Crayton heats up at right time
For the better part of his Guppie's career, Marc
Crayton struggled to find the form that would make him a top
goal scorer for the Killingworth Guppies. But that was then, and this is now as the saying goes. Then, Crayton
was a forward with some of the most successful players
in Guppies history - Since 1995 Crayton has played on lines with Pete
Fink, Brian Kelly, Jason Prozzo, and Robert Murphy. Those players all
know the pain of playing with Crayton on their line "The kid was awful,
he couldn't hit the side of a barn" stated former Guppie Peter Fink
"I never looked to pass to Marc which resulted in me getting a ball hog
reputation". Now, Fink is in Charlotte and Prozzo is in Providence. Crayton
remains a Guppie and came into the spring 2003 season figuring to be a
huge part of Killingworth's offense. At first glance, his 14 goals
and 14 assists over the past two seasons would seem to validate
that fact. Still more his 10 goals and 15 points through the
first 6 games of this season have the fans in Killingworth buzzing. But now with the regular season more than half finished and the
playoffs no to far away, Crayton and linemates Tim
Poulin and Brian Mulcahy have found the spark the Guppies hope
ignites a long run into the playoffs.
"We're really starting to get to know where each other is
going," Mulcahy said after he and Crayton exploded
against the Blue Devils in a 9-0 win. Crayton scored four goals
and Mulcahy picked up four assists. "When you play with a guy
like Marc, your job is easy. I hate to pass but he's constantly
getting open." stated Poulin "I've been part of a great line with great
chemistry," Crayton said. "Now with the way we're playing,
it's there." It was the type of performance Crayton envisioned from the get-go
this season. Early on, Craytons' importance to the Guppies was accented
by coach Brian Kelly, who named him as an alternate captain back in 1995.
"With the move of Rob Murphy and myself to Defense guys were going to
have to step up their offensive roles" added Kelly. It was an honor and
a responsibility that Crayton craved. "I've been through a lot
the past eight years and I grew. I'm pretty confident about myself
and what I can do on the ice," Crayton said. "With this team
I've been through a lot and there's not too many guys that went through it
the last eight years. I know what it takes to win. I had a taste of
winning and I want to taste it again. So I've got to help the guys.
Obviously, I've got to do it first by setting a good example." A few days prior to the start of training camp this fall, Crayton
and Kelly sat down. At the meeting, Crayton let it be known that he
could do more. Kelly responded "Well he couldn't do less!" He
wanted to bring more, leadership. With Eight seasons under
his belt, Crayton said it was time. "It was about time" added
Murphy "I've been here since 1996 and we've all been waiting for Crayton
to wake up". "I wasn't going around it. I just said it straight out," Crayton
said of the meeting. "I want to be a leader on the ice and off the
ice."
"If you want to be the man, then you've got to walk like the man and
he's definitely tried to do that," Kelly said of Crayton.
"He's been open. He's been helpful. He knows what it takes to win. A lot
of these young players, they maybe didn't have to be responsible for it
(winning in the past), but now they have to be responsible for it." And
he has persevered. Kelly is a tough taskmaster and Crayton has
felt the burn of the captain's intense glare at points during the season.
The Guppies were their usual air-tight unit this season, but it took the
offense some time to build a cushion. The Guppies are winning, but too
many games are too close. Crayton is expected to find the
net. He wasn't. But that was then, and this is now. "With a guy like that, he's just one of those special players you
know he's going to get open," Tom Meirkiewicz said. "You
just have to give him time. "Crayton sucks but at least he's better than Kelly" stated
Guppies netminder Joseph Linskey "I know what I can do on the ice, what I can
accomplish," Crayton said. "But it doesn't take one guy. It
takes 11 guys on the roster to win games and to win championships."
"He's been given all the opportunities possible to become
a leader on this club," Poulin said. "This kid is a great
hockey player but lets face facts I'm better, when am I going to get
mine." And the scary thing is, Crayton thinks he's doing so much.
|
The Killingworth Guppies
A division of Killingworth Guppies Sports Net
and K-Town Sports Entertainment- www.killingworth-guppies.com