Frenemies like to play where everybody knows your game
Competitive no-contact loop camp before training camp for a few familiar NHLers
Ahh, the summer. Time for the cottage, a little vacation and for professional hockey players to get back on the ice.
The question is where to skate, and how hard.
Defenceman Steven Oleksy, briefly property of the Maple Leafs until he signed Sunday with the Anaheim Ducks, has an answer that works for many players.
He owns, operates and stars in Eastside Elite Hockey in Mt. Clemons, Mich., a summer league that brings together junior, college, semipro and pro players who live in the area. There are also leagues for women and high schoolers.
“It’s definitely not your regular beer league,” says Oleksy. “There’s more AdvoCare Rehydrate (an electrolyte replacement drink) going around the locker room.
“It’s a part of guys’ training regimen. Back in the old days, you might be able to get away with showing up to camp and putting the skates on for the first time and using camp to get in shape. These days, we’re expected to come into camp in game shape.
“As much as you skate, you can’t really get that. That’s why the league provides guys with game situations, game-type atmosphere. It’s ultra competitive.”
This is the league’s ninth season, and it has evolved to the point where sponsors are involved and an all-star game is held. There are no coaches, but there are referees and someone is tallying points and keeping track of scoring streaks (check out eastsideelitehockey.com). There are 11 teams in the senior division, with a schedule that wraps up at the end of July.
Some names you might recognize:
Dylan Larkin and Danny DeKeyser of the Detroit Red Wings, Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Alex DeBrincat of the Chicago Blackhawks are teammates on Tattoos By Loaf.
Vlad Namestnikov of the Tampa Bay Lightning and ex-Leaf Seth Griffith, now a Buffalo Sabre, skate for 2SP.
“It’s a fun, good way to stay in shape,” says Oleksy.
The quality of competition is what makes the league so valuable, says Griffith.
“It’s not like summer shinny at all,” he says. “It’s better than shinny. You’re not hitting or anything like that, but (it helps you get) back to game-play mindset . . . You play with your buddies, there are 12 regularseason games and playoffs and it gets chippy and guys get angry. It is really competitive.”
It’s also brought together players who have been rivals on the ice. Take Oleksy and Griffith. They both admit they hated each other after squaring off for years in the AHL.
“Last year (2015), when I was in Wilkes-Barre, we were heavy underdogs to Providence,” says Oleksy. “I had the honour of matching up against him. The way I play and the way he plays don’t mesh too well. I tried to beat him up pretty good. He had a couple of goals. We battled and we ended up beating them in three games, cut their season short.
“We come home, and I find out he registered for my summer league.”
Griffith says signing up wasn’t easy to do after their playoff battles, but Namestnikov convinced him.
“I kept saying: I don’t know if I should join this league, I hate this guy,” says Griffith. “But (Namestnikov) is like: ‘It’s a fun league, come out and play.’ And I remember walking up there shaking (Oleksy’s) hand and I can’t believe I’m shaking this guy’s hand. But he ended up being a pretty good guy, so it worked out.”
When Oleksy was traded to the AHL’s Marlies, the Leafs’ affiliate, at the deadline this past season while Griffith was still in the organization, the two became even closer.
“Me and Seth, I hated him,” says Oleksy. “And then you become good buddies. It’s kind of funny how this summer league brings everybody together.”
For Oleksy, now 31, the league is a labour of love. Undrafted and coming out of Lake Superior State University, he wasn’t sure what his future held. As things have turned out, he’s played 73 NHL games with Washington and Pittsburgh to go with a long minor-league career.
“It was my junior year in college, and I never thought I was going to play a game of hockey after college,” says Oleksy. “I had to figure out what I wanted to do. So I had the idea and started (the league) up. It grew and grew.
“What it’s become, and the players who have come through, it’s pretty incredible to not only be apart of it, but to be in charge of it. It’s been a fun experience.”
“It’s kind of funny how this summer league brings everyone together.” DEFENCEMAN STEVEN OLEKSY ON EASTSIDE ELITE HOCKEY