Whitby native Gary Roberts will readily admit he isn’t a flashy goalscorer. But the 21 – year – old member of the Calgary Flames has found his role with the National Hockey League team.
“The line I’m on is a tough, grinding, defensive line,” says Roberts from his Calgary home. A left winger, Robert’s linemates are Tim Hunter and Steve Bozek.
And while the statement may seem contrary to Calgary’s performance to date, as the highest scoring N.H.L. team, Roberts says the coaching staff does preach defensive hockey.
“I was on the powerplay at the beginning of the season. But we have so many offensive weapons here I am now killing penalties.”
One of those weapons is Roberts’ friend and fellow Whitby native Joe Nieuwendyk who has 19 goals with the Flames and was named the league’s rookie of the month for October.
To date, Roberts has netted four goals and six assists and he is quick to offer his time spent in the penalty box – 25 minutes. “It is part of my nature to play tough but I don’t do it in a goon style. There is no need for that,” says Roberts, who is in his second year with the Flames.
Roberts was Calgary’s first round pick in the 1984 draft. In his first year with the team – 1986 – 87, he played half the year with the Flames’ farm team, Moncton, and 32 games with the Flames.
He had five goals and 10 assists during the 32 games, but because he was called up and sent back down to Moncton three times that year, 1986 – 87 also doesn’t count as a rookie year.
Roberts, who played hockey in Whitby from the squint level to midget, played four years of junior hockey with the Ottawa’ 67s. While with the team, Ottawa won a Memorial Cup.
He moved on to the Guelph Platers for the second half of the 1985 – 86 season and again helped his team win a memorial cup.
He was also a member of the 1985 Minto Cup lacrosse champions, the Whitby Warriors.
The Flames are currently tied with the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Edmonton Oilers, in the Smythe division. “I think we can stay ahead of Edmonton all year if we keep playing the way we are,” says Roberts.
The real test for the team will come in February when, because of the Calgary Olympic games, the team will play 11 straight games on the road.
But Roberts is quick to point out the Flames are currently one of the top road teams in the N.H.L. with seven wins, three losses and a tie, away from the Saddledome (as of last week).
As for Roberts, his personal goad for the year is to play all 80 games with the Flames and score 20 goals.
“I am capable of doing that,” he says.
