By Sam Laskaris /
Though he grew up mere kilometres from Toronto in Brampton, Justin Hodgman was not a Maple Leafs’ fan.
“I was brought up a Habs’ fan,” said Hodgman, adding several members of his immediate and extended family hail from Montreal.
But Hodgman, a 21-year-old who is in his first full season of pro hockey, has been forced to change his allegiances this season.
That’s because Hodgman now finds himself suiting up for the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.
He joined the Marlies in January via a trade with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, an Illinois-based franchise.
Hodgman, however, was not actually playing for the IceHogs.
Instead, he was toiling for the Toledo Walleye, Rockford’s East Coast Hockey League affiliate.
He collected 21 points (9G, 12A) in 33 games with the Walleye.
Hodgman, a 6-0, 200-pound centre is pretty happy to be playing in Ontario, once again. It’s been several years since he’s had the opportunity to do that.
He had spent the previous four years with the Pennsylvania-based Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
“It’s awesome (to be playing in Toronto now),” said Hodgman, who had 10 points, including six goals, during his first 26 matches with the Marlies. “My family always made it to some of my games (in Erie) but not as much as they would have liked to.”
Besides his parents and a brother, Hodgman also has a large extended family. His mother has six siblings and his father has a brother, which means he also has numerous cousins.
Though he was never drafted by a pro franchise, Hodgman has been to a pair of NHL training camps. When he was 19, he attended the Minnesota Wild camp. And then, this past September, he was at the Chicago Blackhawks’ camp.
His obvious choice right now is to return to the Maple Leafs’ fold next season. He’d welcome the opportunity to attend their camp this coming September.
“If I could stay in the Toronto system, that would be great,” he said.
Hodgman would also obviously dearly love to suit up for the Maple Leafs some day. And he’s thrilled the organization is in the midst of a youth movement right now.
“I think it’s going to pay off,” Hodgman said of the fact the Leafs have numerous youngsters gaining valuable NHL experience this season.
Regardless of how he plays with the Marlies, Hodgman realizes he will not be called up to the Maple Leafs this season.
“It’s not a possibility right now,” he said, adding he is strictly on an AHL contract.
Though he joined the pro ranks on a full-time basis this season, Hodgman had an inkling of what to expect from his experiences during the past two years.
After the Otters’ 2007/08 season ended, he hooked up with the International Hockey League’s Fort Wayne Komets.
Hodgman picked up eight points in the Komets’ final 11 regular season contests. Then he led the club in scoring during the post-season, collecting 14 points, including seven goals, in 13 matches.
Hodgman also suited up for the Komets last year, once again at the conclusion of the Otters’ campaign. This time around he had five points in six regular season games. And once again he had a stellar post-season, accumulating 12 points (7G, 5A) in 11 appearances. |