Wyman sets sights on Habs
Jan 17, 2005 17:19:03 GMT -5
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Jan 17, 2005 17:19:03 GMT -5
Canadiens prospect learns hockey ropes with Dartmouth team
PAT HICKEY
The Gazette
Sunday, January 16, 2005
J.T. Wyman came to Dartmouth College to receive an education - in the classroom and on the ice.
Wyman has gone from being a high school star in Minnesota to being a spear-carrier on a Dartmouth team struggling to stay among the elite teams in the U.S. after the loss of star forward Hugh Jessiman.
Wyman has one assist in 15 collegiate games, but Trevor Timmins, the Canadiens' director of player personnel, said the team made the right decision when it selected Wyman in the fourth round (100th overall) in last June's National Hockey League entry draft.
"The first thing you have to understand is that he's making a transition from high school to college," Timmins said. "He's 18 years old and he's playing against guys who are 23 and 24. There are adjustments that he has to make, but we like the fact that he has very good speed and he's a big kid. He's 6-foot-2 and he's going to fill out."
Wyman, who contributed an assist during a defensive performance last night in Dartmouth's surprising 5-2 win over the 11th-ranked Vermont Catamounts, said he hasn't been discouraged by his limited ice time.
"I'm learning to play a different role," Wyman said. "I've always been an offensive player, but I'm playing on the fourth line and I have more defensive responsibilities. It's going to make me a better player. Tonight, I was up on the third line and I guess that's a good sign."
"He's going through the same process every young player has to go through," Timmins said. "When guys are in high school or junior, they think about scoring goals. If they want to make it to the next level, they have to learn to play without the puck."
Timmins said Wyman also is learning a new position.
"He's a natural winger, but he committed to Dartmouth late and they were already loaded at right wing," Timmins said. "They've started using him at centre. He's more of a goal-scorer than a playmaker, but if he can learn that position, he'll be more valuable."
But Dartmouth coach Bob Gaudet said the move was made out of necessity and agreed Wyman was better suited to the wing.
"I'm happy with the way he's come along," Gaudet said. "Usually, you see freshmen starting to hit their stride in the second half of the season, and that's the case with J.T."
While Wyman is committed to the Dartmouth program, he said playing at the next level is definitely part of his future.
An Ivy League education and hockey are both part of Wyman's heritage. His grandfather played at Yale, and he started playing at age 5 in Edina, Minn., an area that's as passionate about hockey as any town in Canada. He was a high school star at The Blake School, a private prep school in Minneapolis, and was one of the finalist for Minnesota's Mr. Hockey, a title bestowed on the best high school player in the state.
While Minnesota has several outstanding college programs, Wyman concentrated his efforts on playing at an Eastern school.
"I was approached by the Green Bay junior team and I looked into doing a year at an Eastern prep school," Wyman said. "I looked at a number of colleges, and I was happy when Dartmouth accepted me."
He had 31 goals and 24 assists in his senior year at Blake, but the Canadiens first became interested in him because of his play in an all-star league.
Wyman, who was a Minnesota North Stars fan before the team bolted for Dallas, said he wasn't surprised the Canadiens drafted him, but he was surprised he was drafted in the fourth round.
"The Canadiens were the one team that flew out to talk to me," Wyman said. "I thought I might be drafted by them, but my family adviser thought I would go anywhere from the fourth to the seventh round."
The Canadiens have been keeping tabs on Wyman's progress and they'll get a closer look this summer when he attends the annual development camp in Montreal. Under NCAA rules, college players like Wyman can attend the camp, but they must do so at their own expense.
PAT HICKEY
The Gazette
Sunday, January 16, 2005
J.T. Wyman came to Dartmouth College to receive an education - in the classroom and on the ice.
Wyman has gone from being a high school star in Minnesota to being a spear-carrier on a Dartmouth team struggling to stay among the elite teams in the U.S. after the loss of star forward Hugh Jessiman.
Wyman has one assist in 15 collegiate games, but Trevor Timmins, the Canadiens' director of player personnel, said the team made the right decision when it selected Wyman in the fourth round (100th overall) in last June's National Hockey League entry draft.
"The first thing you have to understand is that he's making a transition from high school to college," Timmins said. "He's 18 years old and he's playing against guys who are 23 and 24. There are adjustments that he has to make, but we like the fact that he has very good speed and he's a big kid. He's 6-foot-2 and he's going to fill out."
Wyman, who contributed an assist during a defensive performance last night in Dartmouth's surprising 5-2 win over the 11th-ranked Vermont Catamounts, said he hasn't been discouraged by his limited ice time.
"I'm learning to play a different role," Wyman said. "I've always been an offensive player, but I'm playing on the fourth line and I have more defensive responsibilities. It's going to make me a better player. Tonight, I was up on the third line and I guess that's a good sign."
"He's going through the same process every young player has to go through," Timmins said. "When guys are in high school or junior, they think about scoring goals. If they want to make it to the next level, they have to learn to play without the puck."
Timmins said Wyman also is learning a new position.
"He's a natural winger, but he committed to Dartmouth late and they were already loaded at right wing," Timmins said. "They've started using him at centre. He's more of a goal-scorer than a playmaker, but if he can learn that position, he'll be more valuable."
But Dartmouth coach Bob Gaudet said the move was made out of necessity and agreed Wyman was better suited to the wing.
"I'm happy with the way he's come along," Gaudet said. "Usually, you see freshmen starting to hit their stride in the second half of the season, and that's the case with J.T."
While Wyman is committed to the Dartmouth program, he said playing at the next level is definitely part of his future.
An Ivy League education and hockey are both part of Wyman's heritage. His grandfather played at Yale, and he started playing at age 5 in Edina, Minn., an area that's as passionate about hockey as any town in Canada. He was a high school star at The Blake School, a private prep school in Minneapolis, and was one of the finalist for Minnesota's Mr. Hockey, a title bestowed on the best high school player in the state.
While Minnesota has several outstanding college programs, Wyman concentrated his efforts on playing at an Eastern school.
"I was approached by the Green Bay junior team and I looked into doing a year at an Eastern prep school," Wyman said. "I looked at a number of colleges, and I was happy when Dartmouth accepted me."
He had 31 goals and 24 assists in his senior year at Blake, but the Canadiens first became interested in him because of his play in an all-star league.
Wyman, who was a Minnesota North Stars fan before the team bolted for Dallas, said he wasn't surprised the Canadiens drafted him, but he was surprised he was drafted in the fourth round.
"The Canadiens were the one team that flew out to talk to me," Wyman said. "I thought I might be drafted by them, but my family adviser thought I would go anywhere from the fourth to the seventh round."
The Canadiens have been keeping tabs on Wyman's progress and they'll get a closer look this summer when he attends the annual development camp in Montreal. Under NCAA rules, college players like Wyman can attend the camp, but they must do so at their own expense.
