Sparks wants to continue on winning team
TORONTO — Not only is Garret Sparks a Calder Cup champion and American Hockey League goalie of the year, but he did something else that he’s also proud of.
He led his summer men’s league team in Vernon Hills, Ill., in scoring with 16 goals and 14 assists in 10 games.
“I play left wing. I’m not playing goalie,” says Sparks.
And his team, Lemonhead HC, won the championship, too.
“Sixth time in seven years,” says Sparks.
His AHL championship run inspired Sparks to have a different kind of summer.
“I allowed myself to relax,” said Sparks. “I stepped away from the game. I got out of the net. I went home, enjoyed my family, I relaxed.
“I wasn’t running around the country trying to run goalie camps, and trying to make other people better. I was really happy with how our season went, and I elected to enjoy it. You work all season to win, and when you win, you should enjoy it.”
Sparks is about as endearing a character as there is around the Maple Leafs, a throwback to when goalies were always just a little bit different, unafraid to be themselves in public or when microphones are around.
Sparks stopped everything that Ottawa shot at him in the half game he played in Lucan, Ont., on Tuesday night, his opening salvo at trying to win the backup goaltender’s job.
“I knew everybody wanted to see a good hockey game, so I tried to be at my best,” said Sparks. “I wanted to be at my best, remain calm, let the puck come to me. It was an interesting game. The ice surface was, um, non-traditional. There were some bouncing pucks. It really challenged my focus and how bad you want to make the save.”
Curtis McElhinney is the incumbent to back up Frederik Andersen. He started Tuesday’s game, allowing one goal in the first minute and nothing after that. Calvin Pickard, who shared duties with Sparks with the Marlies last year, is also up for the job. Pickard and Andersen were on the Leaf roster in Ottawa on Wednesday night.
The 35-year-old McElhinney has done nothing to lose the job. But both Sparks and Pickard are almost a decade younger. Some believe the Leafs will keep one of those two rather than risk losing them through waivers.
“You got four goalies on oneway contracts, that’s the reality of the situation,” said Sparks. “Two guys are going to have to clear through waivers (to go to the AHL). There’s going to have to be movement. I’ve been in Toronto seven years now. I don’t want to leave.”
In terms of longevity only Nazem Kadri (drafted in 2009) and Jake Gardiner (acquired in a trade in ’10) have belonged to the Maple Leafs longer than Sparks, a seventh-round pick in the 2011 National Hockey League draft. Josh Leivo was a third-rounder that year.
Sparks says he would rather stay in Toronto than be claimed on waivers.
“It’s a non-contest at this point,” said Sparks. “Look at this team right now. I don’t want to leave. I want to be a part of this. I’ve been a part of it since 2011. I’m going to work every day to work to ensure I can continue to be a part of it.”
Sparks says his unique offseason approach refreshed him and reduced his anxiety coming into camp. He says his mind is still in Game 7 mode.
“I didn’t change what I was doing, I didn’t feel any different in September than in the end of June, except that I felt recharged and re-energized,” said Sparks.
Sparks grew up winning state and national championships with his school teams in Illinois. He didn’t win in his three years in Guelph.
“Three years of junior hockey, you don’t make it out of the first round, that weighed on me,” said Sparks. “I didn’t like coming home in April every year. Everyone was still in school. I just sat there alone, twiddled my thumbs, and waited for everyone to be done with their stuff. It’s no fun.
“Whenever you can play till mid-June, and bring home a trophy, everyone is waiting for you and they’re all excited, you have to take the time to enjoy it, because it allows you to realize what it could be at the next level, too.”
On his day with the Calder
Cup, Sparks had it in his house in Elmhurst, Ill., with his family, friends and local goalies who were drawn to it.
As for how he’d rate his day with the Calder Cup?
“Seven out of 10. I want a better Cup. It was definitely good, but it wasn’t that good. There’s definitely a hunger for more.”