
this weekend, is ready to play out of our home building. But everyone
wants to get home ice. That’s what we’re striving
for, so hopefully we can keep on working and get ready for Ohio
State, which is going to be a huge weekend. We love playing them.
It’ll be interesting to see how this all pans out.
INCH: Do you have a standard answer prepared for people
who asked you about going to Miami (Ohio) and think you attend
Miami (Fla.)? What do you say?
MK: Half an
hour away from Cincinnati. I don’t even bother. It’s
funny –
I’m in my third year (at Miami) now and my friends will
still say, “I’ll come down to the beach one weekend.”
I tell them, “There are no beaches. There’s none.”
Miami is kind of in the middle of nowhere, but it’s great
to be there.
