Biega provides key mentorship for Red Wings’ defencemen
DETROIT Dennis Cholowski can easily locate his arena perch as a rabid young Vancouver Canucks fan at Rogers Arena. That path is much easier to navigate than finding his way in the NHL.
The Detroit Red Wings’ defenceman had a second home in Section 103, where the Langley native and his family supported the Canucks through hundreds of games.
It’s where Cholowski was in awe of the West Coast Express line of Brendan Morrison between Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi, and the artistry of Henrik and Daniel Sedin.
Cholowski, who missed a 2-1 loss in Edmonton on Friday with an upper-body ailment, is trying to become a big deal for the struggling Red Wings. Cholowski was a gametime decision for the Red Wings, who had lost four straight before facing the Canucks on Tuesday.
Gaining career traction is a physical and mental challenge, especially when you’re not winning, you were selected 20th overall in 2016, and you’re expected to make an impact.
However, Cholowski didn’t have to look far for a sounding board and some sage advice. The Oct. 7 trade acquisition of former Canucks blueliner Alex Biega provided a mentor for a pair of 21-year-old defencemen.
Biega was assigned to the AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday, but he already had made an impression. His professionalism, perseverance and patience rubbed off on Cholowski.
“I picked his brain a bit and we tried to build some chemistry,” said Cholowski, who had three points (0-3) in his first seven games and was averaging 16:55 of ice time.
The key for Cholowski is learning from his experience in 52 games in the NHL last season and 25 in the AHL. He finished with 16 points (79) with the Wings and 12 points (012) with the minor-league Grand Rapid Griffins
“It allowed me to work on my game,” said the 6-foot-2, 197 pound Cholowski. “I have to be good defensively first.”
That’s where Biega was of some help before the roster shuffle.
“I’ve been around,” said Biega, 31, who had 36 points (4-32) in 181 games over five seasons with the Canucks. “... It was just a matter of pointing things out, and for the most part, these guys are sponges, too. ”
It’s one thing to push the pace. It’s something else to see a guy 10 years older that you doing as much, or even more.
“I try to be the hardest-working guy and I hope I can be a leader in that respect — a guy who has been through it and is approachable,” said Biega.
“And a guy you can ask questions. I had that relationship with a ton of guys in Vancouver and watched (Jake) Virtanen and (Adam) Gaudette grow. And at this point in my career, I take pride in that.”