KURT
WRIGHT
Robert Morris
Sr. | F | Barnstable, Mass.
Wright is a leader at Robert Morris, his third stop in
college hockey.
Key
Statistics: Wright had seven goals for the first-year
Colonials, good for a tie for third on the team, despite scoring
just one after Christmas. Playing in all 33 games, he registered
13 points and only four minor penalties. He also finished
second on the team in shots on goal (82), perhaps a reflection
of his attempt to lead a roster full of freshmen and a handful
of sophomores. He was the only upperclassman on the squad.
What He Does: Switch teams every couple of
months. At least that’s what it seemed like during his
first few years of college hockey. Wright started out as a
freshman at New Hampshire, for which he practiced but never
suited up. He said he got the picture that he wasn’t
going to be a major part of the Wildcats’ future, so
he transferred to Findlay in hopes of being a bigger piece
of the puzzle. In Wright’s first season with the Oilers
– 2003-04 – the school folded the hockey program,
leaving him homeless again. That’s when RMU coach Derek
Schooley came along with a scholarship offer that prevented
Wright from giving the pro ranks a shot.
The Bigger Picture: As the oldest player
on the team by a couple of years, Wright would have become
a locker-room leader no matter what. Fortunately for the Colonials,
that’s one of his strong points. Well-spoken and focused,
Wright was an appreciated aide to a coaching staff trying
to acclimate nearly two dozen players to college life and
college hockey at the same time. He will serve his second
term as team captain this year, and also will be expected
to produce a bit more on the offensive end as the Colonials
embark on a realistic journey to escape the CHA basement.
According to Wright: "I’m more
of a skilled player – a shooter, a trigger guy with
a real good work ethic. People have always looked to me as
a mature person who makes good decisions.”
