Checking In with Danny Fardig
9/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
In today's installment of getting to know the freshman hockey class, we keep it close to home with Ann Arbor native, Danny Fardig. Being a Wolverine athlete isn't new to the Fardig family as two members have already worn the 'M' sweater. His father, Don, played hockey from 1973-76 and his uncle, Dave, played in 1981. Both also played golf at the university.
| | Fardig |
Having already attended over 100 Michigan games growing up as a fan, it will be a different look for Fardig as he steps on the ice to play in front of the crowd. Fardig discusses a number of things including why it is more important to go after a dream than a scholarship, his nickname "Digger" and how the Class of 1994 had two of his favorite "little" guys in Brian Wiseman and Cam Stewart.
On being from Ann Arbor and knowing campus ...
"I've been here my whole life. I know everything pretty well because I've been downtown all my life. I know where everything pretty much is. Classes are a bit harder since I've never been there. Streetwise, I know everything I need to know. A couple guys get lost and call me and I just tell them the right way to go."
On when he began playing hockey and his family's Michigan ties ...
"Organized I think I started at age four, mini mites. My dad (Don) played hockey (1973-76) and golf (1973-75). My uncle (Dave) played mostly golf (1979-81) but one year of hockey (1981). His big sport was golf and I think he went pro later."
On his other family connections to Michigan ...
"My mom didn't go (to Michigan) but my aunt did. All of my dad's side of the family went to Michigan. They have three Michigan diplomas. Then my sister ruined it by going to Michigan State. My dad won't go pick her up from East Lansing. He always makes her take a bus to Okemos and then he picks her up from there. She's always been pretty defiant so she tried it again."
On if he's always been a Michigan kid ...
"I was pretty much born maize and blue. I was around Yost pretty much since I was born since my dad was always around the rink. When I was in mini mites I probably went to a lot of the games. I remember watching Brian Wiseman, who was my favorite. He used to score all the time and he was so small. I liked Chris Tamer because he just killed guys."
On his hockey options after graduating and how U-M had an impact ...
"I graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School in 2004. I played for USA my senior year and last year, when I just took a couple of community college courses. (After high school) college wasn't really an option. It was either I was going to play in the USHL or stay at USA. USA was perfect because there is no other place where you're going to grow up that much. It's the best place to develop as a player I think. That's one of the main reasons I was staying. Then I was staying home where it's my comfort zone. I've never left home before. I wanted to come here (to Michigan). I had some other offers from different schools but I didn't want to go to other schools. I wanted to come to Michigan. I've always wanted to.
"I talked to the U-M coaches and they said the opportunity might be there so hold off, and I held off. The opportunity came up and luckily I got in. That's always what I wanted to do. There was no point in leaving for me. The other schools I talked to were Lake Superior State, Northern Michigan and Providence. They were going to give me a little bit of scholarship money but I'd rather be somewhere I'm happy for little or no money than be at a place that's going to give me a full scholarship where I won't be happy. Michigan was always number one, even if they just gave me a spot, which is ultimately how it worked out. This is where I wanted to be."
On how he found out he was going to be playing for Michigan ...
"It was last December. I made an appointment with Coach Berenson and all three coaches were in there. They asked me what I was looking for. I told them I just want a spot. They said you have one and I said thank you. I had a whole sheet of questions I wanted to ask to prepare myself. I didn't come in with my parents or anything. I wanted it to be my decision. I came in in front of all three coaches and they asked me what my concerns were. I told them I just want to come here and play here. They said it looks like it's going to work out. Everything worked out for the best I think. It was two days before Christmas, so it was a great Christmas present. I called my dad before I even got out of the rink and told him what happened. He was so happy when he saw me. It was pretty cool. I got a ton of Michigan clothes for Christmas."
On his nickname ...
"The family nickname has always been Digger. Everybody knows my dad in Ann Arbor as Digger. Some people don't even know his real name. My uncle is Digger. I'm baby Digs or Digger. I don't know where it came from or what the story is behind it. It could good or bad. A lot of people call me Danny. I've never heard one of my dad's friends call him Don. I'm getting Digger around Yost though."
On his favorite Michigan game ...
"I saw a million games when I was younger. The only games that I really remember were last year when I knew I was coming here and that this was what I was going to play in front of every game. The most recent games since I committed are the ones that I remember the best."
On his favorite U-M player ...
"Brian Wiseman was always my favorite and then Cam Stewart. I got to know those guys outside the rink and they've always been nice to me. I remember watching them play while they were here. They are good guys."
On his favorite NHL player ...
"Chris Drury. He works every night and he has pretty good skills. His work ethic is unbelievable. I'm not a skill guy I try to pride myself on my working. That's how I'm going to make it if I make it. He is someone I try to model myself after, maybe not so much with the skills, but how hard he works every night. And he's American, so I have to go with that."
On his favorite goal ...
"I have a couple of them. My first goal at USA came when we were out playing (Division III) Bowdoin in Maine. I scored just a garbage goal but it was my first junior goal. That was a good one. I remember the day of the Michigan-USA game last year I talked to Bryan Lerg, who plays for Michigan Sate and has always been my best friend. He told me when you score against Michigan it's the best feeling in the world, so if you score tonight think of me. I remember I scored pretty quickly in the game unfortunately. I've heard some bad jokes about that already. That was probably one of my favorite goals to score here unfortunately. Hopefully I'll score more but for the good side this time."
On how quickly he can name the 11 freshmen ...
Cogs, Bailes, Johnson, Mitera, Turnbull, Swystun, Sauer, me, Naurato, MacVoy, Millsy.
Fardig had no trouble naming off his classmates as he methodically moved his way through the list in a very tough to beat 13 seconds.
Checking In with ... Schedule
Sept. 12 -- forward Jason Bailey
Sept. 13 -- forward Andrew Cogliano
Sept. 14 -- forward Danny Fardig
Sept. 15 -- defenseman Jack Johnson
Sept. 16 -- forward Zac MacVoy
Sept. 19 -- forward Tim Miller
Sept. 20 -- defenseman Mark Mitera
Sept. 21 -- forward Brandon Naurato
Sept. 22 -- goaltender Billy Sauer
Sept. 23 -- forward Tyler Swystun
Sept. 26 -- forward Travis Turnbull
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
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