To say that life is good right now would be quite an understatement for former DU hockey player and junior Matt Carle. After winning two NCAA championships in his first two seasons at Denver, Carle has most recently been the recipient of many awards, most notably the Hobey Baker award and signed a three-year contract with the San Jose Sharks of the NHL.

“It’s been kind of a whirlwind since the day I signed. It’s been non-stop, but it’s been a lot of fun and every day has been a new experience and I’m learning more and more and trying to develop myself as a pro hockey player,” said Carle.

The Anchorage, Alaska native visited the DU campus last Tuesday and had a press conference to formally announce his departure from DU.

After the Pioneers were eliminated from the playoffs on March 12 by WCHA foe Minnesota-Duluth, the action began for Carle and his family.

“It was never really a goal of mine to leave college early. You want to shoot for that opportunity, because if I did have that opportunity it would mean things are going well for myself and probably for my team here,” said Carle.

On March 19, he had made his decision to forego his senior year of college at DU and sign an entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks of the NHL, who had drafted him with the 47 pick in the 2003 draft.

“I think the final thing was just fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing in the NHL. I felt like I had a great opportunity to step in with the Sharks and make an impact right away,” explained Carle at a press conference last week. “Obviously it was really tough for me to leave such a great program like the one here at DU, a place where I’ve had so many great memories and some of the best times of my life, especially the two national championships.”

Most importantly, Carle was named the 2006 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner last Friday at the Frozen Four in Milwaukee, Wis. He became the first DU hockey player to win the award and the fifth defenseman to garner the trophy in its 26 years of existence.

“Obviously I’m very honored to receive every honor I have received, but at the same time I’m trying to focus on every game I play with the Sharks. I’m especially honored to be a part of the Hobey Hat Trick,” said Carle.

Carle scored 11 goals and 42 assists this season in 39 games for the Pioneers and in his career scored 29 goals and tallied 93 assists in 112 games.

He played in his first professional game on March 25, when the Sharks visited the Minnesota Wild and he scored his first career goal in the last minute of the game to help San Jose to a 5-1 victory.

“You can see he is one of those special players. He sees the ice, passes the puck and he is going to be a great player in this league,” said Sharks coach Ron Wilson.

Matt has played a total of six games so far in the NHL and has tallied two goals and one assist. Carle played his first professional game in Colorado last Wednesday when the Sharks visited the Colorado Avalanche.

“It’s great to be back. Being back on campus and in the locker room with the guys kind of makes me miss it, but at the same time I’m really excited about what’s been going on the past few weeks in my life,” said Carle.

“I just felt like it was the right time to make the move with such a great opportunity in front of me. It really hasn’t sunk in yet to tell you the truth. I’m still in shock that I’m in the NHL. I’m just trying to play my game everyday.”

Against the Avalanche, Carle made his first start of his pro career in front of many friends, family and former teammates.

“We had the whole team here, family, friends and my girlfriend were all in the stands, had a lot of people here and it was a lot of fun,” said Carle.

It has not been an easy adjustment fto the new lifestyle and playing style of the NHL by joining a team that is right in the thick of the playoff hunt.

“The game in the NHL is much more controlled. Obviously the speed of the game and the skill of every player and everyone is big and strong and you have to be ready for that,” said Carle.

The terms of the contract were not released, but with the numbers that Carle has quickly put up in his first few games, is comfortable in the NHL.

“Things have been going non-stop, living in a hotel for the last two weeks, I left all my stuff here in my house in Denver. It has been a different experience. The lifestyle is different, money is an issue now and the game is much more of a business, but at the same time it has been fun,” said Carle.

He has not only had to adjust to the new lifestyle of private jets and nice cars and houses, but also a set of new teammates.

“The guys here are pretty good guys, and there is no hazing and you just try to make them comfortable as quick as possible and he has done a pretty good job at making himself fit in and has done a great job so far,” said Sharks teammate and former Colorado College player Tom Preissing.

“I told him in college you are surrounded by basically 20 other guys that are in your same situation for four years. Now guys have families and different lives and you kind of have to branch out on your own,” confirmed Preissing.

Although Carle is now in the NHL, he will never forget the memories and lessons and skills he learned during his three years at DU.

“I have to give a lot of credit to Coach Gwozdecky and his staff for the foundation I received here at the University of Denver, not only as a hockey player but also as a person,” said the now former DU player.