Lethbridge, Alberta. Population 83,960. A Hawk hails from this hockey hotbed. He's a 22-year-old winger of Dutch descent.
His name is Kris Versteeg.
And guess who's leading NHL rookies on the scoresheet three weeks into the 2008-2009 season?
Versteeg.
Not heavily-hyped Steve Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning (1 point, 8 games), subject of a mass marketing campaign in central Florida with billboards, commercials, the whole deal. Not Russian sensation Nikita Filatov of the Columbus Blue Jackets (1 point, 4 games). Not highly-touted Minnesota product Kyle Okposo of the New York Islanders. Getting warmer, but just 3 points in 7 games for him.
It's Versteeg, who's compiled an impressive 8 points (2g, 6a) in Chicago's first 9 games.
"I don't try to think about it too much," Versteeg told Blackhawks TV. "No one ever put any money on me to win this little scoring race thing. I expect it for myself to have fun with this whole thing and go out there and try to get wins, in that column, worry about that stat more than my personal ones."
Sounds like a good ole' Canadian kid, who rose from humble beginnings in a tight-knit community that just can't get enough of the game of hockey.
Lethbridge - south of Calgary and about an hour, 15-minute drive from the Montana border - has produced 11 NHLers prior to Versteeg, including defenseman Jamie Pushor, who spent time with Detroit, Anaheim, Dallas, Columbus, Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers from 1995 to 2006. But none have had a start quite like this.
Downtown Lethridge. Photo by Kim Siever, mymaxwellhouse.ca
It's been a long time coming for Versteeg. Just to make it to the National Hockey League that is.
At age 16, he was playing for his hometown Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League in 2002-2003. He recorded a modest 18 points in 57 games.
He upped his performance for Lethbridge the following year, with 49 points (16g) in 68 games.
He upped it again in 2004-2005 with 52 points (22g) in 68 games.
He's a classic case of a kid who just keeps giving it his all, gradually improves over time, and just hopes to crack a shot at the pros someday.
The Boston Bruins gave him that shot, when they drafted him in the 5th round in 2004.
He never saw a game in the classic golden brown sweater, and the Chicago Blackhawks gave him a second shot, when he was traded to the Hawks in 2007 for Brandon Bochenski.
Last year, Versteeg was a continuous scoring threat for Chicago's AHL Rockford Wolves. In 56 games, he tallied 49 points (18g). He earned 13 games with the parent club, but could only manage two goals and two assists last year.
He spent the entire summer prepping for 2008-2009. Now he's not just in the NHL. He's a legitimate threat.
"You can tell he's excited, coming right in out of training camp," linemate Jonathan Toews told Blackhawks TV. "He's doing a lot of the same things me and Kaner got to do last year. You come in, you're excited, and he's making an impact right now."
The list of the league's top rookies at this early stage of 08-09 reads like a promotion for the Western Conference:
1. Kris Versteeg, Chicago, 9 games, 8 points
2. Jakub Voracek, Columbus, 9 games, 7 points
3. Derick Brassard, Columbus, 9 games, 7 points
4. Fabian Brunnstrom, Dallas, 7 games, 6 points
5. Brandon Crombeen, Dallas, 9 games, 5 points
6. Jannik Hansen, Vancouver, 9 games, 4 points
7. Oscar Moller, Los Angeles, 8 games, 4 points
8. James Neal, Dallas, 9 games, 4 points
9. Ryan Jones, Nashville, 7 games, 4 points
10. Kyle Turris, Phoenix, 7 games, 4 points
The first Eastern Conference representative is at No. 13. Nikolai Kulemin of the Toronto Maple Leafs has 3 points in 9 games.
With Chicago and Dallas playing Friday, what's the chances of Versteeg, Brunnstrom, Crombeen or Neal getting at least one point? I'd say pretty high. Close to 100 percent.
But as far as the Lethbridge native is concerned, he could care less.
"Personally, it doesn't really matter to me how any other rookie does in this league," Versteeg said on Blackhawks TV. "All I care about is the win column for the Chicago Blackhawks, because we've got a great team in here, and once you put yourself before team it will never work out good."
I'm telling you, the Hawks' newest kid is all class.
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Craig Kanalley
Craig is a native of Buffalo, N.Y., home of the chicken wing, frigid winters, the Sabres and the Bills. He is a major league sports fan and most closely follows hockey. More
Comments
You ask how I do find your blog? Well for me it is one of the best one's. I like it cause I get lots of information which I was looking for. Thx.
10 yeasr ago I spent one of my best weeks ever in Lethbridge togehter with some near and dear friends *sigh*
I'm not much into sports, though.
I must say - This has been one of the most intereting seasons in a while. The drop in commercials and marketing of the sport since the missing season seems to have helped us get some of the game back.
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