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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010 31 HISTORY MAKERS: After reuniting this season with the East Coast Hockey League's Elmira Jackals, Tyler Donati (left) and twin brother Justin became the first brother duo in pro hockey history to record 100 points each in the same season for the same team. PHOTOS BY RICK BACMANSKI / RICK BACMANSKI PHOTOARTISTRY Reunion put fun back in hockey for Donati twins we could have asked for." The years leading up to this one were anything but easy. It had been three years since they played together, split when a Justin and Tyler Donati's hockey careers were at a cross- trade sent Tyler to the Belleville Bulls prior to their final searoads. son in the Ontario Hockey League. The two had been insepaAfter a shoulder injury derailed his first pro campaign, rable until then, playing on the same team -- and most often Justin had enrolled at the University of Prince Edward Island. the same line -- all the way through minor hockey and junior. But after averaging almost two points a game in a season and In their first season apart, Tyler scored 54 goals for the a half with the Panthers, he was not feeling challenged on the Bulls while Justin put up 47 in a year split between the St. ice. Michael's Majors and the Sudbury Wolves. They Sixteen hundred kilometers away, his twin "Playing together continued on separate paths after the season. brother Tyler was also having success, putting up is the easiest Tyler was offered a contract with the more than a point a game for the Elmira Jackals thing and it was Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey of the East Coast Hockey League. But Tyler also League while Justin signed with the Las Vegas everything we felt something was missing. The game just wasWranglers of the ECHL. could have asked n't as enjoyable as it had been in the past. And though they had success at their stops in "I didn't know if I wanted to do it anymore," for." between, the game had not been as fun as it had he said of his decision to bring his season to a in the past. When they arrived home last spring, n Justin Donati premature end. the brothers began talking about playing togethA year later, it leaves one wondering where the er again. They signed on with Thurgau, a team in brothers would be had they not decided to give hockey anoth- the Swiss second division but knew almost right away that it er shot -- together. One place they wouldn't be is in the wasn't a good fit. After just three games, they returned home. record books after becoming the first brother duo in pro "We didn't really give North America a chance," Justin hockey to record 100 points in a season for the same team. said. "Even though the money was better (in Europe), we Tyler led the ECHL in scoring, racking up 38 goals and wanted to give ourselves the best opportunity to make it to 114 points in 67 games for Elmira on his way to earning the the next level." league's most valuable player award. Meanwhile, Justin Tyler called up his former coach in Elmira, Steve played in the all-star game and took home the league's rook- Martinson, who welcomed them back. The Donatis instantly ie of the year award, finishing second to his brother in the rewarded him for giving them an opportunity. They each had scoring race with 42 goals and 104 points. 14 points as Elmira won its first seven games of the season. "The way we performed was just a bonus," Justin said. Justin's season earned him a spot in the ECHL all-star "Playing together is the easiest thing and it was everything game as well as earning call-ups to Portland and Binghamton By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF of the AHL. He earned an assist in his first of the four games but in each case, he knew his time was limited. "It's hard getting called up and thrown in with a couple of guys you don't know, especially when you know you've got X number of games to prove yourself," he said. "It gave me a taste of the AHL, though." Making mark in AHL is difficult Tyler knows from his experience that making your mark is difficult, particularly if you're not under contract with an NHL team. "It was a big jump (from junior) but it wasn't something I couldn't handle," said the older of the two brothers, who had 19 points in 57 AHL games. "But the ice time just wasn't there a lot of the time. If they have a guy on a three-year deal, they're going to stick with him longer. You have to work a lot faster. There's a lot of pressure that I was not ready for, but hopefully I'll get another chance." That's all the brothers are hoping for, a chance to prove themselves at the next level. Their performance with the Jackals should attract some attention. Led by the 23-yearolds, Elmira finished first in the East Division with a record of 37-26-9. Though Florida edged the Jackals in the best-offive opening round, the brothers could not be faulted, combining for 16 points in the five games. Now the brothers want to prove they are ready to make the next step in their careers. And though the opportunity to play together may not present itself again, the Donatis are confident they can perform at the next level. "I'm just skating as much as possible to get ready," Justin said. "I hope to get an AHL contract and play in a better league. I feel I deserve a chance to play in the AHL."