Hockey: Slater slips into Dads shoes as hitter
Dont let Jim Slaters smallish stature and youthful appearance fool you.The 6-foot, 186-pound freshman center from Lapeer may be built like a kicker, but he hits like a linebacker.His father, a former NFL defensive end, said Slater quit youth soccer because there wasnt enough body-on-body contact for his taste.And Bill Slater also remembers young Jim returning from hard-fought street hockey games, covered in blood and loving every minute of it.Ive heard Im real tough out there, just like throwing my body around and everything, Jim Slater said.