By Steve Fitzsimmons /
For Owen Sound Attack centre Joey Hishon, this past year has been a series of highs and lows. Entering this season, his NHL Draft year, Hishon appeared ready to become an elite player under the watchful eye of many NHL Scouts. After all, he was coming off a sharp 81-point OHL campaign, including helping Owen Sound make the playoffs. He then had seven points in four playoff games versus the Memorial Cup-champion Windsor Spitfires and followed that up with a sparkling performance for Team Canada last summer at the World Under-18 IIHF Championships, leading all Canadian players in scoring with five goals and 10 points in six games.
But a broken foot suffered in an early season game has him on the shelf for six to eight weeks. He initially didn’t even know it was broken. In fact he continued to play, even scoring the winning goal, ala Bobby Baun.
“I broke my foot in the first period. I had no idea and played the rest of the game. Then after the game, I took my skate off and it all swelled up. Then I didn’t play the next night against Erie, but then the Saturday night in Erie the swelling went down so I tried to play again and that’s when I really did it in and snapped it completely,” said Hishon.
Colorado Avalanche rookie centre Ryan O’Reilly has played with and against Hishon for several years and feels Hishon has a high NHL upside.
“He’s one of the best young hockey players in our age group. I believe he will have a bright future in the NHL. Not only because he’s a great player, but he’s a team guy who cares about the guys he’s with and wants to win. With his smarts and patience with the puck, he’ll be in the NHL soon. I saw his amazing play making ability and hands. He’s one of my good friends and enemies when it comes to playing against him.”
The immediate impact in the NHL of rookies like O’Reilly and Matt Duchene has opened Hishon’s eyes to the possibilities of getting to the NHL quickly, something Owen Sound Attack head coach Mark Reeds has discussed with him.
“He’s looking at Duchene and O’Reilly playing in the National Hockey League and he’s asking me, ‘how do I get there?’ Joey Hishon is a very exciting and dynamic player.” Reeds commented.
“He’s gritty and takes pucks into those areas and for Joey; he’s not exactly the same type of player as O’Reilly. O’Reilly is more well-rounded at this point. What I talked about with Joey is to find a balance between O’Reilly’s defensive play and Joey’s instincts forthe game, because he can make so many things happen out there,” said Reeds.
For Hishon, his immediate focus is to continue rehabbing to get back as soon as possible to help his club. Included, in his regimen is doing some special work in the pool.
“They’re going to put a weight jacket on me and throw me in the pool and see how long I can last to try and keep my cardio up and I’m also really working on my upper body to try and keep everything in shape and not gain any bad weight or do any bad stuff like that.” |