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His advice to kids is simpleâ€"play hockey but get your education too. ~~__"The odds are against them playâ€" ing in the NHL. There are only 650 jobs open," said Kapustik. ‘"You can figure out how many people are going to reach that level. So it‘s important that kids keep their educaâ€" tional options open." By Gord Kolle Special to the Beaver after hockey? Bob Kapustik has a better question: Is there life in lieu of hockey? E s there life for hockey players Kapustik, 52, ought to know. He has over 30 years‘ experience in coaching and scouting minor hockey in and around Oakville. There are two tried and true methods of getting to the NHLâ€"the college route or through junior hockey. The Gretzkys, Lemieuxs and Coffeys of the the proâ€"world came up through the minor league system. It‘s still the system that supplies the NHL with players, but traditionally it does not stress education . Consequently, many players who foresake school for a chance at the big leagues and then fail to make the grade are left with zero career options. And those kinds of tales are horror stories. College hockey scout stresses value of education Rep Devius Down Tigcers Oakville Trafalgar High School player Ian Erdis (9) is stonewalled by Blakelock Tigers goalie Nelson Serpa, who is aided by Blakelock defenceman Mike Bedford (20). But OT was not kept off the scoreâ€" board for long in Wednesday‘s game. The Red Devils eventually defeated the Tigers 6â€"4. OT‘s season record improved to 6â€"4. Blakelock fell to 2â€"8. (Photo by Peter McCusker) Kapustik knows that. He has taken a "beyond hockey" interest in the minor league players he coaches and scouts. He attempts to persuade them of the importance of school along with an objective appraisal of their shinny talents. So he scouts for the University of Michigan‘s hockey program, which is run by former NHL star and Coach of the Year Red Berenson. Kapustik recommends Oakville players of promise to the hockey program at the University of Michigan, " So that if their playing days are not going to be at the proâ€" level they have a another career to fall back on." Berenson can‘t say enough about Kapustik‘s value to the university. "With Bob, hockey is a second love. We‘re just fortunate we got in touch with him, * says Berenson. Kapustik‘s opinion on promising players is valued by Berenson and his coaching staff. Berenson himself will come up to Canada to check out a prospect if Kapustik likes the player. "Oh yeah, I‘ve been up to Oakville to check out players Bob‘s recommended," says Berenson, who wants to see the player in action before committing him to any offer. The package involves paid tuition. And Berenson will keep the player SCORE WITH McDONALD‘S TRIPLE (HEES[BURGER MEAL! A great winning taste! Skate into McDonald‘ s for the great taste of our new Triple Cheeseburger Meal for just $.99. It‘ s got 100% pure Canadian beef patties between two slices of process cheddar cheese on our famous buns. Add on Medium fries and any Medium soft drink and you‘ve got a real winning taste at an unbelievable value. Skate in for a Triple Cheeseburger Meal Today! on scholarship even if the kid turns out to be a hockey bust. "The great thing about Bob is that he tries to help the kids, not only as hockey players but as stuâ€" dents, " says Berenson, who is also a believer in education. Despite a fullâ€"time job as regionâ€" al manager of an electronics supply firm, the game of shinny courses through Kapustik‘s veins. Presently he‘s assistant coach of the Oakville AAA Bantams. And he has been a coâ€"coach of the Oakville Blades. _ Kapustik grew up in Kirkland Lake. He played hockey with Bobby, Billy and Barclay Plager and Ralph Backstrom. And though his hockey playing days were in the minors, his heart * I enjoy the satisfaction of teaching hockey to youngsters," says Kapustik. "And I get a kick out of players who make it through school." ‘The odds are against them playing in the NHL. There are only 650 jobs open.