Mottau: 'Take A Puck In The Teeth For Bruins'
BOSTON (CBS) - For defenseman Mike Mottau, joining the Boston Bruins is a lifelong dream.
"It sure is. I grew up watching the Bruins and I had a conversation with my parents and they reminded me I wanted to go to Harvard to be a carpenter and play for the Bruins," the Quincy native said after being dealt to Boston with forward Brian Rolston on Monday. "Those were my two things when I was a little kid."
Mottau did not go for Harvard, but enjoyed plenty of success with the Boston College Eagles. In 2000, his senior year, Mottau was named the Hockey East player of the year and took home the Hobey Baker award.
Growing up a diehard Bruins fan, he had a great defenseman to model his game after.
"I emulated my game early after Ray Bourque because he was such a great player and again, it's quite a thrill for me," he said of getting to wear the spoked B. "I remember being able to name all the guys in the 1983-84 media guide by number and name – I've been a lifelong Bruins fan so coming back I have a lot of excitement."
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That, and the fact he comes from a team fighting for the playoffs to a team that is contending for their second straight Stanley Cup.
"To be able to go to a contender and have a chance at the Stanley Cup and repeating on a Stanley Cup team is quite a thrill," he said. "I'll do whatever it takes to add value to the team and I think I'm more prepared to do it now – just kind of understanding roles and being part of a group that's been there before and hopefully I can fit in seamlessly."
Mottau will help the Bruins blue line that has been hit with a bit of the injury bug lately. Johnny Boychuk is day-to-day with a mild concussion he suffered Saturday in Boston's 5-3 win over Ottawa.
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"I would say just a steady, two-way defenseman who can make a good outlet pass, adding value at some level here," Mottau said of his game. "Something I can duplicate over and over again is making a good outlet pass, and making good reads relying on my hockey intellect and reading plays and anticipating. It's not sometimes the showiest game that I play, but as far as adding value, that's what I'm looking to do on whatever level that I'm needed."
"I always said I'd take a puck in the teeth for the Bruins, now I have a chance to do that."
