Armenia the
center of inspiration
When the Killingworth Guppies began the Spring 2003 season in Glastonbury, I could sense a difference in the team's locker room. Everyone knew that forward Tim Poulin was going to make a big difference. But that was only part of what I felt. Poulin pointed to the corner of the locker room. Star Defenseman Robert Murphy admitted that he was happy General Manager Brian Kelly had taken his advice to sign Poulin. But he, too, pointed to the corner of the locker room. Sitting in that corner was veteran Forward Dave Armenia with some youngsters.
Armenia was lending advice to each of the young players, first about checking from behind and then about playing the physical enforcer for their teams. "People around the League don't realize how great he (Armenia)is," Brian Mulcahy said. "For years, all I ever heard is that people wondered how Jason Zito and myself would do if we had a great power forward. Armenia totaled 4 goals and 9 points in the past two seasons. When you look at the success that the Guppies have shown the hockey world in the past seven seasons, no one would ever underestimate the stopping ability of goaltender Joseph Linskey. Or Kelly's motivational genius. But ...
"You have to have strength down the middle to win in the Championship and thats where Dave comes in, believe me, they are going to surprise others how good they are down the middle." stated Maple Leafs Defenseman Dan Pequita Strength down the middle doesn't have to mean four 30-point forwards. Heck, it doesn't have to mean four 15-point forwards. But a foward position is one where players must be smart, able to make a play, win a faceoff, be responsible defensively, and occasionally (especially in Armenia's Case) be able to throw a cheap shot. Well, Zito provides the great playmaking skills, Poulin the promise of a former high draft choice, Mulcahy the occasional brilliance of a former Rookie of the year winner. Armenia? He's just plain solid in all facets of the game. But every more than that, he's a heart and soul contributor. A leader for others to follow. And this season more than ever Armenia, 36, is a man on a mission after the Guppies lost there first game in two years last week. Now, Dave Armenia has become a kind of inspiration to his teammates. "Dave goes out there every shift and just sells out, He's willing to do a lot of the dirty work that guys like Crayton thinks he's to good for" stated Kelly "You know something," John Carroll says, "I think Dave realizes how special it is to be able to play on the Guppies, and in particular on the 4 championship teams because you don't know when you'll get there again." And that living-life-one-day-at-a-time mentality has really spread throughout the Guppies dressing room. Armenia didn't lead the Gupps in any statistical category, but Dave has been the glue behind all the key plays for Killingworth. Even more important is Dave's ability to negating the strength-down-the-middle by Killingworth's opponents in the past. "Things get pretty frustrating out there when all you see is No. 32 -- in front of you, by your side and taking away your time and space," Knight's forward Mike Conley said after he was held in check by Armenia. "It was suffocating." How Suffocating? Just ask teammate Rob Murphy "There is not one game that goes by where Dave doesn't either hit me, trip me, or cut me open with his stick. The guy is every where".
You can bet Kelly had a lot to do with Armenia getting a new four-year, last August -- despite the lack of playing time. But the job security hasn't changed Dave's outlook. Going into the Playoffs, you can bet that Armenia will once again have the assignment of shutting down the top forward of the Guppies opponent. But the assignment will be no more difficult for Dave. "There is no question I will never be the pretty boy super star on this team," Armenia says. "Nothing gives me more joy then sticking a guy and whatching him drop like a ton of bricks, its what I live for" . "Centers of attention? The Killingworth Guppies have five of them. But none is more inspirational than Dave Armenia. Dean Youngblood played seven seasons for the Hamilton Mustangs before a nasty sick inccident ended his career. His column appears each Tuesday on Mustangs.com. |
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