Werek's World - Part 3

The Pipeline Show is excited to bring you a series of guest player blogs by some of the top players eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. For a complete recap of the blogs so far, click on '2009 Guest Blogs' under 'Labels' down the right-hand side of your screen. To date we have heard from John Moore, defenceman with the Chicago Steel in the USHL, and Ethan Werek of the Kingston Frontenacs. We recently announced that Dylan Olsen, Camrose Kodiaks blueliner, will also be on board in the very near future. Two more players have verbally agreed to participate and a couple more are potentially on our list as well.

Here now is the latest entry from Ethan Werek:

No hockey, what to do with my time?

Now that hockey is over I’ve had a lot of free time on my hands. Well to catch you up to speed I’ll talk about the Kingston Frontenacs final weekend of the year. We started off on a Tuesday where it was the last time Brian Kilrea would travel into the limestone city. We had an awesome opening ceremony. After honouring Ottawa’s “Killer” it was also Military night where a huge tank was driven around the ice and soldiers were shimming down from the top of the building: it was pretty cool to see. Now back to the game, after getting down we came back to tie it up with 33 seconds left. We took them to a shoot out, but fell short.

We then travelled to Peterborough for the last time for a Thursday night game. We played a solid game but fell short on the wall with Jason Mission between the pipes for the Petes. We were back at it on Friday at home for the last time of the year against the Oshawa team that was fighting for the final play-off spot in the East. We had an awful start to the game, but we dominated the second and third and pulled out a win. It was a great way to end the year at home and our fans gave us an amazing standing ovation.

We had Saturday off, from hockey that is, however I had to spend the day buried in books in the Library here at Queens, trying to write Politics papers. I finally finished most of my papers just in time to go to Boston Pizza where the billets of our only over-ager, Andris Dzerins, threw a going away dinner for him. He didn’t know about it and he was really surprised to see all the boys there. The next day the end of our year was upon us as we went up to Ottawa to finish up a disappointing year.

It was also the last regular season game for Ottawa in which Brian Kilrea (pictured) would take his place behind the bench in the Civic Center. It was an amazing honor ceremony-- the best that I have ever seen. A captain from each decade that he coached was there and many other notable guests. I have to say personally it was amazing to play for Mr. Kilrea at the Top Prospects game. He was so emotional and had so much energy in the game. I heard before I went to the Prospects, that he stood in the middle of the ice during practice but I didn’t really think much of it, until our practice at the Prospects. It was truly amazing: pucks are missing him by inches and guys are almost running him over, but he stands his ground. I am currently reading Don Cherry’s book, and there is a good section in it talking about Mr. Kilrea and how he is the reason for the NHL players Union and how he was a “team first” type of guy. Having had the opportunity to play for him was a great experience.

Now back to the game. There was no beating Ottawa on “Killer’s” night: we fell short and ended the year off on a sour note. However, it was great to walk out after the game and see a bus load of our fans there. We really do have the best fans in the “O.” It was a tough bus ride home, knowing that hockey was over for the year and we won’t be able to go on a play off run. On Monday we had individual meetings with the coaches and all of the boys went back home but I had to stay here in Kingston to finish up school at Queens.

It’s been hard to change my daily routine of going to breakfast club in the morning and practice in the afternoon. I was planning on taking a week off at the end of the year, but I couldn’t stand all the free time so on that Wednesday I started working out and skating. It’s tough getting used to not having my usual Friday night dinner of Chicken and rice, but I am already looking forward to next year.

Ethan Werek
#25

Ethan Werek is ranked 26th overall by International Scouting Services (Feb '09) and 43rd in North America by NHL Central Scouting (mid-term rankings). The 6.05' and 191 lbs forward ended the OHL year with 32 goals and 64 points in 66 games this year with Kingston.

Werek is expected to be on the roster when Hockey Canada announces their 2009 U18 team that will play in Fargo beginning April 9th.

(photos courtesy: The Kingston Frontenacs, CHL, )