Sophomore forward Conor Williams faces-off against DU at the Rec Center on Oct. 31, 2008. Despite an injury in the second period Williams returned in the third to help the Buffs defeat the Pioneers 7-2. (CU Independent file/Molly Maher)
Leadership, finesse and threat are just a few of the words used to describe forward Conor Williams� presence on the CU club hockey team. Williams is considered one of the best players in the league, and the Buffs� secret weapon when the puck is on their side.
�Lately, he is bringing a lot of leadership,��said freshman defender and teammate David Starr. �He�s got a great shot, probably one of the best I have ever played with in my life. For me, I just want to get him the puck, and I know that more than 80 percent of the time, it�s going to go in the net.�
His famous shot didn�t come without a lot of experience.
Williams has played since he was four years old, and ever since then hockey became a huge part of his life.�During his senior year, Williams went to a hockey prep school in Ohio, and before coming to CU, he took a year off of academics to pursue other athletic endeavors.
�I think I bring a good amount of experience, and leadership,� Williams said.��A lot of the guys look up to me and stuff even when I was younger.�
Starr and assistant coach Andy Stone all describe Williams as a finesse player more than an aggressive one.
Williams says it�s how he grew up.
�I have always been a finesse player my whole life,� Williams said.��I was real small growing up playing hockey. I wasn�t the most physical guy and I attribute that to just growing up and being smaller than the rest of the kids my age, and being fast.�
Starr said he�s not only skilled, but �at times he can be aggressive when he gets mad; he�s quick and he likes to get to the outside areas and be able to shoot, but he�ll mix it up.�
Williams� finesse doesn�t mean he hasn�t seen his fair share of hockey brawls.�He described one of the craziest fights he has seen in his career.
�In prep school, the last game of the season we were playing our rivals, and there was a line brawl and that is everyone on the ice, five guys fighting. The goalies even got into a little bit,� Williams said. �Everyone was yelling and screaming, and we�re down a couple of points. Just one little hit on our goalie led to a brawl.�I mean it was fun, and something I won�t forget.�
For Starr, he learned how talented Williams was very early in the season.
�In the beginning of the year, he had a four-goal game, and from then on I knew he was really good,� Starr said.
Stone has seen Williams� progress over the last two years, and knows what an asset he is to their team.
�Well, when he decides to play, he by far can be one of the best players in the league, nationwide,� Stone said. �He has all the potential in the world.�He�s got all the skill.�
As far as improvement from last year, Stone says he has seen his mentality improve tremendously.
�He�s figuring out he doesn�t have to do everything on his own.� Definitely passes a lot more and has become a lot more involved with the team instead of going out there and trying to do it all by himself,� Stone said.
But his most notable talent, always comes back to his shot.
�He�s always got that threat there, he�s just got one of the most wicked shots I have ever seen,� Stone said. �Anytime he�s got the puck, I know it�s a threat to go in.�
What can we expect from Williams in the next few years? Well, he�s optimistic about continuing to play after college, but time will tell.
�I got another year here, we�ll see what happens,� Williams said.��I know a lot of guys that have come out of this program and played in Europe, so that would definitely be fun for a year or two. �I am definitely keeping my options open; I�d love to keep playing wherever I end up, for as long as I can.�
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Gina Yocom at Gina.yocom@colorado.edu.
