By Steve Stuart

You could say Michael Pruneau was born to play goalie.

While growing up in Montreal, Canada, home of National Hockey League legends Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy, Pruneau was simply born with hockey in his blood. And a move to Plano did nothing to temper that passion.

The 11-year-old netminder led the Dallas Junior Hockey Associations Squirt A Penguins this past spring and fall, showing off the hockey roots embedded in him from his upbringing.

I played t-ball for a year once I got to Texas, he said. And I played football, but thats not really my sport. Im not to crazy about soccer either. But hockey -- I love it. I can't live without hockey.

And coach Dan Lawson is glad he didn't have to live without Pruneau. Although he said the fiery goalie did a great job all season, Lawson was particularly impressed with Michaels performance at the 1998 Texas Turkey Shootout at Icebound. Pruneau backstopped his squad to a 2-1-1 record, including a shutout in the final game, en route to be named the tournament MVP. Pruneaus stellar 1.5 goals-against average impressed the coach as well.

He has been a consistent, strong player for us all year long, Lawson said. He's got very fast hands; he'd make a great shortstop in baseball.

He is originally from Montreal and I think like many goalies from that area, Michael is destined for great things. He's got a real passion for the game.

Michael, who proudly boasts he was the first to sign up at Icebounds opening and the first goalie to take the ice, said that he enjoys the goalie position and being the one the game is riding on. It's the pressure involved that led him between the pipes in the first place.

I feel like at goalie I always have something to do with the final score, he said. I think goalie is very challenging, because if I make a mistake it's always a big mistake. I like that. My teammates can make a mistake and still get away with it.

As for the future, Pruneau said he will probably focus on hockey throughout his junior high and high school years, although he hasn't ruled out playing other sports as well. But as far as distant goals, Michaels focused on the sport just as he focuses on an opponents slapshot.

My dream has always been to play in the NHL, he said. That is my goal in life.