Manitoba Moose

The words hit Tommy Maxwell like a roundhouse right to the jaw.

The Manitoba Moose enforcer was told by head coach Scott Arniel he would have to become a more well-rounded hockey player and contribute offensively. Fighting alone would not guarantee him a spot on the roster.

After letting the message actually sink in, Maxwell used it as motivation during the short summer of training.

"For sure, that year-end meeting was kind of an eye-opener for me," Maxwell said before the Moose departed for a pair of weekend pre-season games with the Abbotsford Heat. "It upset me, it hurt me and it made me really want to come back and prove a lot to these guys. I really want to be a big part of this team and show them I can be part of a championship team. I want to get in the mix and help this team win.

"I can always fight and use that as part of my game, but I'd like to improve and be more of a well-rounded player."

Maxwell is the incumbent enforcer, but he's hoping to take on a larger role this season.

After watching all but one of Manitoba's playoff games during a run to the Calder Cup final, Maxwell is determined to show he belongs.

"We had a couple of good runs in junior and I never missed one playoff game," said Maxwell, who spent four seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League. "It was tough to get to this level and have to do that."

Discussions with veterans like Mike Keane, Nolan Baumgartner and the departed Jason Krog helped Maxwell understand what can be gained by watching a lengthy playoff run from the sidelines.

"All of those guys have done it before and all of them said it made them a better player the year after that," said Maxwell. "I had to take it for what it was worth and pay attention and work hard."

The right-winger isn't setting concrete goals for the upcoming season, but he'd like to chip in a bit more offensively after recording a goal and five points in 36 games with the Moose in 2008-09.

"I got a lot of chances, but I have to capitalize on those and bury those opportunities when I get the puck in the slot," said Maxwell. "I'm always going to be there if a teammate gets hammered from behind or someone needs to be stuck up for. But if I can help the team offensively too, it's always a huge boost if the fourth line can get a goal."

Maxwell followed the Vancouver Canucks workout manual that deals with off-season training and focused a little more on his lower-body than his upper-body in order to help improve his skating.

"I bought a road bike and did a couple of triathlons," said Maxwell, who spent most of the summer in Charleston, S.C. "My legs are my engine and that's going to be the most important thing for me this year."

Arniel is happy Maxwell took the words to heart and singled out the physical forward for his strong play during Moose camp.

"He came in with some desperation and was told that nothing is a given and that he was going to have to work for an opportunity here," said Arniel. "He came in very good shape. One of his best attributes is his skating ability. It's not he's coming in here and looks very comfortable. He's coming to show people he wants an everyday job and spot in the lineup.

"I don't look at Tommy as just a fighter."