TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Growing up in Alberta, Phil Law learned what it took to be a good captain from watching his favourite Calgary Flames player.
The University of Pennsylvania senior and leader of the men’s tennis team tries to mimic the intangible skills that Flames’ star player, Jarome Iginla, brings to his team.
Law motivates his teammates in the same fashion that Iginla does.
“I try to. I would love to hear that but he is unparalleled in the way he leads,” Law said. “He is able to speak to the media and is a great leader overall.”
When Law is not on the court, he enjoys watching the Flames All-Star captain in action.
“Jarome Iginla is my favourite player and I lost it once when I saw him in the airport,” Law said. “That guy is a true leader.”
Going into the biggest showdown of their spring break, a matinée matchup against the University of South Florida Bulls, the young Quaker could be heard encouraging his teammates and giving them vocal support.
“Today is a big match and I am trying to get these guys pumped up,” Law said. “As far as being team captain goes, if guys are having team problems they can come to me.”
Law, a Calgary native, has been playing well so far this spring. Moreover, he has won four of his last five matches, and has not dropped a set in the last three times he has been in competition.
When head coach David Geatz was asked what he thought about Law’s leadership, he smiled from ear-to-ear and was beaming at the thought of talking about his captain.
“He is organized, responsible, and leads by what he does,” Geatz said. “Phil is a great guy, the team respects him, and he works hard. He does everything right.”
In addition to being a great captain, Law is also an outstanding student and is excelling academically at one of the best Ivy League schools in the United States.
“The guy is a 3.49 student in the Warden School of Management,” Geatz said. “He already has a job lined up with Barclays [Bank] in New York City.”