Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Sniping for his spot
Puck release skills should help draftee on road to roster spot
Panthers’ pick has NHL-ready release, speed and size.
CORAL SPRINGS — Whether Owen Tippett walks into a room or is on the ice, he clearly stands out.
His fiery shock of red hair is hard to ignore. However, far more relevant to his future and the Florida Panthers is the No. 10 draft pick’s lightning-quick release of a booming shot that is being compared to puck-sniping Penguins All-Star right wing Phil Kessel, who has had five seasons of 30 goals or more.
While some 18-year-olds would shy away from such comparisons, Tippett — confidently and without a trace of cockiness — welcomes it.
“I personally believe I have the upside of Phil Kessel with the shot and the speed that he has, as well as the capability to make plays,” Tippett said Friday at the conclusion of the Panthers’ weeklong development camp at the IceDen.
Tippett, a soft-spoken teen, wasn’t always this confident. A revealing profile by Sportsnet touched upon some personal obstacles that Tippett had to overcome during his journey toward the NHL.
Bullied by his 12-year-old peers on the local rinks of his hometown of Peterborough, Ontario, because of his advanced skills, Tippett was on the verge of quitting hockey. His mother, Tracy, concerned about her son, eventually moved the seventh-grader to Toronto. On the advice of cousin Mitch Stephens, 20, a third-round draft pick by the Lightning last year, she enrolled Owen at Premier Elite Athletes’ Collegiate academy.
“It’s something that I battled through and kept my mind on the little dream I had,” Tippett said. “It’s been tough, but it’s been my dream to play in the NHL. So I just kept that in mind and pushed through.”
Because of job responsibilities and finances, the
Tippetts split up, with Owen’s father and older sister Joscelin, who was starting high school, remaining in Peterborough. As it was, Owen’s parents were in the midst of a divorce; he’s still estranged from his father.
“[My mother] always drove me to practices and games, wherever I needed to be to develop my game, where I need to be a hockey player,” Tippett said. “She’s my No. 1 supporter on and off the ice. If I ever need anything, she’s the first one to help.”
It was Tracy Tippett who looked the other way when her son would spent hours slapping pucks in the driveway, breaking windows and denting the garage door.
“It was my windows I broke, so she said, ‘It’s your luck, you got to deal with it now,’ ” smiled Tippett.
His shot became so impressive that he scored 52 goals for the Toronto Red Wings Minor Midget AAA team at 15. He moved up to the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, where he met coach Dan Sullivan, who has become something of a surrogate father.
“He played hockey; he’d gone through it, so he helped me with stuff on and off the ice,” Tippett said of Sullivan, a former ECHL player. “It’s been great to have someone like that on my side if I ever need anything.”
While at Premier in Toronto, Tippett was able to watch older classmate Connor McDavid, the NHL’s reigning MVP coming off a league-best 100-point season, display his skills.
“He was 16 or 17 when I met him,” Tippett said. “Every one of us on the ice would take a step back and say, ‘Wow!’ It’s pretty eyeopening, and it’s something you can remember and say, ‘Hey, I went to school with that kid.’ ”
Now Tippett, who scored 44 goals for Mississauga (OHL) last season, hopes to play against McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers as early as this season.
Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon said after the draft that overcoming some personal issues has made Tippett mature beyond his years. He already owns an NHL-ready shot while inhabiting a muscular 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame.
Toss in the recent departure of four of Florida’s for- wards, and the door of opportunity is wide open for Tippett to land one of the 23 roster spots in October.
“We’re building a team that’s going to be around for a long time, and we’ll give him every opportunity to play this year,” Tallon said. “What we needed in our depth chart was a sniper, a guy who can score, a pure scorer, a shooter because we have a lot of passers and playmakers.
“I watched him play all year … and he’s got the ability to no-look and still shoot it and surprise goaltenders. That’s something we haven’t had for a while.”
Brian McCabe, the Panthers’ director of player development, was impressed by Tippett during prospects camps last week.
“He fit in seamlessly,” McCabe said. “He’s a good character kid, big body. Worked his butt off and took it all in, learned, had his eyes and ears open all week.
“Physically, he’ll be ready to play [this season]. We’ll have to see if he’s mentally ready to leave home. If he’s ready for that long battle, an 82-game schedule, he’ll decide that by his play.”
Panthers coach Bob Boughner, who owns the Windsor Spitfires (OHL), has followed Tippett’s career since the teen was 13.
“He’s dynamic and has always been an unreal skater with a great release that’s obviously going to relate up here as well,” Boughner told NHL Network radio. “The way the NHL game is going with speed, offense and pace, he’s got all three of those, so I look forward to seeing him at main camp.”
After a whirlwind month, Tippett, who’s comfortable at right or left wing, will return to Peterborough and rest before hitting the gym to add muscle. He’ll then return to the ice to work on his defensive skills, so he can give himself the best opportunity to play for the Panthers rather than return to junior.
“I just will be the person I am. I believe that’s what got me here,” Tippett said. “It’s too late to change now, on and off the ice, just keep going. Making the team should be everyone’s mindset. If you work hard enough to get it, then the odds may be on your side. If that’s the end result, I’ll be very happy.”