Hershey Bears: Zach Miskovic has been an all-star teammate

Published: Thursday, January 19, 2012, 7:00 PM Updated: Thursday, January 19, 2012, 7:02 PM
By TIM LEONE, The Patriot-News

There are many reasons why the Hershey Bears own the AHL’s top points percentage halfway through the 2011-12 season.

Scoring by a high-powered forward cast. Defensive zone sacrifices by the blue-liners. Key saves by the goalies.

Success also is derived from the intangibles of character and professionalism, the kind exemplified by defenseman Zach Miskovic, who has been an all-star teammate.

This hasn’t been the season the third-year pro envisioned. Instead of being a top-six fixture, he has frequently been a healthy scratch.

Miskovic’s response to disappointment has been dedication. The 26-year-old has been a good example rather than a negative distraction in the locker room.

“If you could script how somebody should deal with some events that might not be great for them individually and how to face adversity, I think, Zach’s done very well,” Bears head coach Mark French said.

“All the credit in the world goes to Zach. A lot of players would get beat down by the situation. He continued to fight against it, and right now he’s doing a great job for us.”

Much of Miskovic’s potential playing time has been sacrificed for playing time for fellow right-handed shots Brett Flemming and Tomas Kundratek.

Miskovic has played in 18 of 39 games. During one stretch, he was scratched in 13 of 14 games.

“It’s definitely tough,” Miskovic said. “You look for other sources outside of the rink to keep your outlook in a healthy balance.”

One of his off-ice endeavors has been helping Hummelstown’s In Gear Cycling and Fitness get back up and running after last year’s flooding. On ice, he practiced zealously and remained prepared to see his name in the lineup even when it wasn’t.

“If I wasn’t going that night, I made sure I got a workout in and a bike ride in and just made sure my cardio and everything was ready,” Miskovic said. “It’s my job to stay in shape and be ready to go when I’m called upon.”

Kundratek was recalled by the Washington Capitals. Rookie Flemming was reassigned to South Carolina (ECHL).

That resulted in lineup room for Miskovic. After being scratched in seven straight … he got to play in the Jan. 6 Outdoor Classic in Philadelphia.

“He deserved everything he got, because I’m the one who was putting him through it,” French said. “Not intentionally. Just trying to do my job. I’m very proud of him.

“As a coach, you don’t always expect to be right. But you want players to respond to what you’re doing. Misky always responded. He responded in a positive way. He didn’t feel he was getting the ice time which he deserved, but he didn’t sulk about it. He worked. He wants to prove me wrong, and that’s all you can ask for as a coach.”

Miskovic has now played in six straight games, a stretch in which Hershey has gone 5-0-1-0. He has partnered with defenseman Danny Richmond in what could be termed Pair Resiliency.

Richmond, often the team’s veteran scratch, has played in 20 games. The duo has impressed assistant coach Troy Mann with their recent play.

“He’s one of the most coachable players you’ll ever be around,” Mann said of Miskovic. “I think that, right off the hop, makes him a special kid to be around in terms of wanting to do the right things. I think his attitude has been really good this year under the circumstances.”

The name next to No. 25 on Hershey’s roster is an optical spelling illusion.

There is no “I” in Miskovic.