He's taking his game to Germany

It is the 11th Commandment in South Boston. Playing hockey is the unwritten law, and Murphy Memorial Rink is the site. Many are skating full speed in the ``little rink" by age 6, looking at the ``big ice" through the scratched plexiglass and dreaming of becoming a star.

For Brian Carthas, those dreams have become a reality. Carthas, who grew up playing hockey in the rink just three blocks from his home on P Street, graduated from Princeton University in June. After playing four seasons for the Tigers, he will now extend his hockey career in a much less familiar location: Germany.

The 6-foot, 200-pound defenseman signed a one-year deal with the EHC Klostersee of the Oberliga, Germany's third professional division, and has begun training camp in the Bavarian Alps.

``It's going to be different," Carthas said. ``Obviously, I'm not going to know anyone, and it's going to be kind of a culture shock. But hopefully I'll be able to remember what I've learned up until this point."

And he has learned more than just how to shoot the puck. Carthas has six years of German studies under his belt, and can speak the language fairly well. It's the adjustments on the ice that he will have to make in order to be successful.

``It's a different game," Carthas said. ``I'm just going to have to fit into their system. I've always played offensively on defense, so hopefully that will fit into the mold they have for me."

Carthas hasn't always been a defenseman; his senior year at Princeton was his first full season patrolling the blue line. Princeton hockey coach Guy Gadowsky asked Carthas to make the change after the team's defensive corps was depleted by injuries. Carthas notched 18 points (3 goals, 15 assists) last winter, good enough for second place among defensemen in the ECAC Hockey League.

``We chose Brian not only because of his skills, but because he does things with his head up," Gadowsky said in explaining why he asked Carthas to change positions. ``He makes plays, and that was important from our standpoint offensively. But he also plays tough. He's not cheap, he's just tough. So we said, `He's definitely the best candidate, let's give him a shot.' And from day one that we moved him back there, he led the team in plus-minus the rest of the year."

``It was tough at first," Carthas said. ``There are obviously a lot of differences between the two positions, just learning how to play the one-on-one, and the transitional game in the neutral zone. But after practicing for a bit and working with the coaches, it gradually got a little easier. Once I settled in, I really started to like it."

Carthas played high school hockey at Boston Latin School from eighth grade on. He then played a season of junior hockey for the Chicago Freeze of the North American Hockey League before committing to Princeton in 2002.

The center-turned-defenseman tallied 31 points (6 goals, 25 assists) in 110 games with the Tigers. He was a two-time ECACHL All-Academic team member, and was named honorable mention All-Ivy his senior year.

While those accomplishments mean a lot to him, there is one feat he will forever hold above the rest. Carthas led his South Boston Midget A team to a national title in 2001, and the championship sparked a South Boston dynasty, with national titles following in 2002, 2003, and 2005 .

``It was unbelievable playing hockey with all the kids you've grown up with," Carthas said. ``We were a really tight group of kids, and everybody got along well and hung out with each other back here in Southie. It was a special feeling.

``I take pride in the fact that I grew up playing hockey in Southie. It has a certain reputation as a neighborhood, and a lot of good athletes and hockey players have come from here. So I still take pride in it to this day."

Carthas is beginning his first professional hockey season in Grafing, a half hour out of Munich. And while he will be missed at home, it is a move Carthas -- and his family -- decided he had to make.

``If he didn't go, I'd go," his father, Paul Carthas, said with a smile . ``I think it's a great opportunity. "

``I think he'll do great," Princeton's Gadowsky said. ``If you're in Europe, you have to be a talented player . . . but also, it's very important to be a great guy. People like you to be a part of their community, and not only part of the team."

How long does he see himself playing professional hockey?

``For as long as I enjoy it," Carthas said. ``And I don't see that stopping anytime soon."