By Jack Borenstein
Tribune Correspondent
One is an American who is finishing his collegiate career. The other has played for Canada and the US, and is beginning his collegiate ice apprenticeship. Noah Ruden and Jason Bailey are part of the University of Michigan Wolverines’ current quest for playoff success in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).
Ruden, 23, was born in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. He participated in soccer and baseball but found hockey more to his liking in terms of intensity, and a better opportunity to develop his goalie skills. He played for Tri-City Storm in the junior developmental United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2001-2002 posting a 20-16-4 record (4 shutouts), 2.95 goals against average and .903 save percentage.
“The USHL was a great playing experience, encountering a pro schedule and being helped in accelerating and developing my game,” he said.
Ruden selected University of Michigan because of its highly reputable hockey, and educational programs.
“The decision was made easy with my parents and sisters having attended there, and the university being located close to home.”
Bailey, 18, who plays right wing, was born in Nepean, Ont. He was a shortstop and pitcher in baseball but ultimately chose hockey, having grown up following the Ottawa Senators. As well, he was following in his older hockey-playing brother’s footsteps.
In 2003-04 with the Nepean Raiders of the Central Junior Hockey League, he tallied 14 goals and 14 assists.
“We had a really great team that went to the Royal Bank Cup (symbolic of Canadian Junior ‘A’ hockey supremacy),” he said.
Chris Byrne, Raiders head coach, said Bailey developed his game well during his time with the team.
“Jason was a hard-working, up-and-down physical winger who liked to forecheck, and had a good shot,” Byrne said.
Bailey has achieved success in international hockey. He played on Team Ontario, which captured Gold at the 2004 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Taking advantage of dual Canadian-US citizenship (his mother being born in Long Island, NY), he participated with the US National Under-18 Development team in 2004-05, notching 7 goals and 12 assists. He earned Gold medals with US Under-18 teams at: 2004 Compuware Four Nations Cup, 2005 Five Nations Tournament in Sweden and 2005 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in the Czech Republic.
“Never imagined growing up in Canada ever wearing an American hockey uniform, but I am half American,” he said. “I play all out to win every game, no matter the opponent or country. It was a great experience visiting and playing in other countries, and it was tremendous in terms of developing my game.”
Ruden was a back-up goalie during his first few years at Michigan, which was a tough adjustment at first.
“I worked hard at practices and with the coaches,” he said. “Starting goalie Al Montoya and I constantly bounced ideas off each other, which helped improve our overall games.”
He achieved Academic All-Big Ten Conference, and received Michigan’s Athletic Academic Achievement Award, during his Sophomore season. He was 7-2 in his junior year, 1.34 goals against average and a .953 save percentage. His goaltending style is full butterfly, and admired Patrick Roy as an innovator of that particular style. “Being left-handed, I watch Thomas Vokoun from Nashville and Jose Theodore from Colorado and analyze how they handle situations I have faced during games.”
His physical regimen involves light lifting and biking during the regular season with lifts, various distance running and strength training in the off season.
Bailey was drafted in the third round, 63rd overall, of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
“You never know what happens on draft day, so I was extremely pleased to be selected by Anaheim.” He didn’t attend Mighty Ducks training camp, focusing on making an immediate impression in his rookie season with the Maize and Blue. He hopes to improve each season at Michigan, which will aid in his quest to make the NHL.
“My playing style is high energy and physical, getting the team going any way possible and chipping in on offence,” Bailey said.
The current Wolverines season used a two-goalie system, for the first time in 15 seasons. Ruden said head coach (and former NHL player) Red Berenson informed him and freshman netminder Billy Sauer of the decision before the season, which was appreciated by both.
“Coach Berenson commands and deserves respect from all the players, who should earn the respect of the coaches in return.”
Ruden played 18 regular season games in 2005-06 with a 7-7-1 record (one shutout), a 2.83 goals against average and .911 save percentage.
Stan Matwijiw, Wolverines goaltender coach, comes out once or twice a week before practice with a couple of shooters, and does 40 minutes of drills. Ruden said Matwijiw “stays out for practices, observes and critiques. We each go over the positives and negatives, and talk more specifically about the overall game.”
Bailey has had an injury-plagued season, including a concussion incurred in late January, limiting him to 5 goals and 2 assists in 22 games “It’s unbelievable to be playing at Michigan, given their great hockey tradition. Coach Berenson knows so much about hockey, which can only help my development over the next few years.”
The Wolverines in mid-March were ranked 11th in NCAA Division I hockey’s USA Today poll. They are striving to be CCHA champion and receive an automatic berth to the 16-team NCAA Tournament. At press time they had advanced to the CCHA Tournament semi-finals, sweeping Ferris State two straight. The finale was a hard fought 3-2 win, with Ruden stopping a breakaway in the third period.
Berenson remarked, “The game was on the line, we had maybe our worst defensive breakdown and Noah made that save. You hope he makes the save that can make the difference, and that was it.”
Ruden was touched by the crowd’s loud sendoff, for his last ever game at Michigan.
“You don’t think people know you, and then you come and help this team win and fans recognize that. It felt great and wonderful.”
Bailey stated his first collegiate playoff games were much more intense in terms of pace and physicality, than the regular season.
“I am looking forward to playing before a big crowd at Joe Louis Arena (site of CCHA Tournament on Mar.17-18),” he said.
Ruden’s hobbies include PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and movies. He hopes to pursue hockey at some level next year. He majored in communications and was an intern with the ABC affiliate in Detroit last summer.
Bailey is majoring in Kinesiology, and received the Wally and Mickey Grant Scholarship for Men’s Ice Hockey.
Noah Ruden and Jason Bailey have taken different paths in their hockey careers. Should be fascinating to see how each carves their individual place in pro hockey, in the coming years.
Jack Borenstein can be emailed at j_borenstein@hotmail.com.
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