Mallards’ shy guy Rycroft plans to pump up volume

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By Craig DeVrieze | Wednesday, October 18, 2006 12:47 AM CDT | () comments

You’d better believe Jesse Rycroft knows his weaknesses.

Jokingly told his sophomore-season duties with the Quad-City Mallards will include conducting his own radio talk show, the painfully shy Canadian shrugs.

“That makes sense,’’ he says. “Just a lot of awkward silences.’’

The success of Rycroft’s second pro season might be determined by how well the 24-year-old left winger knows his strengths.

The 6-foot, 230-pounder isn’t likely to lead the team in scoring when all is said and done, but having pocketed the only two goals of the season so far, he leads them right now.

That is not as improbable as you might think, never mind that Rycroft scored only nine goals as a rookie last year.

He scored a pair of goals in the team’s seven-game playoff loss to the now defunct Danbury Trashers, a sure sign of growth toward the end of his rookie season.

Rycroft enters the 2006-2007 season saying he feels much more comfortable with the professional game and in his own abilities, He also brings an apparent willingness to put the puck on net.

In addition to his two third-period goals in last week’s 9-2 loss at Muskegon, Rycroft had a pair of solid scoring chances rebuffed by Fury netminder Ryan Cyr.

“His attitude is right,’’ Mallards coach Brian Curran says. “I think he is ready for a big year.’’

Were it in his nature to boast, the soft-spoken Rycroft might agree.

“I think I have got a little more confidence this year already,’’ he concedes with a little coaxing. “I feel like I belong a little more. I’m just more comfortable on the ice.’’

Particularly, he is more comfortable playing alongside last year’s top Mallards’ scorers, goals leader Chad Woollard and leading assist-man Glenn Detulleo.

Rycroft admits he was a little intimidated playing with Woollard early last year.

“He is a good player and you don’t want him mad at you,’’ says Rycroft, a native of Scarsborough, Ontario.

Curran moved Rycroft to the first line in the third period at Muskegon, and the results were telling. The Mallards left Michigan feeling they had at least outbattled the Fury in that final 20 minutes.

“They really looked good,’’ Curran said of the frontline trio.

Woollard and Detulleo welcome the addition of Rycroft, who is big enough to clear space for them and whose central strength is his ability to battle for the puck along the boards and to keep it once he’s got it.

“He is one of the strongest players on the puck in the league — if not the strongest,’’ says his coach.

Woollard welcomes that.

“It is great to have a guy like that on the team, and especially on my line,’’ Woollard said. “When he has the puck, not too many guys are going to get it away from him. I just have to get open and we just have to get a chemistry going.

“With me, him and Glenny, it should be no problem to get a lot of shots on net.’’

It won’t be, so long as Rycroft is willing to shoot the puck.

His nine goals came on 65 shots last season, which gave him a higher shooting percentage than either of his linemates. His shot total needs to go up this coming season, Curran says, particularly if he’s playing along prime defensive target Woollard.

“He is going to be open more than I am,’’ Woollard agrees. “He just needs to shoot it.’’

Quietly, Rycroft says he is willing to try.

“It is only one game, but I do feel pretty comfortable on the ice,’’ he said.

And a little more comfortable off it. The soft-spoken rookie was a prime target last year for veteran’s abuse.

He is trying to dish it out this season to rookie roomie Marcus Reszka, but that might not be his strength.

“I have been pretty hard on Marcus so far,’’ the shy guy claims before adding, “Hopefully, he doesn’t take it to heart.’’

Craig DeVrieze can be contacted at (563) 333-2610 or cdevrieze@qctimes.com