Todd Fiddler clicking in Prince George
Todd Fiddler has bounced from team to team in his WHL career.
His most recent stop in Moose Jaw was short and not-so-sweet.
But things have sure changed for Fiddler since joining the Prince George Cougars in November.
“Whatever happened in Moose Jaw happened. I don’t even know what happened,” said Cougars head coach Mark Holick, whose team plays the Saskatoon Blades on Wednesday.
“What I told him when he got here was that it was a clean slate. It’s a chance to come in and resurrect himself. He’s done that. He’s been like found money. He’s been awesome.”
Fiddler has played 32 games since being dealt from Moose Jaw for a conditional fifth-round pick on Nov. 4.
The Meadow Lake product has 28 goals and 54 points during that time.
Fiddler is white hot entering Wednesday’s contest. He’s recorded 14 goals and 26 points in 12 games this month and scored twice in a 6-5 shootout win over Prince Albert on Monday.
“It’s been great, right from the start,” Fiddler said. “Right when I got there everything started clicking. It seemed natural to be here.”
Fiddler scored 42 goals and added 35 assists as a 19-yearold winner for Spokane. He was dealt to Moose Jaw — his fourth WHL team — in the off-season in exchange for a third-rounder.
It was a move designed to provide Moose Jaw with some over-age offensive punch. It didn’t turn out that way. Although he earned 10 points in 14 games with Moose Jaw, five of those points came in one game.
Fiddler was a healthy scratch in two of three contests before he and the team parted ways at the end of October.
“It’s funny. Maybe some guys can get through to some kids and some guys can’t,” Holick said. “With Fidds, for me personally, I trust our 20-year-olds a lot and gave him a little bit of rope. He’s certainly run with it.
“I just asked him to come and compete and come and work and be a good example for our younger players. He’s done all that.”
At the time, Fiddler thought playing Junior A would be a better option. His family and agent, Jason Davidson, convinced him to give the WHL another shot.
So it was on to team No. 5 when the Cougars came calling.
“I wanted to challenge myself,” said the 5-foot-11, 210-pound winger. “I didn’t want to step down. I’m glad I made the right decision.”
Fiddler was picked in the third round of the 2008 WHL bantam draft by Medicine Hat.
He broke into the league on a full-time basis with Prince Albert in 2010-11 and earned 38 points in 70 games as a 17-year-old.
Regression followed in his sophomore season as he managed just 28 points while playing 73 games between Prince Albert and Spokane.
The ability to bring his best effort on a nightly basis wasn’t always his strongest suit. “When I was a young guy, I needed a little kick in the butt sometimes and a good yelling from the older guys,” Fiddler said.
That’s changed in Prince George.
“He’s helped a lot,” said fellow over-ager and linemate Klarc Wilson. “He’s pretty easy to play with. He’s got good, explosive speed. You feed him the puck and he’ll most likely score from anywhere.”
Holick admittedly has got more than he bargained for.
Sure, Fiddler’s wicked shot has been a boon to the team, but so has his ability to kill penalties and lead by example.
“I think the surprising thing for me is he’s helped out our dressing room a lot more than people give him credit for,” Holick said.
“There’s no coaxing at all. I don’t know if I’ve said 10 words to him since he’s been here. He’s been a real pleasure to have.”
Holick added that Fiddler’s efforts, especially if they continue, could entice pro teams to sign him for next season.
But with the Cougars in ninth in the Western Conference, eight points back of Tri-City for the final post-season berth, Fiddler’s not ready to think too much about that yet.
“If I could get any pro tryout I’d be honoured and thrilled,” he said. “I just want to make the playoffs as a 20-year-old. I don’t want to leave empty-handed.”