Article Origin
Page 29
The storied junior hockey franchise where legends Bobby Orr and Eric Lindros matured from boy wonders to all-time greats has landed one of the hottest athletic prospects to come out of Indian country in recent memory.
Oshawa is a tough industrial town where the Ontario Hockey League team is named after the biggest employer - General Motors. Junior hockey has been the biggest game in town in Oshawa for a long, long time.
While it wouldn't be fair to put Drew Bucktooth in the same class as the two previously mentioned superstars who launched their careers in the motor city, if the young man fulfills the promise he has shown the fans back home, the Oshawa Generals could soon be adding another distinguished graduate to their already impressive list.
The 16-year-old right winger is only receiving a handful of shifts each game so far in the early stages of his rookie season, but the Generals have high hopes for the full-blooded Iroquois.
"We're going to pick our spots when we play him," said Wayne Daniels, the Generals' director of hockey operations. "He's a fine young man and wants to be a hockey player. He's got a good work ethic and good background."
Bucktooth was born in Nedrow, New York and raised on the Onondaga First Nation near Syracuse. Last year he starred with the Syracuse Jr. Crunch of the Metro Junior A Hockey League, a Tier 2 league where the then 15-year-old could compete against players up to age 20. In 26 appearances with the Crunch, Bucktooth showed he's got the touch around the net. He scored 19 goals and added 20 assists for 39 points.
Last June in Toronto, the Generals selected Bucktooth in the third round of the OHL priority selection draft. They showed their high regard for his abilities by gambling one of their precious early round picks on a player who won't technically be eligible for the draft until next year. As an underage player, Bucktooth could only be selected in one of the first four rounds.
"He wanted to be a General. He definitely wanted to be drafted by the Oshawa Generals and we're very pleased to have him on," Daniels said. "He's not going to be out there on a regular basis but he's definitely going to get his chances. And in most cases when you give him a chance, he scores. What more can you ask for?"
Bucktooth had considered an offer to play for the United States national under-18 team this season. This is the first year that hockey officials in the States have organized a full-time elite team in that age-group. The club is based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
But, in the end, Bucktooth decided the OHL would be best for his development. The Major Junior league - and the Generals in particular - have a proven reputation as a top feeder system for the National Hockey League.
"To play for any OHL team has been my goal since I was about seven years old," Bucktooth said.
Though he never attended an OHL contest, Bucktooth kept up on league events by watching as many games as possible on television.
And he's just thrilled that he's now occupying the dressing stall used by former General and current Philadelphia Flyers' captain Eric Lindros.
"He's somebody I really looked up to," Bucktooth said of the NHL superstar.
Although the Generals intend to bring Bucktooth along slowly, Daniels believes he, too, will eventually become a fan favorite.
"Coming into the O is a big jump, especially for a minor," Daniels said. "Because of his determination, though, I think he's going to be a very good hockey player."
Another reason - aside from being a first-year player - that Bucktooth is receiving limited ice time so far is because he's still recovering from an injury. He separated his right shoulder in the Generals' first exhibition game and missed the remainder of training camp and the first couple of weeks of the season.
"It doesn't feel that bad now," Bucktooth said on Oct. 12, following the Generals' 5 to 4 overtime victory over the Belleville Bulls, a game in which Bucktooth scoredonce. "But I'd say it's about 70 per cent."
Bucktooth scored his first OHL goal one week earlier against the North Bay Centennials. That puck will soon find a special home.
"They're taking care of it for me," Bucktooth said of the Oshawa team officials. "It's going on a little plaque."
As the defending OHL champions, the Generals lost the majority of their key players from last season to graduation. The new, younger version of the club lost its first six games this year. But the Gens then registered three consecutive victories.
"It just took us a while to start meshing because we've got so many new people," said Bucktooth, who started skating at age three and playing organized hockey a year later. "The team is really pulling together in the last few games, though, and we're starting to turn it around."
Generals' rookie head coach John Goodwin has been impressed with his under-age rookie.
"He's really shown a knack around the net," he said. "Every chance he's had, he's put in. He's got two goals already. Some 16-year-olds go the whole season without getting two goals. It's nice to see he's taking advantage of his chances."
Since he's considered a fourth-line player with the team now, Goodwin said he'd be very satisfied to get 10 goals out of Bucktooth this season.
"He may take it to the next level and jump up to the third line," Goodwin added. "But that's up to Drew. He's got to get stronger. But he's certainly a good kid. He's willing to listen and he works hard."
As with most OHL players, Bucktooth aspires to make it to the NHL. But Goodwin said it's far too early to be talking about Bucktooth's chances of fulfilling that goal.
"Everybody has got pro potential in this league," he said. "It depends how much you improve in those three years between 16 and 19. Some kids go up and some kids go down. So it is really too early to tell."
Goodwin though is confident Bucktooth will gradually move up the Gens' depth chart.
"I don't expect him to stay on the fourthline forever," he said. "He's a very talented kid."
Bucktooth realizes it's best to be patient.
"I'm just proud to be wearing the Oshawa Generals' sweater," he said. "If the playing time comes, that's good. But I'm just happy to be part of the team now. Hopefully I'll come back next year and be more of an impact player when I have a season under my belt."
Besides being a talented hockey player, Bucktooth also excels in lacrosse. Though he was just 15 at the time, he was named to the all-star team at the world junior (20 and under) field lacrosse championships in Japan last year, playing for the Iroquois Nationals.
He was also a member of the Iroquois Lacrosse Association side which placed third at this year's Founders Cup (Canadian Junior B box finals) tournament in Etobicoke, Ont. in August.
Goodwin said the Generals' brass likes the fact Bucktooth is an standout lacrosse player.
"That's a very tough sport so that doesn't hurt you when you're a 16-year-old and can make the jump up to this league," he said.
Though he's playing about four hours away from home, Bucktooth is still getting plenty of family support. His father Freeman and mother Joni plan on driving to most of the Generals' home games.
The Bucktooths also expect to attend road matches in centres east of Toronto, including Kingston, Ottawa, Peterborough and Belleville, Ont.
Over the years Freeman Bucktooth has coached Drew on various hockey and lacrosse teams. He's well aware his son is a talented athlete, but he said he's never really wondered how far his athletics could take him.
"To tell you the truth I never thought of it," said the elder Bucktooth. "It's his stream and his mom and I just kind of point him in the right direction and let him go. And then he's off and running."
If he keeps improving that stream could someday take him all the way to the NHL.
- 1259 views