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Princeton University Athletics
Peter Zavodny
January 05, 2001 | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 5, 2001
Princeton, N.J. - Senior Peter Zavodny, or "Boomer" as he is affectionately called by his teammates, is a Toronto native. Zavodny played his junior hockey with the St. Michael's Buzzards and the Caledon Canadians. He was never known for his offensive prowess. "I have never been regarded as an offensive threat, but, instead, provided my teams with steady, solid play," says Zavodny, who entered the 2000-01 season with just three assists and no goals in 82 career games.
Coach Len Quesnelle was counting on his "steady, stay-at-home presence" as one of only two seniors on defense this season. Fate took a cruel turn for Zavodny in the first game against Niagara on Nov. 3 when he sustained a grade-five separated shoulder as a result of heavy check into the boards. A grade-five shoulder separation is one of the most severe shoulder injuries that one can suffer. Zavodny underwent a successful Weaver-Dunn procedure on Nov. 16 to repair his shoulder, and it generally takes four to five months for the tissue to heal properly. Doctors drilled a hole in Peter's clavicle, took a #5 mercaline tape, looped it, and tied it to his coracoid to help foster tissue repair.
Athletic trainer John Furtado says, "There is a glimmer of hope that Peter will return." Zavodny has been able to ride the stationary bike, which is good news. Knowing this cruel truth, Zavodny has had to come to grips with the fact that his shoulder injury may keep him sidelined for the rest of his senior season. News of this sort is hard for anyone to take, but is especially painful for a senior playing in his last collegiate season.
Zavodny has taken advantage of his time off the ice to try to help his team more successful as a mentor to this year's freshman class. Jackson Hegland '99 took Peter under his wing as a freshman, and Zavodny has tried to do the same for freshmen defensemen Steve Slaton and Matt Maglione.
According to Zavodny, "the freshmen have stepped up and complemented the team in all aspects. `Slates' and `Mags' are both excellent defensemen with bright futures. Slates has unbelievable skating skills, while Mags packs a powerful shot and on-ice intelligence." "Boomer" has also been a keen observer of how this Princeton team is adjusting and has been playing under new coach, Len Quesnelle.
"Our early play has indicated that we are committed to Lenny and the coaching staff. They have provided an outline for us to fill with our blood, sweat and tears, and the season is so long and the sacrifices each person has made disposed us to a conviction that nothing can stop us. We make playing against us difficult. We love dishing out pain."
While away from Baker Rink, Zavodny believes that the hardest thing for a student-athlete at Princeton has been managing his academic and athletic schedule, which he believes has been extremely beneficial in his development as a person.
Zavodny, a politics major, uses his college study of political organization as the Canadian Club President here at Old Nassau. He is also manager of P-Flix, the Princeton student video rental club. His teammates appreciate the videos that he supplies for their long bus trips, because it makes the time pass quicker and helps to keep the team in good spirits.
No one around the Princeton hockey program has ever questioned Zavodny's toughness, and the senior defenseman hopes to add to this mystique by returning to the team in late February. While Zavodny's return to the ice this season remains questionable, no one questions the impact that he continues to have on this team.
by Geoff Loose