 |
|
Dorr Receives Metro Hockey Player of the Year Roseville hockey player Michael Dorr had an injury-free career from peewees until his junior season in 2005-06. Then the injuries came, one after another. He hurt his wrist in preseason and his shoulder in the section playoffs. And, in the offseason, Dorr suffered a broken nose and a sprained ankle. His just-completed senior season went much better. It was pretty much pain-free until the top-seeded Raiders lost 4-0 to White Bear Lake last week in the Class 2A, Section 3 semifinals. And that was a different kind of anguish for him. "This is sort of pathetic," Dorr said Sunday. "I've never played in a state tournament at any level." A family tradition was broken. His older brother Sam and sister Franny had both played on Roseville teams in the high school state tournament. But Michael, a quick, 5-10, 170-pound forward, did all he personally could to get another Raiders team there. And he succeeded so often that the player teammates teasingly called "waterboy" -- when he was out of the lineup because of injuries -- is the Star Tribune's 2007 Metro Player of the Year. "Consistently, day in and day out, [Dorr] has been the guy who makes something happen for us," Roseville coach Jeff Pauletti said. "... He's such an intense player. He wants to win. He's a joy to have around. To me, he's like one of my kids." Dorr led the Raiders to a 22-4-1 record, scoring 38 goals and assisting on 33 for 71 points. In his four-year varsity career, he finished with 176 points. "He reminds me of just a very good pond player who understands the game and has that fifth and sixth gear," White Bear Lake coach Tim Sager said. Part of Dorr's hockey savvy probably came from the 2½-month stretch last season when he was out because of torn tendons in his right wrist. "Looking at [hockey] from the bench gave me a different perspective," Dorr said. "... It helped me in the long run to see where I needed to be, things I could do better." While on the Raiders bench with a cast on his arm, Dorr had to wear a helmet like his teammates since he was underage. He felt "silly."I tried to be vocal and get [the players] riled up in the locker room and filled their water bottles," Dorr said. "Hey, waterboy," joked his teammates. That Christmas, his secret Santa -- Pauletti -- gave Dorr a pail and the movie "Waterboy" as holiday gifts. "That was kind of funny," Dorr said. Playing against Dorr was not. "He's got a great shot," said Cretin-Derham Hall's Ben Hause, the first team All-Metro goalie. "He can pick a corner no matter where he is on the ice. And his hands -- if he is 1-on-1 with a guy, he can stickhandle around the guy. He has great hands." Dorr had originally committed to Minnesota Duluth in January 2006. "It was my dream to play college hockey in the WCHA, and it was right there in front of me at age 16," he said. "And I said yes because at the time no other schools were looking at me." Dorr got plenty of looks this season and last month changed his commitment to the Gophers for 2008-09. He plans to play next season in the United States Hockey League for the Des Moines Buccaneers, for whom he played 12 games last fall. "Obviously we didn't get as far as we wanted," Dorr said of the Raiders, "but overall this season was really fun. ... I was thinking about staying in Des Moines full-time but, after growing up with all these guys, coming back my senior year was something that I don't regret. I'm glad I did it." So were Roseville fans. Return to News and Press Release page |
 |