WHL Raiders like 18-year-old rookie tough guy

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There have been some Aboriginal players who have made waves in the Western Hockey League in recent years. Names like Brent Dodginghorse, Mike Wirll and Jordin Tootoo come to mind.

Add one more name to that list: Jon Mirasty.

At 18 years of age, he has been turning heads at this year's Prince Albert Raiders training camp. Although Mirasty is hardly a "huge" player in stature compared to many of the young players - who on average stand over six feet tall and weight in excess of 200 pounds - he has managed to stand out in the crowd. He has been described by many as a spark plug type of player who adds energy to a team.

One especially memorable moment for Mirasty was during an intrasquad game, where he fought the team's established enforcer, six-foot-six Steven MacIntyre, leaving the veteran with a bloody nose.

"He's my room mate but I had to fight him!" laughed the five-foot-ten, 190 lb Mirasty after the game.

Mirasty's previous experience was with the Kindersley Klippers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, where he played the role of enforcer.

"I'm just more of a rough and tough player," explained Mirasty. "I like the fighting part of the game. That's (the role) I played in junior last year, pretty much as an enforcer. I led the league in penalty minutes. I guess that's how I got scouted here, so I guess I have to keep doing it."

But he's not keen to be seen as a just a goon.

"I like to play, too," he said.

Raider general manager Rick Valette, when asked to describe Mirasty's value to the 2000-2001 edition of the Raiders, had little problem doing so.

"One of the real keys for him was he was in Kindersley last year," said Valette. "He showed an awful lot of grit and he plays with a spark. He plays a lot bigger than he really is, and he brings a level of energy to our hockey club right now. He did that for the Kindersley Klippers last year and so, we'll see how it goes for him this year."

Raider's head coach Donn Clark has been plesantly surprised with the potential Mirasty has shown on the ice.

"What we've seen here is that Jon's a lot better player than I thought he was to start off with, and he's shown so far that he's capable of playing a regular shift as well," said Clark. "We're pretty excited about his progress so far."

Of course, there is always the off-ice element that players are judged on. Both Valette and Clark have been impressed with Mirasty in this area as well.

"I think that just the energy level he brings to the rink every day is a benefit to our team," said Valette.

"He's a quiet guy that goes about his business and works really hard and is certainly no problems around the dressing room," added Clark.

Of course, there is a certain adjustment that players have to make when making the jump from junior hockey to major junior hockey.

"It's been pretty easy, fight-wise, but a little bit faster hockey," said Mirasty. "It's a bit different, a lot better passing. It's more heads- up hockey."

Although this is his first trip to the Raiders' training camp, this is not Mirasty's first trip to Prince Albert.

"I played here in minor hockey because I'm from Meadow Lake, the Flying Dust reserve, and I played minor hockey here pretty much since pee wee, AA," explained Mirasty.

Mirasty's playing ability has not only been noticed by the Raiders' scouting staff, but also by Ted Nolan's crew, who are working to put together an all-Aboriginal hockey team to represent Canada in world junior tournaments.

"I've been talked to about it," said Mirasty when asked his opinion on the program. "I think it's a good idea, it gives more opportunity for Native kids. I feel it would be a good opportunity for all Aboriginal kids to be playing together and just have more exposure and just learn how to go out into the real world and play."

Similar to many other Canadian kids, Mirasty had little trouble to state who the biggest influence on his career has been to date.

"My dad," said Mirasty without hesitiation. "He's been pushing me he most. He's always been there pushing me when I've wanted to quit, and just kept me going."