MacArthur: Thunder’s invaluable veteran leader
Adirondack opens 6-game homestand Wednesday
GLENSFALLS, N.Y. >> Peter MacArthur, more than anyone else on the Thunder, knows the clock is ticking both for himself and the team.
At 33, the former Shenendehowa High School and Boston University star is Adirondack’s oldest player, but still skating with the speed, determination and skill of a 20-year- old.
The difference is that he also brings a veteran’s experience to the ice, and perhaps more importantly, the locker room.
“I’m very grateful I can be on a team like this at this point in my career,” said MacArthur, a Clifton Park resident who turned pro in 2008. “Having a good team around you and smart players makes it easier. It’s fun to come to work every day.”
The Thunder (31-20-5-2) open a six-game homestand Wednesday (7 p.m.) against Worcester (25-225- 4), the first of 14 games left on their regular-season schedule. Adirondack is second in the ECHL’s North Division with a sevenpoint lead over Brampton, which is fighting for the fourth and final playoff berth.
Two years ago, MacArthur was team captain and a league All- Star, leading the Thunder to their first division title in franchise history.
Last season he signed with the Allen Americans, near Dallas, so he could be closer to his wife and
young son, as her career has taken her to the Lone Star State for the time being. But he got speared, a vicious penalty, and wound up playing only 22 games.
Last spring, he watched somewhat jealously from a distance as the Thunder went all the way to the Eastern Conference finals.
When the season ended, realizing his career might be winding down, MacArthur came back to Adirondack.
MacArthur’s parents – his dad, Bill, coached him at Shen – and other family members are a valuable support network and get to see him play regularly in Glens Falls. However, it’s not the same as coming back to his own home after a long, gru- eling road trip.
“I’d love to play as long as my body would let me,” MacArthur said. “But family-wise it’s a challenge now. My son’s almost 4, so I’m missing a lot.”
In 43 games, he has 11 goals and 25 assists and had a four-point night (1g, 3a) last Saturday in Adirondack’s 8-1 victory at Manchester.
In January, he suffered another jarring injury, a hard hit along the boards that knocked him out of several games worth of action. But MacArthur used his time wisely, perhaps indicating future career goals, by donning a suit and getting behind the bench as an assistant to Head Coach Alex Loh.
His presence alone was invaluable as the Thunder skated to two straight road wins against the Florida Everblades, the Eastern Con- ference’s top team.
MacArthur has played in at least two league championship series during his long career, so he knows what it takes to reach the postseason, and advance after getting there.
Making the playoffs is Adirondack’s first order of business.
Of the Thunder’s 14 remaining games, 10 are at home where they’re 16- 64- 0 compared to 15-14-1-2 on the road. So the schedule would seem to favor the Thunder, if they can take care of business.
It’s a very big “if” because several key players including league Rookie of the Month John Edwardh have either been called up to the AHL, or they’re nursing nagging injuries.
The Thunder dropped two of three games last weekend as star goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos was sidelined by the flu.
MacArthur, despite last season’s absence, is a big part of the winning culture Adirondack has developed the past few years.
“There’s a certain way you’re expected to act when you come to this organization,” Loh said. “We’re starting to get phone calls from agents looking to place guys here.”
MacArthur doesn’t mince words: “People inside these walls are awesome,” he said. “If you’re not a good person, you’re probably not going to last 48 hours in the room.”
He’s one of the most influential players there, a role model about the sacrifice and hard work that separates champions from alsorans at this time of year.
“We need to keep our roster intact and stay healthy,” he said. “If we can do that and score some timely goals, I think we have a chance.”