Former Pete Patrick K aleta inspired Os man ski
Growing up near Buffalo, Austin Osmanski was a huge Buffalo Sabres fan and his favourite player was Patrick Kaleta.
Like Kaleta, Osmanski was drafted by his hometown Sabres, in the seventh-round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and like Kaleta once did he’s now playing for the Peterborough Petes.
“I wore 36 on my last team and all growing up because of him,” said Osmanski, who was acquired last month from the Mississauga Steelheads. “It’s kind of a similar story. Being from Buffalo and drafted by Buffalo. I’d go to games and watch him run around and crush guys. He was an exciting player to watch.”
Since being drafted Osmanski has developed a relationship with Kale ta, who now works in the Sabres community relations department, and has worked out with him.
“Ass oona sI was traded here and before I even got to Peterborough he text ed me and said it was a good place to play. He told me Jo dy( Hull) was the assistant coach when he played here and B-man (trainer Brian Miller) was here. I’m following in his path a little bit.”
Osmanski thinks Kaleta took a li king him to him because he is also a native New Yorker.
“He’s been really good to me and he let me know if I ever needed anything his number was there and I’ ve used him. He’s helped me a lot,” Osmanski said.
It was a dream come true when the Sabres selected him.
“It’s still kind of surreal with it being in Buffalo and being from Buffalo and being drafted by Buffalo,” Osmanski said.
“That’s a day I’m never going to forget. I still think it hasn’t completely settled in. I came to Peterborough so I could become more than a Sabres fan but a Sabres player. It was a good story at the start but now I’m focused on trying to make it happen.”
He wanted out of Mississauga because he wanted to play a big- ger role for his team and he’s done that in Peter borough. Not regarded as an offensive defenceman he’s got seven points in 10 games in Peterborough, just one shy of his total all last season.
“I knew I’ d be given a chance ,” he said .“There was a team that wanted mean date am that didn’ t want me. I want to play for the team that wants me. It’s been unbelievable with the guys and the coaches and we’ re winning. I’m really happy to be here.
“They made it clear before I got here I’m a guy who is supposed to shut down the other team’s best players and get the puck and move it to the forwards.
“I’ m not a points guy. I don’ t look at points at the end of the night. I look at plus-minus. I feel if I can get the puck from the other team and get it to our forwards, we have the best forward lineup in the whole league. I’m passing it to them and they’re getting me points.”
The Petes (10-5-0-1), and first in the OHL’s Eastern Conference, have a good opportunity to measure themselves against stiff competition this week. On Thursday they host the first overall Sarnia Sting (14-1-0-0), the Eastern Conference’ s second place Barrie Colts (9-4-1-0) visit Saturday and on Sunday they travel to Mississauga (5-9-0-0), who have won three straight after a slow start.
“It will be a good test for the guys ,” Osmanski said.
NOTES: Zach Gallant and Nick Isaacson will be evaluated Thursday by doctors before a firm timeline is put on their injuries. Gallant banged up his knee crashing into the boards and Petes head coach Jody Hull says he’s likely to be day-to-day. Isaac son suffered an upper body injury and he’ s expected to miss more significant time....
Nick Robertson is expected back Thursday from a cut mouth .... Pavel
Gogolev will return from a twogame suspension.... Petes fans are reminded to wear plaid for a United Way fund raise ron Thursday .... See Page C7 for a look at how the Sting are riding a 13- game winning streak into the game.