Breakthrough year expected for winger

Page 21

Mississauga IceDogs' supporters are no longer asking the question Nathan Who?

Last season, fans of the Ontario Hockey League franchise questioned the club's decision-makers when they traded the team's leading scorer, left winger Chad Wiseman, a San Jose Sharks' draftee, to the Michigan-based Plymouth Whalers.

Wiseman was a popular third-year player with the IceDogs. He was dealt for then unheralded rookie left winger Nathan O'Nabigon. The deal confused many people but Mississauga officials maintained it was a trade the IceDogs would benefit from in the future since O'Nabigon, an Ojibway who hails from Thunder Bay, had three years of junior eligibility remaining while Wiseman was finishing up his junior career.

Wiseman helped the Whalers advance to the OHL's championship final last season. And now the IceDogs are hoping O'Nabigon will assist them greatly on their road to respectability.

The IceDogs were the laughingstock of the OHL during their first three seasons of operations. Each of those years they finished dead last in the 20-team league.

And during those three years they won a total of just 16 games, including a franchise low of three victories during the 2000-2001 campaign.

When he joined the IceDogs last year, O'Nabigon found himself being coached by former National Hockey League sniper Rick Vaive. But the Mississauga club is now coached by an individual who is even more of a household name.

Don Cherry, best known for his Coach's Corner segment on Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts, has taken over the IceDogs' head coaching reins. Cherry is also the IceDogs' co-owner and the club's director of hockey operations.

"It's different playing for Don because he's so established as a coach already," O'Nabigon said. "You just have to go out and work your best. All he asks for is 100 per cent, so you have to give that to him. If you don't, you won't be playing."

Cherry said O'Nabigon will be a key member of his squad this year.

"He's going to be a big part of what we do," Cherry said. "And we'll be counting on him a lot."

IceDogs' assistant coach Steve Cherry (Don's nephew), who was also with the club last season, said O'Nabigon should have a big season.

"He really worked hard during the off-season and he came to training camp in great shape and ready to go," he said. "And it looks like he's going to be a bit feistier this year."

O'Nabigon, who won't turn 18 until May 9, is eligible for the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. And Steve Cherry said the IceDogs' forward might hear his name called at that event.

"I'm hoping he sort of follows in the footsteps of Chad Wiseman," he said. "Chad really came on for us in his second year and he ended up getting drafted. I'm hoping the same thing happens for Nathan."

O'Nabigon believes the IceDogs' fortunes will improve.

"I think we have a good team this year," he said. "We'll be competitive with every team. We'll be going hard out every night. They made a lot of changes over the summer which I think will really benefit the team a lot. I'm excited about playing for the team this year and I think we'll have a good team."

O'Nabigon added he had no hesitation in joining the IceDogs last season, even though he went from one of the OHL's elite teams to a cellar dweller.

"I thought it would be a good opportunity for myself to get more ice time and to show what I could do," he said. "And now I want to be a part of the first (Mississauga) team that makes it to the playoffs."

With Don Cherry coaching the club, the IceDogs are expected to generate a media circus and fan frenzy wherever they travel this season. Because of Cherry's connections, Mississauga players had visits and instructions from the likes of NHLers Tie Domi and Doug Gilmour during their training camp.

"It's different compared to other coaches but I think it's good for us," O'Nabigon said of having famous pros assisting his club.

O'Nabigon ended up appearing in 64 games during his OHL rookie year. He ended up with 2 points, including 13 goals. This season, he's hoping to pop in 30 to 35 goals.

"You have to aim high and try to do your best to get there," he said.