Nowhere to hide
Top picks such as Philip Tomasino of the IceDogs make the jump to the OHL under a harsh spotlight
There is always a little trepidation when your first-round draft pick takes his first steps on the ice at training camp.
Scouting is more of an art than science. Is he as good as advertised? What happens with his first taste of adversity? How will he react?
For his entire life, he has been the best player on the ice. He was the first over the boards. He’s never competed for a spot on the power-play — or in the lineup.
Yes, the team scouted him relentlessly. His every move on the ice scrutinized.
He was interviewed by the GM before the draft. Team officials talked to his coaches and parents. No stone was left unturned.
But for every Connor McDavid and Mitch Marner, there are first-round busts. Happens every year.
A lot rides on the slender shoulders of a 16-year-old hockey prodigy in Canada. Everyone tells him, “No pressure, kid. You were drafted for a reason. Just get out there and show everyone what you can do.”
But he is competing against older players who are more physically mature, the cream of the junior crop. He has to battle for every inch of ice. They all know who he is — and want nothing more than to put him in his place.
If you think about it, it’s no mystery why some fail. Here’s an even bigger question. How do elite teenage athletes overcome it all — and thrive?
It’s early, but the Niagara IceDogs like what they see from this year’s first-round pick, Philip Tomasino. He is off to a fast start at training camp. You can tell. Everyone on the staff smiles when asked about him.
“He can skate in the OHL right now,” head coach Billy Burke said. “He could have skated in the OHL last year. He has vision and skill. He is a complete package. To see him on the ice confirmed that.
Everyone is a lot bigger and a lot faster. I have to adjust my game and think faster.” Phil Tomasino, IceDogs No. 1 draft pick
“There is always a bit of anticipation. Is he as good as you think he is? He blew us all away. He was outstanding with his puck decisions and his vision.”
Tomasino was the fifth-overall pick in last spring’s OHL Priority Selection Draft. He played his minor midget season with the Mississauga Rebels and led them to the GTHL championship, scoring 37 goals with 31 assists in 54 games.
Sitting in the stands between scrimmages, Tomasino said he was ready for camp after a summer of training. He couldn’t wait to get going.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound centre said he wasn’t surprised by anything that happened on the ice so far.
“Everyone told me the speed and the size is a big difference,” he said. “Everyone is a lot bigger and a lot faster. I have to adjust my game and think faster. I have to move the puck and pay attention. At this level, the guys will find you. The puck will come back. My main focus right now is learning from the veteran guys and gaining some experience.”
“Overall it has been a great experience. I’m through the first day now. We will see how the rest of camp goes. Everyone has been so great to be around. I’m looking forward to hopefully being part of this team in Niagara.”
He took a quick look around Meridian Centre with its 5,000 seats, luxury boxes, and video scoreboard.
“It’s unreal to be a part of all this.”
Billy Burke said his brother, Joey Burke — who has assumed the GM reins in the spring — was “pounding the table” to draft Tomasino during predraft meetings. He was relieved when Tomasino was still there at No. 5.
“As a coach, you have a bit of feel for the draft picks from seeing them in the OHL Cup and the playoffs and the all-star games — but Joey and the scouts are out all the time,” Billy Burke said. “They get a read on the players.
“It’s fortunate and unfortunate that we had a top-five pick. It’s fortunate we were able to get a guy like Phil. It’s unfortunate we finished eighth. On the flip side, he was a guy that was in conversations about who would go first overall.”
Tomasino joined the last two top picks for the IceDogs — Ben Jones and Akil Thomas — on the ice this week for a series of intersquad scrimmages.
Jones will leave in September for the Las Vegas Knights’ training camp. He was drafted in the seventh round.
Thomas is expected to be a high pick in this June’s NHL draft. Some think he will be first OHL player selected. He also knows what Tomasino is facing as an OHL rookie and a high draft pick.
“You want to be humble, but, at the same time, you also can’t over-estimate everyone you are playing against,” Thomas said. “I did that last year in the beginning. At some point in October, I knew I could play with these guys.
“If you are a rookie coming in, you are going to be nervous, but you also have to know that you belong here. It is going to ramp up quickly for him.”
The first exhibition game is Friday in Thorold against the Barrie Colts at 7 p.m.
Burke said most rookies struggle in the OHL. Jones had five goals and six assists in 63 games in his first season. Thomas scored 21 goals and collected 27 assists in 61 games as a first-year player. That’s a good rookie season in the OHL. It’s also the exception.
“It’s tough,” Billy Burke said. “It’s a huge jump. They are playing against guys who carry themselves and prepare like pros. They have to learn to train and eat properly.
“With 16-year-olds, you want them watching and listening, do a little less talking. It’s a little bit of a game of survival early on. There are one-percenters like Akil — who come in and have success right away — but that is extremely rare.
“Hopefully, Phil can have that success, but there are lots of examples of players that are in and out of the lineup that first year. It can take some time to get adjusted.”