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Kevin Nagel Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports By Teri Pecoskie Hamilton Spectator 25 | Friday, September 30, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Fit for the Kings Luff earns OHL player-of-week honour after signing NHL deal with L.A. Matt Luff wasted little time showing the Los Angeles Kings they made a wise decision. Just days after signing an entry-level contract with the Kings, the 19-year-old was named the Ontario Hockey League's player of the week. The Hamilton Bulldogs forward racked up six points -- four goals and two assists -- and a plus-minus rating of plus-7 in wins over Mississauga and Kingston last weekend. He was also credited with two game-winning goals and named the first star in both contests. Last Thursday, Luff became the first Bulldogs player to ink an NHL deal after impressing at L.A.'s training camp as a free agent invite. He managed to score a hat trick in the club's 7-0 win over the Steelheads the following night, despite taking a red-eye flight home to Hamilton. "You can't use that as an excuse not to go out and play hard," he said after the game. "Coming off the plane you've just got to lead by example." The Oakville native led the Bulldogs in scoring with 57 points in 61 games last season. His production peaked in February and March after a series of trades gave him -- along with linemates Niki Petti and Matthew Strome -- more ice time and opportunity. Luff notched more than a point-and-a-half per game over his last 20 outings, yet was overlooked at the NHL Draft for a second straight year. But the Kings contacted him afterwards to invite him to try out. Before flying out to L.A. last week, Luff said he was feeling a bit of extra pressure as a free agent, "but going through two drafts I know anything's possible." He said his goal was to show the Kings he's worth keeping around, and to come back to Hamilton with a contract. Bulldogs president and general manager Steve Staios called the deal great news and a testament to Luff's determination. He also said the six-foot-three, 196-pound winger is a good example for other young prospects who happen to develop a bit later on. "He's a great role model for any player who isn't a top pick and wants to continue to play the game and make a career out of it," he said. "He certainly did everything he could to lead his way into a professional contract, so we're very proud of him." The deal also signals the Bulldogs are having some success when it comes to developing players and giving them an opportunity to move on to the next level -- a good step forward for the organization, Staios added. Although defenceman Cole Candella was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in June, Luff is the first Bulldogs player to actually sign an NHL contract. In a video posted on Twitter, he told Paul Bissonnette, another player in the Kings organization, he plans to spend his signing bonus on a dog. "I'm excited for him," said Bulldogs coach John Gruden. "We should get a really motivated young man that knows he needs to work on some things so when his time is done here, he can go and make an impact." Oakville's Matt Luff signed an entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings after making a strong impression at the team's training camp. Luff then returned to the Hamilton Bulldogs where he recorded six points -- four goals, two assists -- in two games to earn Ontario Hockey League player-of-the-week honours. | photo by Cathie Coward -- Hamilton Spectator Swarm all over Cole, taking him fourth in NLL draft The Georgia Swarm weren't taking any chances missing out on the player they wanted in Monday's National Lacrosse League draft. With three players slotted in as the consensus top three picks, it was the Swarm that held the key fourth overall selection that would set the course for the rest of the draft. While many might have been guessing which player Georgia would take, the Swarm had no doubts when they selected Oakville's Bryan Cole. "We were happy to get Bryan at that pick as we heard a lot of teams we looking to get him," said Swarm head coach Ed Comeau. "We knew we would have to take him high. He played offence in college and scored a lot of goals, but in the indoor game he's a pretty versatile player; plays defense, runs the floor and can play some O for us." Cole scored 43 goals and had 101 points over five seasons at Maryland, despite missing large portions of two seasons with wrist injuries. The Terrapins reached the NCAA final three times during his tenure at Maryland but lost each time, none more heartbreaking than the 14-13 overtime loss to North Carolina in this year's championship game. Maryland went into the game as the country's top-ranked team. The 22-year-old also had a successful junior career, scoring 76 goals and racking up 190 points in 62 games with the Burlington Chiefs. He's continued to produce since graduating to the senior ranks with 25 points in 21 games over two seasons with the Oakville Rock of Major Series Lacrosse. But it was his two-way play that made Cole so attractive to the Swarm. "We were looking for defence in this draft and Bryan is a big, left-handed transition player who can also play some offence if called upon," said Swarm owner and general manager John Arlotta. For his part, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound transition player is ready to whatever is asked of him. "I'm excited to get in and start off on the right foot," Cole said. "I'm ready to play the role the Swarm need me to play wherever it is on the floor." There will be no shortage of familiar faces for Cole. The Swarm already have two Oakville players on the team with Jordan MacIntosh and Alex Crepinsek, and traded for his former Oakville Buzz and Burlington Chief teammate Ethan O'Connor last season. The Swarm also drafted another former Chiefs teammate Lachlin Elder. Oakville players were in demand at the draft. After trading their first round pick, the Buffalo Bandits used their first selection on Justin Martin, taking him in See Four on pg. 26 Georgia Swarm head coach Ed Comeau presents Bryan Cole with a jersey at Monday's National Lacrosse League draft. The Swarm selected Cole fourth overall. | photo Graig Abel