‘ Bob Kapustik Sunday, January 9 1994 Page 18 SHELL NUMBER SIX 3 (Todd Evershed, Chris Brodie, Harry Rai. ASSISTS: Jay Mang 3, Dan Schaltz, Thomas Brandt, Chris Brodie). ALL SYSâ€" TEMS FOLDING NUMBER THREE 1 (Chris Galla. ASSISTS: Aaron Gullace, David Shore). PRO DISTRIBUTION NUMBER TWO 5 (Aaron Simm 3, Justin Gourlay, Matt Vespi, Colin Rankin. ASSISTS: Justin Gourlay 2, Chris Baseford, Aaron Simm, Mike Vassalo, Derek Trudel). wWOOD GUNDY NUMBER FOUR 3 (Matt Arbuckle, Matthew Ferrone, Jim Baillie. ASSISTS: Bryan Herbert 2, Jim Baillie, Allan Shpeley). FAMILY CHANNEL NUMBER ONE 3 (Chris Martin, Peter Wehali, Chris Ceicuta. ASSISTS: Adam Wilkinson, Christopher Cooling, Matthew O‘Donnell, Ryan Atherly, Darryl Kowall, Chris Martin). PRO DISTRIBUTION NUMBER TWO 3 (Donny Mercier, Aaron Simm, Matt Vespi. ASSISTS: Derek Trudel 2, Chris Baseford, Donny Mercier, Jason Scarlino). OSLER HOSKIN 2 (Dustin Titus, Kevin Craddock.). As a minor league scout he recâ€" ommended a look see at an unknown Streetsville player called Paul Coffey. As a minor league coach, Kapustik saw a boy named Wayne Gretzky play and forecast his greatness when everyone else was saying the kid was too skinny to stand up to a body check. NUMBER FIVE 4 (Jason Woodham, Ryan Dickinson, Aaron Gullage, Ryan and enthusiasm have always been major league. "Well, Gretzky has survived in the league because he knows how to avoid checks. He always had that incredible peripheral vision and I knew then that he‘d make his mark." Kapustik‘s making an indelible but enduring mark of his own. There are a number of Oakville players who Kapustik rates highly. Mark them well because who knows, you might be seeing them in the NHL one day. These include: Q B.J. Hamilton, 16. A Midget class hockey player, Hamilton has above average puckhandling abiliâ€" ties and great shooting skills. His greatest asset is his hockey senseâ€"he has an iceâ€"level underâ€" standing far and beyond most playâ€" ers his age. As the player matures and if the hockey sense ripens with his skill level, Hamilton will be someone to watch. Q Mike Hansen,15. Another Midget class player, Hansen has above average hockey skills. ALL SYSTEMS SCAFFOLDING ©1993 McDonald‘s Restaurants of Canada Limited. wWOOD GUNDY NUMBER FOUR 2 (Ryan Gow, Jim Baillie. ASSISTS: Matt Huntingford, Bryan Herbert, Jeremy Burrows). SHELL NUMBER SIX 2 (Harry Rai, Matt Williams. ASSISTS: Billy Hobson, Mike Capalo). WINTER SPECIAL P % OFF ALL SERVIC Burkett. ASSISTS: Brandon Griffith 2. Phil Roberts, Jeremy Gulliver). FAMILY CHANNEL NUMBER ONE 3 (Chris FAMILY CHANNEL NUMBER ONE 5 (Chris Cekota 2, Matthew O‘Donnell, Chris Martin, Aaron Wilkinson. ASSISTS: Ryan Snyder 2. Chris Martin, Jason Donio). WOOD GUNDY NUMBER FOUR 2 (Jim Baillie, Matt Arbuckle. ASSISTS: Giles Sutherland, Jim Baillie, Aaron Keeling). Martin, Chris Cekota, Matthew O‘Donnell. ASSISTS: Rylan Atherley, Matthew O‘Donnell, Chris Martin). Hansen‘s greatest asset and one that NHL scouts look for is: heart. Drive and intensity when fueled by that extra special "something" in a playâ€" er‘s makeup, can make or break a budding hockey career. Chris Brodie. ASSISTS: Chris Brodie. Tobin George, Michael Capalo). PRO Q Shayne Gaffar, 20. Gaffar has opted to go through the OHL and is currently a hot prospect with the Newmarket Royals. OSLER HOSKIN NUMBER FIVE 3 (David Caicco, Bryan Goman. Raymond Sobaram). ALL SYSTEMS SCAFFOLDâ€" ING NUMBER THREE 3 (Ryan Dickinson, Andrew McDonald, Jason Woodham). DISTRIBUTION NUMBER TWO 2 (Donny Mercier, Jason Gourlay ASSISTS: Chris Lorenz). He‘s a centre and is currently scoring on a pointâ€"aâ€"game pace. Kapustik watched Gaffar in his minor days and says that despite not being drafted by any NHL club, Gaffar could get into the league as a free agent. He has the skill and ability. Q Oakville minor Bantam playâ€" ers Adam Richards and Mike Muldoon are also highly rated by Kapustik. Richards, 14, is a forward and Muldoon, 14, is a defenceman. Both have been called up to play with Midget teams and are capable of playing a higher level of hockey than they are currently involved in. according to Kapustik. ' Q Tyler McManus,20. McManus, a 6 ft. 200 1b. forward with the Cornell University varsity hockey team, came up though Oakville minor hockey where he caught Kapustick‘s attention. McManus is pegged by Kapustik to be NHL caliâ€" bre stuff because he‘s big, powerful and hockey talented. MWP @Z ALL SERVICES Call For Appointment $414â€"5556 SHELL NUMBER SIX 2 (Harry Rai,