UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE

by Ihor Stelmach

Talk about coincidences, or perhaps ironies. The very same day Wayne Gretzky was scheduled to create still more history by skating in the Heritage Classic (outdoor game) in Edmonton - supposedly the only old-timers game he says he'll ever play - another Gretzky planned on carving up the ice and adding to his own personal legend, albeit on an entirely lesser level.

Certainly there is no comparison between the career accomplishments of Wayne and his little brother, Brent. But mention passion for their chosen sport of hockey and good luck trying to distinguish between the two brothers. The youngest of the three hockey-playing Gretzky boys at age 31, is in his 12th year as a pro, playing for his 12th team in his sixth league. For the record, in case anyone asks, he's absolutely loving every minute of it.

"I was talking to somebody and I said, doctors go to school for half their life to become a doctor and that's what I've done for the last 25 years - learned to play hockey," says Brent, who was second in United Hockey League scoring with 12 goals, 5 assists and 17 points in his first 11 games before falling off a bit. His 12th employer is in Port Huron, Mich., the Beacons. "That's my schooling and this is my job. When I get to the rink and put my skates on, I work my best. And you know what, it's a pretty easy job."

Just like his older brother Keith, who played junior hockey in Brantford, Windsor, Belleville and Hamilton before embarking on a six-year pro career, Brent always faced high expectations because of his last name. (Brother Keith is currently employed as a scout by Wayne's Phoenix Coyotes.)

Little brother was a scoring machine in junior hockey, including 43 goals and 121 points in 62 games in his third season with Belleville. Those impressive scoring stats did not earn him an automatic pass into the NHL. As was the norm back then with most graduating junior players, he started in the minor leagues, with Atlanta of the International Hockey League. Brent had been selected 43rd overall by the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992.

"Being naive, 20 years old, I figured coming into a new situation with an expansion team that wasn't established, you're already part of the team," Brent says. "I think I could have trained a little harder leading into the season as far as speed or strength in the legs - like my big brother always did. People always thought he was slow, but his speed was deceptive and he was pretty hard to knock down."

The youngest Gretzky enjoyed two rock solid campaigns in Atlanta and even got a 10-game cup of coffee with the parent Lightning in 1993-1994. A three-game look-see followed a year later. He managed a goal and three points in his first visit to the NHL and an assist in the second call-up.

Brent readily admits he'll forever cherish making it to the best league in the world, even if it didn't last very long. And he'll definitely never forget how his first call-up ended.

"I remember I was in the shower at the old (Boston) Garden and (Tampa Bay GM) Phil Esposito poked his head in and said, 'Gretz, I'm sorry, but I've got to send you down," says Brent with the same robust laugh Wayne has made famous. "It wasn't so bad except two nights before I paid $3,500 for a rookie dinner party. That part kind of bit."

An innocent observer of his pro hockey bio might surmise that, because of how many teams he's played on over the years, his career has not been too satisfying. Perish the thought. The truth is the exactly opposite.

"Moving around is part of the whole experience," Brent says. "I got to see parts of the world I probably wouldn't have if I were doing something else. I was part of two championship teams (in the IHL with the 1994 Atlanta Knights and 2000 Chicago Wolves) and I won a scoring title (in 1999-2000 with Asheville of the UHL), so I'm pleased with the way things have gone."

No doubt about it, was there ever tons of pressure to exceed expectations that came with the label of the Gretzky name. Even The Great One understands this point.

"I was saying how much pressure there was on my own kids," Wayne says. "I can't imagine how tough it was for my brothers. But I think they handled it well. Brent plays the game because he loves it."

Brent simply laughs away the thought of Gretzky name pressure. He claims middle brother Keith had it worse, being the next immediate Gretzky to enter the limelight after Wayne.

"Sure it was hard, but my parents helped us along the way," Brent says. "Of course with the Gretzky name, doors will open up, but it's up to us to keep our own jobs and if we don't produce, we're not going to stay. There's always somebody that isn't happy with what we're doing, like we're still riding coattails, but those types of people just make you want to play harder to prove them wrong."

These days Brent isn't quite sure how much longer he'll keep playing. He and his wife, Nicole, bought a house last year and with three children, son Luke, 8, and daughters Avary, 4, and Mila, 2, Brent is seriously thinking of a career change. He says he'd like to become a police officer.

"I've always loved the army thing, growing up as a boy," Brent says. "It has that whole team atmosphere - somebody watching your back."

Until then he'll continue doing what he loves to do best - skate, set up his linemates, score goals and try to help his Port Huron Beacons win the United League championship.

Brent Gretzky played 13 NHL games in Tampa in the mid-1990s. He also played with the following teams.

Belleville (OHL), 1989-1992
Atlanta (IHL), 1992-1995
St. John's (AHL), 1995-1996
Pensacola (ECHL), 1996-1997
Las Vegas (IHL), 1996-1997
Quebec (IHL), 1996-1997
Graz EC (Austria), 1997-1998
Asheville (UHL), 1998-1999
Hershey (AHL), 1998-1999
Chicago (IHL), 1998-2000
Asheville (UHL), 1999-2000
Port Huron (UHL), 2000-2001
Fort Wayne (UHL), 2000-2002
Port Huron (UHL), 2002-2004

Stajan gives Leafs gifts of skill and patience

Sometimes it's nice to be rewarded for really going out on a limb and taking a chance on an obscure raw rookie. The 2003 holiday season brought many gifts to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. A surprisingly long unbeaten streak, good health and some promising prospects making key contributions helped explain Toronto's standing in the NHL's Eastern Conference.

On a team with many proven warriors, rookie center Matt Stajan can easily obtain the sage advice of an elder, if he ever needs it. Not that he needs it thus far in 2003-2004. As the youngest player on one of the oldest teams in the league, the 19-year-old is finding his way through the league quite nicely. With the exception of being weak on face-offs, Stajan is displaying much of what the Leafs expected when they surprised the pundits and kept him after training camp. In the season's first three months, Stajan has anchored the fourth line, occasionally even moving up to the third forward unit.

"It's the National Hockey League and I'm learning so much as a player just practicing with these players," Stajan said. "Each and every day I feel like I'm improving whether I play one minute or whether I play 10 minutes. All (you) can do is work hard and make the most of your opportunities."

Vishnevski in battle for regular spot

Vitaly Vishnevski has little hope of seeing himself in many offensive highlight clips, but he's making serious progress toward becoming a more well-rounded, two-way defenseman the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim want to see.

After having been a healthy scratch in five of the first 15 games, Vishnevski took full advantage of an injury to fellow blueliner Kurt Sauer to get himself back into the line-up and make an impactful contribution.

A line-up regular during his first three seasons in Anaheim, Vishnevski notched his first points of the current season with a rare goal and (get this) two helpers in a 4-3 victory over the visiting St. Louis Blues in mid-November. Vishnevski was a solid plus-6 during a three-game winning streak.

"I never think about scoring goals," Vishnevski said. "I just play hockey and do my best on the ice. Winning is important for me, not points."

As far as his Mighty Ducks are concerned, there sure is nothing wrong with a little bit of both.

(Above quotes courtesy of Mike Brophy, Ken Campbell and Dan Wood of The Hockey News.)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 11, 2004, No. 2, Vol. LXXII

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