GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The 1980 U.S. Olympic team had the "Coneheads Line."
The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's hockey team has the "Pony Express."
Matt Frattin (Edmonton, Alberta), Brad Malone (Miramichi, New Brunswick) and Evan Trupp (Anchorage, Alaska) are three senior forwards who comprise UND's first line. As a line, and individually, their stats are impressive. For as much as they have in common, they have differences that make them a dynamic force when they play, and when it's playtime.
Frattin, Malone and Trupp all started on their skates at early ages, which glided them to the University of North Dakota to play collegiate hockey. Frattin's father, Gilberto, always had an outdoor rink for his children to play on. Malone has seen pictures of himself in skates at the age of two and Trupp knows that there is a home video of him pretending to play hockey in front of a TV that was showing a hockey game.
The three forwards moved south of the 49th parallel in the fall of 2007 to become part of a hockey tradition that they say heavily influenced their decision to attend the University of North Dakota. Malone also enjoyed the community appeal. "I'm a small town kid. There is a large sense of community and tradition here," Malone said. Frattin liked the "hockey-first" environment, while Trupp was drawn to UND's first-rate facilities. "I knew a few guys when I visited and the rink blew me away. It blows everyone away," Trupp said.
Frattin, Malone and Trupp haven't always been on the same line together. At the end of last season the coaching staff put them on the same line and there has been no going back. "I think the chemistry on the ice reflects the chemistry off the ice," Trupp said. Not only are they friends off ice, but they spend most of their time off the ice in classes together and each will graduate with a major in recreation and tourism studies.
There's no shortage of laughs or smiles, on or off the ice, for the trio. In the free time that they have, Malone and Frattin have been known to pick up the video game controllers. "They're a little bit better than I am at video games," Trupp said. Trupp would much rather play pool, or hit up the golf course in the summer. Malone isn't sure if talking is considered a hobby, but he does a lot of it in his free time, along with darts. "I'm just a regular college kid. I think we all are," Malone said.
When the puck drops, the 'Pony Express,' a nickname given to the trio by media relations office that plays off of Malone's nickname 'Pony,' delivers the goods. Their individual skills and diversity is displayed in their style, skill and physical appearance.
"Malone is a big body forward, the best big-body forward in college hockey," Frattin said.
Both Malone and Frattin say that Trupp is a selfless playmaker that has finesse and is willing to pass the puck. Although Malone may not be too keen on the Pony Express nickname, he helps it chug along.
"Fratts is an overall explosion on ice. He's the horse of the three of us," Malone said. "I don't think pucks would be going in for me if I was shooting like
Fratts. I'm not too sure the coaching staff would be happy with me if I
was trying to shoot like that."
Scoring goals this season hasn't been an issue for the trio: Frattin (WCHA-leading 21 goals) and Trupp (11) have already set career highs, while Malone is just two shy of the 11 he scored last season.
Success for the 'Pony Express' has translated into success for the team, with the Sioux currently sitting in first place in the WCHA.
"It might be corny, but we're friends and that extends to all of the seniors. There's a brotherhood among all us on the entire team. It isn't just about the three of us," Malone said.
Their post-collegiate careers are both as similar and different as they are as players. Trupp would like to stay involved with hockey somehow, perhaps like his father. He is also interested in one day leaving the lower 48 and heading back home to Alaska. Malone's dream job is to come back to UND as an assistant coach one day. "I want Dane Jackson's job. After he retires, of course," Malone said. Frattin said that one day he might put his major to work by organizing athletic or sporting events.
Matt Frattin, Brad Malone and Evan Trupp will graduate from the University of North Dakota and may go their separate ways, but their bond of brotherhood from their time spent together will not fade away.
Neither will the achievements that they left on the ice for the Fighting Sioux.
~Go Sioux~
