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Penguins' Wilson finally gets chance to savour first NHL goal By Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver staff 47 | Thursday, February 25, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Scott Wilson had just missed a chance for his first NHL goal. Breaking in on a two-on-one on the Detroit net, Conor Sheary slipped him a pass, but Red Wings' goalie Petr Mrazek stuck out his pad to make the save on Wilson's backhander. It was just the 14th game of his NHL career, but it felt like forever. The former Oakville Ranger was partially to blame for that. He had been scoring at such a prolific rate in the American Hockey League ­ 22 goals in 34 games to lead the league at the time of his recall to the Pittsburgh Penguins ­ that a few weeks without a goal had to feel like a lifetime. But players drafted 209th overall ­ or not drafted at all in the case of Sheary ­ don't get to the NHL without persistence. So when the puck went behind the net, Sheary chased it down and won a battle along the boards, spun and slid the puck into the slot. Wilson slipped free of his check just as the puck arrived and from the edge of the left faceoff circle, he dropped to one knee as he fired a one-timer through the legs of Mrazek. "You dream about it growing up as a kid," Wilson said, "and then it happens and you don't even realize it until you sit down on the bench." Twenty hours later, the puck is sitting on his nightstand, a temporary home until it makes its way back home to Oakville to join his other first-goal pucks (NCAA, AHL) in his parents' basement. The shot that produced Wilson's first goal may have looked effortless, but that certainly wasn't the case. Wilson was more of a playmaker in junior hockey. Over two seasons with the Georgetown Raiders, he tallied almost twice as many assists (85) as goals (44). That gap narrowed over his three years at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (39 goals, 56 Pittsburgh Penguins' Scott WIlson scored his first NHL goal last Thursday against the assists) and now in his two Detroit Red Wings. | photo courtesy Pittsburgh Penguins seasons as a pro, Wilson is producing more goals than that of late. Though the team's turnaround (42) than helpers (37). That's a result of Wilson identifying and after a dreadful start can be attributed to the working on what he needed to in order to play of superstar Sidney Crosby, the Pens have needed contributions from a group of find a role at the highest level. "I'm not the fastest guy and I knew one players who didn't start the season with the area I could improve was my shot," the team. Pittsburgh has had four regular for23-year-old said. "I worked on it every day wards, including Evgeni Malkin, sidelined in college and I still work on it. I knew to for much of February. That has provided an opportunity for be successful at the next level I needed to be a hard-nosed player who could score goals." Wilson and some of his Wilkes-Barre teamThe Penguins have needed players like mates to contribute 8-12 minutes of reliable hockey. And the familiar faces have helped put them all at ease. Though Wilson got into one regular season game and three more in the playoffs last season, he said he's felt more comfortable this season after twice being recalled. "Last year was a whirlwind, so the first call-up (this season) felt like a first call-up. You come in and there's Sid and Malkin and Letang and you're a little starstruck. They're the nicest guys and they help you make the adjustment, but the second time around you've got (Bryan) Rust and Shearsy, there's five or six of us up from Wilkes-Barre and it makes it a little easier." They've helped the Pens weather the injury storm ­ Pittsburgh is 6-2-1 since Wilson was recalled at the end of January. He's contributed solid play on the fourth line and has been utilizing that shot, firing 17 on net in his past eight games. Now Wilson hopes to see a few more of those go in. "Now I've got that first one, I've got the monkey off my back," he said. "Hopefully I can continue to do that up here." And he has. Wilson followed up his first NHL goal with his second two nights later against the Tampa Bay Lightning and then scored in his third straight game the following night in Buffalo with his family on hand to watch. K of C free-throw champions advance The 44th annual Knights of Columbus dis- lowed by Adam Creary and Katherine Snjatrict basketball free throw championships ric. Other results are in chart below. The winners will attempt to advance this were held recently, with 15 participants winning their age divisions in the Halton-wide weekend when the regionals are held Saturcompetition held at St. Thomas Aquinas high day, Feb. 27 in Waterloo. school earlier this month. Boys AgeFirst Second Third In the Special Olym- 9 Ethan Reynolds, Sacred Heart Hudson Gill, Charles R. Beaudoin D'Andre Aquino, St. James pics division, Edward 10 Colin-Jalen Caseley, St. Andrews Michael Young, St. Mark Adrian Novoa, St. Timothy Ryan Keyes, Mother Teresa Zamora was first in the A 11 Nathan Burseau, St. Marguerite Avery Mahoney, St. Timothy 12 Matthew Arias, St. Mary's Andrew Dietrich, St. Raphael Joshua Acs, St. Patrick's group, followed by Mike 13 Robbie Thompson, St. Patrick's Vincent Calingasan, St. Paul Nicholas Pollock, St. Elizabeth Justin Bureau , Iroquois Ridge Thomas and Wallace 14 Timothy Mununga, Corpus Christi Matthew Yatro, Loyola CSS Kelly. Garret Kirkwood Girls 9 Erica Goh, St. Marguerite Charlotte Bour, Sacred Heart Sophia Ropa, St. Patrick's won B division, followed 10 Nora Fahr, Charles R. Beaudoin Alessia Nigro, Sacred Heart Katherine Colterman, St. Paul Isabel Perdigon, St. Matthew Tianna Valladares, St. Timothy by Lee Nolan and Adam 11 Joelle Pecyna, St. Timothy 12 Amrit Arora, Charles R. Beaudoin Isabella Rodriguez, St. Patrick's Merella Iskarous, St. Mary Quinn, and David Lind- 13 Katelyn Starr, St. Timothy Joanna Pepa, St. Dominic Christina Desouza, St. Michael say won C Division, fol- 14 Maddy Foreman, Corpus Christi Melissa Arruda, St. Dominic ALL BMFA BMFA FOOTBALL FOOTBALL REGISTRATION REGISTRATION NOW NOW OPEN A B T O O F BMFA S peders, Fl M A R G L L P R O (Stam Spring Season starts April 23rd Tyke age 6 to Junior Varsity age 18 Year of Birth 2010 to 1997 N E P O N O W ag) FLAG FOOTBALL FOOTBALL (NON CONTACT) CONTACT) SUMMER STAMPS (REP PROGRAM) Tryouts start end of March ­ Summer Season From PeeWee age 12 to Varsity age 19 Year of Birth 2004 to 1997 FALL STAMPEDERS (REP PROGRAM) Tryouts start mid May ­ Fall Season starts early August From Atom age 9 to Bantam age 14 Year of Birth 2007 to 2002 FOOTBALL FALL SEASON From Tyke age 6 to Bantam age 14 Year of Birth 2010 to 2002 BMFA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING March 29th, 2016 · 7 ­ 9 pm L.G. AUDITORIUM, MAINWAY ARENA 4015 Mainway, Burlington ON Online registration is open for the 2016 season for all programs. Check website for details. LL.CA A B T O O F MINOR N O T G BURLIN WWW.