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Charger Spotlight“Leaders aren’t born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay

to achieve that goal, or any goal.”Vince Lombardi

From the beginning of time, leaders have arisen throughout history. Some have ascended via the mastery of long eloquent speeches yet others have earned their titles through hard work and their example. A Medicine Hat, Alberta native, Alabama-Huntsville senior captain Jeremy Schreiber has let his actions speak louder than his words throughout his career in the “Rocket City”. “Jeremy’s a steady kid,” noted UAH Assistant Coach Lance West. “Everyday at practice, he’s always there. He comes and does his job and leads by example.” A regular in the Charger lineup from his first year on campus as a freshman, Schreiber earned the “C” on his sweater at the start of the 2004-05 campaign having been an alternate captain during his sophomore run. “He’s our leader on defense and he’s the guy we look to for leadership both on and off the ice,” remarked UAH Head Coach Doug Ross. “He’s the type of guy we have to look to in the big games we play like the one’s this weekend.” It did not take long for the coaches in College Hockey America to take notice of Schreiber as he burst onto the scene as a rookie as he tallied five goals and 16 assists during the 2002-03 CHA Championship run. Those were the top scoring numbers of any freshman defenseman in the country as Schreiber picked up All-CHA Rookie team honors. “You don’t get many guys like Jeremy,” said Ross. “It usually takes them a couple of years to acclimate themselves but he jumped in there right away and started contributing for us right off the bat.” The CHA skippers have continued to honor Schreiber for his play in the years that have followed as the defenseman has garnered three Preseason All-CHA selections as well as a pair of All-CHA laurels to go on his ever lengthening resume. His highest honor thus far however came just a few weeks ago when U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO) named the senior to their Preseason All-USCHO third team. The selection was the first for a UAH player as he was recognized as one of the top six defensemen in NCAA hockey. “He’s not the biggest defenseman and he’s not the fastest but he’s one of the smartest ones,” noted West. “He’s always in the right position and there’s no panic when the puck’s on his stick but the biggest thing he brings us is his character and his attitude.” One to never hold a grudge, Schreiber’s the type of guy that everyone likes to have as a teammate. Growing up a fan of the NHL’s Hartford Whalers, he even forgave the team after their move to Carolina. “I didn’t feel too good about their move,” said Schreiber. “But I gave them a chance and sure enough they ended up in the Stanley Cup finals against Detroit.” That kind of attitude is what makes a great leader and why West says, “He’s a great kid off the ice and doesn’t ever have a problem with anyone.” Recruited by several teams in larger cities, Schreiber felt he would be best suited to play in a smaller city and believe it or not the alphabet would play a key role in his coming to Huntsville. Thumbing through a directory of the U.S. college teams, he noticed on the first page was Alabama-Huntsville. “I just started in alphabetical order,” noted Schreiber. “Huntsville’s far enough away from home and it’s not too big of a city. So I sent out hockey resumes and Westy bit on my offer and it worked out that way.”

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Not only has Huntsville become his residence for the time being, it may have well become his permanent home. A southern belle won over his heart as Jeremy and Catina Sanders were married last winter on February 6th. Having been thrown a perfect bachelor’s party as the Chargers swept Niagara on their home ice for the first time in school history on the two days preceding, the couple was married at the chapel in Huntsville Hospital so Catina’s ailing grandmother could attend. “I actually got off the bus from the Niagara trip and got married later that night,” smiled Schreiber. “It was nice and then we had a reception in Canada in May for my family and friends.” Being a student-athlete alone is tough enough and being married certainly does not lighten that load but it does bring some advantages alongside the added responsibilities. “It’s hard sometimes (managing school, hockey and married life) but I’m 24 years old and it’s time to start being responsible,” noted Schreiber. “Plus having a wife helps keep me out of trouble but the hockey’s the easiest part for me.” After nearly missing his connecting bus having to interpret the southern drawl on his first ever trip to the Huntsville, Schreiber has now adjusted to the Alabama culture and says it will always be a place he comes back to. The reason he wants to leave and then come back is that his hopes are to continue playing hockey once the UAH season is over. “I’d like to continue playing hockey,” said Schreiber. “I’m going to try and keep working hard and get in the gym and hopefully a chance to play hockey will be there but this will always be a place I come back to. If not, I’ll graduate in May with an accounting degree and we’ll go from there.” Coach West thinks that Schreiber will succeed no matter what lies ahead, “Jeremy’s focused. He came down here with an idea of what he wanted to do. He’s an organized and motivated young man and knows what he wants out of hockey. If he wants to play hockey for a few years he’ll be able to do that but if things don’t work out, he’s going to do an excellent job for someone in the professional field. His

options will be wide open when he graduates.” Ross echoes those sentiments, “Jeremy’s an outstanding young man that is going to do well in life no matter what he does. He does everything the right way.” Doing things the right way is one of the reasons that you will see him as the quarterback of the Charger power play. A nightmare for opposing penalty kill units the past three seasons, Schreiber has banged home 12 of his 17 career tallies with the man advantage. “He’s got one of the greatest shots in all of college hockey,” remarked Ross. “He’s got a great one timer and he plays alongside Jeff Winchester who really knows how to set him up for that shot. If Jeremy shoots the puck, we’re going to win hockey games because he’s got the shot and the other guys can go to the net.”

Coach West went on to note, “Jeremy’s been great on the power play for the four year’s he’s been here. He’s a tremendous threat on the right side of our power play.” That is a power-play unit that hopes to get on track this weekend against Niagara as so far this season the Chargers have only cashed in once in 24 opportunities but Schreiber has confidence that with hard work those power-play points will start to flow soon. That work ethic is what has helped separate Schreiber from the pack throughout his career at UAH and will lead him into a bright and exciting future throughout the rest of the 2005-06 season as the Chargers battle for the CHA crown and beyond.

Jamie Gilliam

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become

more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams