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18- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 17, 1997 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" '4 -- -- -- Spr ORTS CHRIS HALL / PORT PERRY STAR With some hard work and a little luck, 17-year-old Justin Kowalczyk could find himself playing on the blue line for the Ontario Hockey League's Sault. St. Marie Greyhounds. The Grade 11 student played for the arkham Waxers last Kowalczyk is bound for The Soo BY Player's hockey dream closer after OHL draft By Chris Hall Port Perry Star A life-long dream of playing in the National Hockey League just got one step closer to becoming reality for a local teenager. After playing for a season on the blue line with the Tier II Markham Waxers, 17-year-old Justin Kowalczyk could find himself playing defense for the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League next season. Kowalczyk, a Grade 11 student at Port Perry High School, made the trip to . Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on June 7 when the OHL held its annual Priority Selection draft. The annual event allows the league's 18 teams to acquire the rights to junior eligible players. Each team picks in reverse order of the league's final standings. While not touted as a "can't miss" prospect, the 6'3, 180-pound player said that he didn't mind going as the 142nd overall pick. "I'm just happy to be selected and to be given the chance to play," he said in reference to being the 'Soo's eighth round pick. "It's not too bad being selected this late. If I make it then it's great, and if | don't then I can't complain; at least I was gyen a chance to live out my dream," he said. Leaving his family and friends would be a enormous change for the Seagrave resident, but he says that he's going to keep his mind focused in hopes of making the Greyhounds opening roster. "Some of my friends are happy and others are disappointed that I'm leaving but mostly everyone's happy for me," he said. "When I go to training camp in September I'm just going to keep my mind on hockey and stay focused. I want to crack the 'Soo's lineup this year." While thoughts of playing in the NHL -- preferably for the Vancouver Canucks - - may dance through his head, Kowalczyk realizes that he must take it one step at a time. "I think I'm ready to take the next step. I can adapt and I think I can play their style of game. It'll take a little changing but I know I can do it," he said. While he describes himself as a stay- at-home defenseman, the 17-year-old says that he's quick to join the rush if an opportunity arises. "I prefer to stay in my own zone and do my job but if something comes up, then I'll jump on the offensive," said Kowalczyk, noting that ex-Leaf and Senator defenseman Brad Marsh is his role model. "I look up to Brad Marsh because he stuck around the league for so long. He did nothing special or fancy, but he just did his job. I kind of like that sort of Turnto Page 20 Local goalie is given a shot by Sarnia Sting By Chris Hall Port Perry Star With a little bit of luck and some hard work, the last line of defense for the Sarnia Sting next season will be Port Perry's Shane Savage. While the Ontario ockey League held its annual Midget Priority Draft at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens over a week ago, the Sarnia Sting grabbed the 16-year-old Port resident early. Savage, a Grade 11 stu- dent at Port Perry High School, had been stopping pucks for the Lindsay Wolves of the Central Ontario Triple "A" Midget league when he was invit- ed to a prospects tourna- ment in Guelph in mid- May. While at the midget tournament Savage says that he was approached by a Sarnia official and given instructions on what to do on draft day. "I was at the prospects tournament when the head scout from the Sting came up to me and we talked for a bit. He said that he watched me play and that he liked what he saw, so he told me to go to the draft and meet him somewhere in the fourth round. "When I met him at the draft he took me to Sarnia's table and I got to meet the coaching staff and the owner, and they fitted me for my goalie equipment and signed me to a contract to attend their training camp this year," said Savage. Savage, who was not on the midget draft list, says that he's getting clos- er to his dream. "I'm very excited about this opportunity. It's always been a dream of mine to play in the (OHL) and then move up to the NHL (National Hockey League)." While he says that if the chance ever arrived he would he would play for any NHL team, Savage uickly points out that St. Touis would be his team of choice. "I'd love to play for St. Louis (Blues) some day but right now I want to crack the Sting's line-up and I think I've got a good shot at doing it," said Savage. If he doesn't make the cut he already has a guaranteed spot with the Tier II Junior "A" Bramalea Blues for next season. "I've never been to Sarnia but I'm pretty excited to go there," he said, pointing out that his parents have 2 ready filled out forms enrolling him in Lambton Secondary School. "If I don't make the team and they offered me a spot on an area Tier II team I'd take it, or I'd just go and play for Bramalea for the year and hope a chance comes up." Savage said that being a goalie has always been his goal. And the 6"9", 1565- pound teenager doesn't believe that his small Turnto Page 20 Sting If the 16-year-old crac CHRIS HALL / PORT PERRY STAR Port Perry's Shane Savage could be the last line of defence for the Sarnia 8 the OHL team's roster. The 5'9" goaltender says that he's not intimidated by the large size of players in Major Junior. hac 1