Nov. 5, 2003
By Tim Connor
For the 2003-04 season, Notre Dame’s team motto is “Attitude is everything.”
Senior right wing Rob Globke is out to prove that true as he and the Irish move into the heart of the schedule in November.
The Irish travel to Michigan State this weekend, riding a four-game winning streak that has them tied with the Spartans for second in the CCHA standings. Overall, in seven games, the Irish are 5-2-0 with a 4-2-0 record in league play. The start is the best for Notre Dame since the 1998-99 team opened with a 6-1-0 mark.
The talented Globke is off to a strong start too. He leads the Irish with five goals and three assists for eight points in the first seven games of the season. Included in his five goals are an opening-night hat trick (the second of his Notre Dame career) and a pair of multiple-point games
The team’s top returning scorer after a 21-goal, 15-assist campaign in 2002-03, the West Bloomfield, Mich., native wants to make his final year a memorable one.
“I really want to improve on what I did last year. I want to step up my game, not just the goals or points, but my entire game. I really want to become a complete player and make this team better,” says Globke.
Seven games into his final season at Notre Dame, the 6-3, 202-pound forward has scored 54 goals with 38 assists for 92 points. He is the 29th player in school history to reach 50 goals in his career and he goes into the Michigan State series, needing just eight points to become the 40th player in Irish hockey history to reach 100 points.
There’s no question that Globke is the total package on the ice as he mixes size, speed, strength and some scary hockey skills.
Globke, who entered Notre Dame as a 17-year old, has always been just one big year away from superstar status.
It looked like his junior year would be the year as he started the 2002-03 season like gangbusters. Globke scored early and often, recording five goals (including his first career hat trick) in his first three games. Through January 3, Globke led the CCHA in goals (17) and was fifth in scoring (27 points).
Then, a mid-season slump hit both Notre Dame and their high-scoring forward. Over a 12-game span through January and mid-February, Globke was held to just a goal and two assists. Not coincidentally, the Irish went 3-6-3 during those 12 games.
“Teams started keying on me, paying more attention to me. That made it tougher to find open areas, to get into scoring position,” commented Globke, who just turned 21 on the night the Irish upset top-ranked Boston College (Oct. 24).
“Then, at the same time, I was going through some rough times. I was in a slump. My attitude wasn’t very good. I let it affect the way I was playing,” concluded Globke.
As the team came to life for its late-season run, so Notre Dame’s premier point producer. Globke had three goals and four assists down the stretch, including two goals and an assist in the CCHA playoffs.
“Towards the end of the season, I got my attitude turned around and learned to play within myself. I quit worrying about trying to do too much. That got me out of the slump,” says Globke.
Following the season, Globke took the summer to evaluate things. He gave serious thought to turning pro with the Florida Panthers, the team that made him a second round pick, 40th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
” I did give leaving a lot of consideration this summer,” said Globke.
“What made me stay was that Florida had different plans for me. They wanted me to stay and develop a little more. I realized over the summer that I needed to prove some things in the CCHA before I moved on.”
The former USA National Under-18 standout also used the summer to do some serious work on his psyche.
“I just tried to take it easy this summer. I still worked hard in the weight room to prepare for this year but I tried to relax more. I spent time with my family and my little brothers. That helped me a lot. They taught me how to have fun and to relax and not be so uptight anymore,” says Globke.
If the early season is any indication, a new Rob Globke arrived on the Notre Dame campus in August.
The coaches, staff and his teammates notice the difference. Most of all, Globke himself is happier and enjoying playing hockey.
“I’ve really tried to change my personality,” said Globke laughingly.
He added, “I’ve learned to not be so hard on myself. I realize that things aren’t going to be perfect every shift or every game. Now I just let it go and move on. Before it would affect me the rest of the game or for a stretch of games.”
Irish team captain Aaron Gill, who has centered a line with Globke at various times since his freshman year, notices a different person on his right side.
“Rob has really matured as a player and a person. He realizes that to become a complete player, he has to make the team better but he doesn’t have to do it all by himself,” says Gill.
A Dean’s List selection in four of his six semesters at Notre Dame, the marketing major has evolved into a team leader. During the preseason, Globke was named an alternate captain.
“That was quite an honor when coach announced it. I was really humbled. It’s a great honor. I guess it shows that I am respected by my teammates. Now I just want to do my best to help take the team as far as possible,” said Globke.