LOWELL - On the ice inside the Paul E. Tsongas Arena, 25 men run through drills with the precision of having done it many times over.

They are the Lowell Devils, a minor league affiliate of the NHL's New Jersey Devils, which play in the American Hockey League. They are mostly under the age of 25, still trying to break into the NHL.

But one member stands out.

In the middle of the action, leading cheers and shouting words of encouragement is Richard Matvichuk, a Stanley Cup champion just three weeks shy of his 35th birthday.

"As a little kid, you just want to play this game your whole life, and I've been fortunate enough to play on some great teams and win some Stanley Cups," said Matvichuk. "I think everybody's goal is to be a champion and play in the NHL, but you've got to take steps to make steps, and sometimes the smaller steps you take make you better in the long run."

Now in his 16th season of professional hockey, it began for this 6-foot-3, 215-pound defenseman in 1991 when he was selected with the eighth overall pick in the NHL entry draft by the Minnesota North Stars. He was with the team in 1993 for their move to Dallas and still with them in 1999 when they won the Stanley Cup in six games over the Buffalo Sabres.

In 2004, he was signed as a free agent by the New Jersey Devils but, after missing all but one game last season due to back surgery, found himself in the minors trying to make the show again.

Matvichuk has been known throughout his career as a very smart defensive player. He is able to use his size and strength to his advantage without taking many penalty minutes. In his entire career, he only has 624 penalty minutes in just under 800 games played. It is that kind of smart play that has allowed Matvichuk to have such a long career.

"I think (for) everybody in this dressing room, including myself, their goal is to play in the NHL," said Matvichuk. "We're here as a learning experience and we are really fortunate with the guys that we have in this room, with the veterans (Erik) Rassmaussen and (Grant) Marshall, and guys like that. It makes the adjustment that much easier."

As much as Matvichuk is trying for one more shot, he is also a leader and a role model on this team and many of the younger players in the locker room look up to him and value his experience.

"He helps with little details on and off the ice, with how to be a pro," " said Olivier Magnan-Grenier a 25-year-old Devils defenseman in his first year in the AHL. "He's been playing for 10 or 15 years now, so he knows all the little things,."

Most of Matvichuk's teammates agree that one of the most valuable roles he can play for the team is as a teacher.

"It's huge," said Sean Zimmerman a 20-year-old Devil's defenseman. "He helps the young guys out tremendously, especially me with it being my first year in the league. I sit right next to him in the locker room, and he's always saying something about the game to help us learn."

As much as he gives to the young players on his team in experience and wisdom, Matvichuk gets something just as valuable back in return. It helps him remember how much fun the game of hockey can be.

"It's great to be a teacher on one end of the thing, but to see the energy and the fun that (the young guys) have makes me remember back when I was 18 or 19 coming to the rink and how much fun it was," said Matvichuk. "Being a little bit older than those guys, its fun to see and it keeps me rejuvenated and ready to go."