May 29, 1998

Bears make their mark in NHL

Cory Cross with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning

To say Cory Cross is a success story would be a bit of an understatement.

When the teenager from Lloydminster, Alberta enrolled in a phys ed course at the University of Alberta many years ago, no one would have predicted it would lead to a career in the National Hockey League and the opportunity to play in two world championships.

The six-foot-five, 220 lb. education student was taking a hockey course under the guidance of legendary Golden Bear Hockey coach Bill Moores. Moores recognized Cross's skills and set him up with the junior B Edmonton Royals. After a year with the junior team and studying at university at the same time, Cross made the Golden Bears squad in 1990.

Two years later he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL.

Cross played the next full season with the Bears before being called up to Atlanta, Tampa Bay's farm team in the International Hockey League. His final exams were deferred and when his stint in Atlanta was finished, he returned to Edmonton, wrote the exams and graduated with a Bachelor of Education.

"It had a lot to do with being in the right place at the right time," said Cross from his home in Tampa Bay, Florida. "Somebody heard about me and told somebody else and then I was chosen by the team."

It also had a lot to do with hard work, determination and smart hockey sense.

"He's so successful because he plays a very simple game," said Scott McDonald, who played with Cross with the Royals and then three years in university. "He does all the little things right. He played the same game at the university as he does in the NHL. "The biggest compliment to be paid to a steady defencemen is that you hardly notice him," said McDonald. "You don't notice him making mistakes because he rarely makes any."

Without his years at the university, Cross, 27, obviously would not be where he is today.

"Coach Moore, Peter Esdale and Dan Peacock taught me a lot," said Cross, who recently returned from the world championships in Zurich, Switzerland. "They provided me the opportunity to keep playing hockey when I otherwise might not have been able to." During his reign as a Golden Bear, the defenceman was part of the 1991-92 national championship team and in 1993 was named to the Canada West University Athletics Association All-Star second team.

"At university we were so close as a team since we were with each other for three years and knew each other so well. Being as tight a team as we were and winning a national championship made it so special," he said.

But Cross's career highlight was when he won the world championship in Helsinki in 1997. "It was probably the biggest thrill of my life," he said. "It was great to win nationals at the university level but when you advance levels and win a championship it is even more thrilling."

The skill level combined with faster, harder-hitting hockey is the difference between the NHL and university hockey, said Cross, but he is still surprised more players in the university system do no make it up to the NHL.

"It's surprising because there were a lot of good hockey players in university," said Cross. "Out of our team that won nationals, probably 10 guys went on to play pro, but most of them are in Europe.

"I'm surprised there aren't more in North America."

Cross has one more year left in his contract with Tampa Bay before he becomes a free agent. After an incredible journey from junior B in Alberta to two world championships and five years in the NHL, the Golden Bear alumnus will likely continue on a successful, determined path. It's not a matter of being in the right place at the right time for Cory Cross. Not anymore.

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