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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, July 21, 2016 | 30 HALTON TRANSMISSION 559 SPEERS RD., #UNIT 3 905-842-0725 www.haltontransmission.com Kevin Nagel Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports "Connected to your Community" Wilson brings Stanley home By Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver staff in line at noon, even though Wilson and the Cup weren't arriving until 2:30 p.m. "I'm a die-hard Pens fan," she said. "There's no way I was going to miss it." And Wilson made sure nobody missed their chance. He stayed an hour and a half longer than scheduled to make sure everyone in line got a picture with the Cup and an autograph. "I think if I was that age," he said of the hundreds of minor hockey players who turned out, "and had the chance in my hometown to see the Cup, I would have jumped at the chance. I heard there were people who waited three hours so it was good that everyone got to see it." If there was someone who could appreciate someone going the extra mile, it was Wilson. · · · · · Wilson's former coaches recalled a player who always gave maximum effort. "He was always the hardest worker in practice," said Roy Gringmuth, who coached Wilson in minor midget. "That's why he's here. He's worked for what he's achieved." But despite his effort and abundant skill, Wilson was still overlooked in the OHL draft. "At the end of the day, it was just his size," Gringmuth said. "Everyone at that time wanted guys that were 6-foot-1, 6-foot2. But he could score. He got a lot of those clutch goals." "I was always one of the smaller guys when I was younger so if I wasn't a hard worker, I had no chance," Wilson said. After winning an Ontario Minor Hockey Association chamScott Wilson greets his first hockey coach, Tim McManus, as friends and fam- pionship in midget, he played two years with the Georgetown ily gathered to celebrate Wilson's day with the Stanley Cup. Raiders in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. When his NHL draft day arrived, Wilson went to work at a | photo by Nikki Wesley -- Oakville Beaver Tim McManus was at public skating with his son Greg when he saw a pint-sized kid zipping around the ice. Each week he would see the three-year-old there with his dad and he eventually got to know Steve Wilson and his son Scott. A couple of years later, McManus was getting ready to coach his son's house league team. "They told me I would have one more kid, who was a year younger," McManus said. "And then in walked Steve and Scott. He was a great skater, even when he was three. Every time we put him on the ice, good things would happen." The Red Timbits No. 6 would go on to win the Minor Oaks Hockey Association paperweight title that year. Eighteen years later, the coach and player got together to celebrate another championship. This time, the trophy Scott Wilson received weighed 35 pounds more than the one he proudly displayed in the newspaper clipping McManus brought along last Thursday night. · · · · · The Stanley Cup obviously means a lot to those who win it. But if there was ever any doubt about what it means to hockey fans, they were answered Thursday. As part of his day with the Cup, Wilson invited his hometown to share in the celebration. As he arrived at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, he was greeted by a line that stretched the length of the rink. "I thought there might be a couple of hundred people," said the rookie winger with the Pittsburgh Penguins. "I thought the line at Sixteen Mile was massive, and then there were more people at River Oaks. We were driving in and the lineup was out the door. It was crazy to see." Lisa Keech and her friend Chantelle Bastien were at the front of the line at Sixteen Mile, staking her claim to her spot Scott Wilson lifts the Stanley Cup in his family's backyard as he celebrates, with his dad Steve, sister Kendyl, mom Cathy and dozens of family and friends last Thursday. Earlier in the day, fans waited in line for as long as three hours to get an autograph and have their picture taken with the Cup. | photo by Nikki Wesley -- Oakville Beaver nursery instead of hanging around waiting to see if he would be picked. "So many guys psych themselves out," he said. "I didn't want to watch. I didn't think it changed anything. You just need one team to like you and if certain individuals like you, every time you get an opportunity, you have to take advantage of it." He has done just that. Selected 209th overall -- the third last pick of the draft -- Wilson has played more games for the Penguins than the rest of Pittsburgh's four picks from the 2011 draft combined. He's also played more games than seven firstround picks from that draft. And he has something that none of those first-rounders have -- a Stanley Cup. "I never stay up that late to watch, and I knew Scotty was out with an injury," said Rick Redshaw, his former coach said of the night the Penguins clinched the Cup. "But I stayed up that night. To see him out there and hold the Cup up, it was just outstanding." Brett Lee, who played with Wilson throughout his minor hockey career, isn't surprised to see his former teammate succeed. "His drive -- he wouldn't let anybody influence him," he said. "He knew what he needed to do." Thursday was Wilson's reward. After taking the Cup golfing and to his mom's office in the morning, signing autographs in the afternoon, it was time to celebrate with family and friends in the evening. "To have the Stanley Cup in your back yard, and have people there to share it with," Wilson said, "that was pretty special. Seeing all those people, it brings back a lot of memories. That made me who I am today. A lot of people helped me along the way and it was pretty rewarding to have the chance to show my appreciation for what they did."