Draft Dogs part two: Ryan Strome
“We’ll have to wait in our seats when they call ‘Niagara IceDogs’ to see what name they call after. But, I’m sure I’ll look over at him and he’ll look over at me. We’ll give each other a handshake after and congratulate.”
Ryan Strome, the man responsible for the quotation above and recipient of the OHL Player of the Month for January, is referring to the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and the possibility of both himself and teammate, Dougie Hamilton getting picked in its first round.
While his words may sound presumptuous to some, considering the time remaining and volatility of draft prospects in general, they likely don’t know Strome or his unruffled demeanour.
Instead of getting caught up in the hoopla of the draft, the Mississauga, Ontario native is simply aware of his surroundings, conscious of what may materialize in St. Paul, Minnesota when prospects’ names are rhymed off one-by-one this coming June.
This brand of intuition is what makes Strome the competitor that he is.
His incredible vision and willingness to truly comprehend the game has been a part of each and every one of the 29 goals, 64 assists and 93 points that the 6’1″, 183-pounder has amassed over just 57 games this season. Couple those assets with soft hands and creativity and things tend to come full circle on a regular basis – and then some.
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“I had high expectations for myself but I think I kind of exceeded them in the points category. But, I mean, that’s not really the most important thing. I’m just happy to be on the top two lines here,” said the Toronto Marlboro’s minor hockey organization graduate. “It’s a privilege to play here.”
To date, the brother to two younger Strome kids in the Marlboro system has netted three points or more in 15 of the 57 games he has suited up for during his draft year. That calculates to once every 3.8 games that head coach Marty Williamson can rely on Strome to obliterate the box score.
In the month of January, Strome elevated his play, registering four tallies and 22 helpers over 13 matches. He hasn’t taken his foot off the gas since, scoring in seven straight games to begin the month of February – with a minor two-game speed bump in between games six and seven to nurse an upper body injury.
Considering that there appears to be no letting up in the 17-year-old’s game, it’s no wonder the city of St. Catharines is abuzz over their leading scorer. Fittingly, Strome’s a huge fan of the city and its fans as well, citing The Jack as a fantastic venue for the club due to its atmosphere and overall feel.
When asked which franchise he prefers in terms of an ideal NHL destination, Strome admitted to being a die-hard Toronto Maple Leafs supporter, but quickly noted that he is in no way picky when it comes to franchises that he would be happy to play for.
His thoughts are clearly elsewhere as he and his teammates are on pace to jog past their previous franchise record for victories (42 in 2007-08; 38 so far this year) and points (85 in 2007-08; 82 so far this year) in their fourth season in St. Catharines.
Come June, Ryan Strome and Dougie Hamilton’s presence at the Xcel Energy Centre in Minnesota may be a historical occasion for the Niagara IceDogs as they would be the first pair to go in the first round of the same draft.
But the most compelling part of the evening will be when they find out whose name will follow the first mention of the “Niagara IceDogs”.
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