He said one of the reasons he got involved in hockey is because it is everything to Canadian boys. But Darren Anderson stuck with it because the sport is so much fun. And maybe because he’s good at it.

Anderson, a North Bay, Ontario, native, said he put on his first pair of skates when he was four. A year later, at age 5, he joined a hockey team. His parents even videotaped his career’s inaugural goal, making it a memory he’ll never forget.

But there’s really no way Anderson can forget what it feels like to score a goal because he’s been collecting them for the last 19 years. Even in his first Cyclone match, Anderson collected a couple goals.

His scoring total continues to snowball as the Cyclone senior co-captain leads the ISU team with 30 goals for the current 97-98 season. Anderson’s Cyclone career stats now total 124 goals in 2 1/2 seasons.

“He ‘s got a good knack for scoring,” said assistant coach Bill Ward.

He described Anderson as a sneaky player who is “very evasive when getting away from opponent’s checks” and can quite easily beat another skater one-on-one. He said Anderson has “soft hands,” which means he skillfully handles the puck.

Hakan Walltin, assistant coach, said, “He sees the net and doesn’t see the goalie.”

Living on a lake with their own small rink, Anderson and his brother Darcy always had the home advantage. When they were young and wanted more ice time, their father built them a little outdoor rink.

In Canada, Anderson said it is characteristic for towns to have outdoor rinks.

In his community, it just so happened the rink belonged to his family. And what’s more, the Anderson rink grew big enough that the family installed flood lights.

He said the lights would come on at 6 p.m., and the young puck chasers would play until they were called in to go to bed.

“You remember some of the times when you were playing on the pond; every kid is pretending they are in the last game of the Stanley Cup and it’s overtime. Then you realize, ‘hey, we’re just outside,'” he said.

“I think the big thing is the dream, the dream to play in the NHL. I think it’s in every kid’s mind straight from the start.”

As he grew older, Anderson chose to make hockey competitively, rather than keeping it only for fun. He climbed the league ladders and played in tournaments all over Ontario.

At the sweet ages of 16 and 17, he went overseas with his program to participate in international contests.

At 18, Anderson joined the Junior Hockey League in Niagara Falls, and as his time in the junior ranks came to a close, he began hunting for schools with hockey programs.

By invitation from Cyclone Coach Al Murdoch, he and his brother came to ISU for a visit in April 1994. After checking out the school, the two brothers knew Cyclone country was where they wanted to be.

“This one wowed us. The school was so big. The sports were so big,” Anderson, who is working for a bachelor’s in liberal studies, said. “The opportunity for me in hockey and academics was just perfect.”

And the adjustment to Ames life was not too difficult. Anderson said the hockey team has a “Home Away From Home” program that has been a great asset.

He said the host family, which he and his brother share, has done more than necessary to show support, such as providing snack packs for road trips and taking an interest in the two puck chasers’ lives.

In fact, Anderson and Darcy dine at their hosts’ home on Sunday nights and once a year, his Ames family and his Canadian family make visits to each other.

But Anderson has enjoyed his brother’s company at ISU, and the two lured their Canadian cousin, Terry Conlin, to Ames using the quality hockey and academic programs as bait.

He said he is thrilled to have had the opportunity to play with family. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

What’s more, Anderson has been pleased with the academic and fan support at ISU.

While in Canada, players make the grade or don’t play the game; he said the Cyclone program checks to make sure that the players are doing well in school so they can play.

He said the program also encourages that skaters do as well as they are capable of. He said that Coach Murdoch emphasizes academics and the fact that playing hockey is a privilege.

The crazy crowds are another difference he loves. In an earlier game interview this season, Anderson referred to the Cyclone crowd as the team’s “seventh man” on the ice.

He said the arena is lifeless, cold and bleak during practices but becomes a lively environment when the crowd chants and goes crazy for the Cyclone squad as they leave the locker room.

Anderson, who was on the committee to bring the national tournament to Hilton, said he hopes the strong home crowd will help the team win the Murdoch Cup, which is named for his coach.

Although Murdoch said the skater “has that competitive killer instinct and that will to win,” Anderson points out that it is more than a game. He puts a high value on the friendships and on lessons he has picked up from his involvement with the sport.

He said hockey has given him the motivation to do other things — the kind of motivation a businessman needs.

Anderson runs his own resurfacing businesses in Ames and in his Canadian hometown. He got his start when his parents owned a small business and they let him run it. After that, he said he decided he wanted to be a “work- for-yourself kind of guy.”

Anderson’s two businesses are helping him pay his way through school since the Canadian dollar doesn’t do as well in the States.

His sophomore year, he returned to Canada to run his company and earn more cash for school. He missed a year of eligibility while back home, but he said it is something he had to do and was comfortable with because he knew he would be back to play.

He also hopes his work experience from his successful business adventures will pay off when he goes to compete in the job market.

He became a Italian citizen two years ago because of his grandfather, which enables him to play professionally in Europe.

He said he hopes to skate overseas after his May graduation to gain life experience.

“That would be a great way to finish off my career,” he said.

But before he becomes a part of business with the pros or corporations, Anderson has unfinished business with the Cyclone hockey team.

He said, “I’m looking for a national title.”