• Ranked in the top 20 in OHL scoring with 85 points and led the Battalion in goals with 40 in 68 games in 2007-08 – he had five goals in five playoff games before Brampton was eliminated in the first round. 

• Voted as the smartest player in the Eastern Conference, ahead of Ottawa 67’s forward Logan Couture, in the 2008 OHL Coaches Poll.
  

• Helped lead Team Ontario to the gold medal at the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
  

• Grew up playing for the Markham Waxers with Sarnia Sting’s Steven Stamkos (ranked first overall) and Oshawa Generals’ Michael Del Zotto (ranked 15th overall).
  

• Started skating at the age of two and played hockey in Haliburton, Ontario before moving to Markham at age seven.
  

• He patterns his game after Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby “because he loves to compete, he’s the best player in the game and he’s fun to watch”.
  

• He played his first year of hockey with the Haliburton Huskies in 1994-95 before playing five years with the Markham Waxers in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and two years with the Toronto Junior Canadiens in the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
  

• His Markham Waxers coach, Paul Titanic, has had the most influence on his career -- “because he really taught me the fundamentals that have helped me through my career”.
  

• He wears number 19 after his childhood idol Steve Yzerman and his most memorable hockey moment was winning gold at the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
  

• The most embarrassing song on his iPod is “Hung Up” by Madonna and if he could be in any one movie it would be Happy Gilmour.

FAVORITES

NHL Team: Detroit

NHL Player: Sidney Crosby

Shootout move:  “Forehand to backhand deke over the blocker”

Goal celebration: Fist Pump

Practice Drill: “2 on 2 with the nets against the side boards”

Video Game: NHL 2008

Movie: Invincible

TV Show: The Simpsons

Actor/Actress: Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson

Group: U2

Website: NHL.com

Book: The 8th Habit by Steven Covey

Pump-up song: “Shine” by Collective Soul

Food to cook: Steak

Sport (other than hockey): Chess and waterskiing

Toy growing up: Mini sticks

Place to shop: National Sports

Place to visit: Cottage in Haliburton

STATISTICS