Senators Article: Mihaly learns fast, secures roster spot with B-Sens
January 28, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Press Connects.com

Mihaly learns fast, secures roster spot with B-Sens

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- His ancestors lived in a place that inspired tales of blood-sucking vampires, but hockey runs through Arpad Mihaly's blood. And when it comes to hockey, Mihaly has come almost as far as Binghamton is from Transylvania.

Mihaly, who moved from Romania to Wilkes-Barre-Pa., when he was 17, is his country's first pro hockey player, a feat he achieved despite skipping the junior and college levels. Now, four years after going from high school to the low minors, he appears to have secured a job one step from the NHL.

"Arpad has played well enough to warrant being in the lineup," Binghamton Senators coach John Paddock said after practice Tuesday morning, just after learning winger Josh Langfeld will rejoin the club today off a strong, nine-game NHL stint in Ottawa.

Mihaly, 23, had spent the past six games in Langfeld's spot, the right wing on a line with captain Chris Kelly and leading scorer Denis Hamel. And while Langfeld likely will return there tonight when the Senators visit the Rochester Americans, Mihaly won't be returning to the East Coast Hockey League.

Not any time soon, at least.

"When we sent him down (to ECHL Wheeling after training camp), we told him, 'You'll be one of the first guys we'll call up,' " Paddock said. "He showed enough then, and he's continued to show enough. He's hungrier than some players, and he's being rewarded for that hunger. He really wants to be at this level."

For most players, this level is just another means to a greater end. They're simply passing through the American Hockey League, the final step to their ultimate NHL goal.

For Mihaly, reaching the AHL is an achievement in itself.

"At the beginning of the year, that's what I dreamed of, playing a season in the AHL," Mihaly said. "You've got to follow your steps, and coming from a league below, I wanted to keep working hard to get here. You just can't fly through the leagues. Right now, I'm happy here."

And he's willing to do whatever it takes to stay.

Because he's not blessed with the hockey pedigree nor training of his teammates, Mihaly can be more inquisitive than Barbara Walters. It's not unusual for Mihaly to approach Paddock on the ice after practice, knock on the coach's office door before leaving the rink or turn to Kelly and Hamel on the bench between shifts to pose questions or seek advice.

Mihaly didn't even speak English when he moved to Wilkes-Barre, and now he worries that "sometimes I annoy people because I ask too many questions."

"Every player doesn't work or prepare or come to me with questions like he does," Paddock said. "He's a little more eager to ask, 'Was it my fault that a goal was scored?' That's his desire to learn and improve. That's just him wanting to play bad enough that he'll ask any question."

But most impressive about Mihaly is the way he plays. Big and strong at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds with surprisingly soft hands, he has the potential to be an effective power winger in the AHL.

Mihaly had 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 21 games with Wheeling and crashed the net for his first AHL goal in his Senators debut, an 8-2 victory over Worcester on Oct. 18. In 16 games since his latest recall from Wheeling, he has two goals and three assists, including a laser-beam shot over Albany goalie Ari Ahonen's glove in a 4-3 victory two weeks ago.

His latest 25-game tryout contract expires after a Feb. 7 game against Philadelphia, but if he continues to play like this, it's highly unlikely the Senators would send Mihaly packing after the AHL All-Star break.

"When you get called up to a team, you're not just happy to be there," Mihaly said. "You want to be a big part of the team. For me, I'm glad I've been able to contribute and play with two good guys like Kells and Hamel. But I still have a lot to learn. I need to keep getting better."

Slap shots:Langfeld scored four goals in nine games with Ottawa and made a strong case to be an NHL regular. But he was recalled Jan. 8 on an emergency basis after winger Antoine Vermette separated his shoulder, which means Langfeld had to be sent down once Vermette was cleared to play. ... Center Serge Payer skated for the first time after suffering a concussion in practice last Thursday and reported minor dizziness. Payer said he's still hoping to play tonight.