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‘1 4 Stoujftdlle Sunâ€"Tribunal Thursday Ian. BY MIKE HAYAKAWA Staff Writer Just prior to taking a few days off from the Ontario Hockey League schedule for the Christmas holiday break. Kingston Frontenacs’ forward Ethan Werek was summoned by team manager Larry Mavety. Rather, Werek received an unexpected, but pleasant surprise when Mavety informed the rookie forward he was chosen to be a particiâ€" pant in the 2009 Home Hardware'CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Oshawa Ian. 13 and 14. The GoodWood native and Stouffville Spirit graduate wasn’t on the receiving end of a tongue-lashing. “To take part in the game was one of the last things on my mind since we are in the midst of our season,” Werek said Monday from his Kingston residence. “It was a bit of a surprise to hear the news. But it certainly feels great.” Werek hopes to be lst-round NHL pick Stouffville product playing in Oshawa prospects showcase next week As the top rookie scorer for the Frontenacs and fourth overall among first-year players in the OHL with 16 goals and 18 assists in 39 regular season games, Werek acknowledged one of his personal goals this year was to take part in the prospects game. And with gobd reason as Werek will be eli- gible to be chosen in the 2009 NHL entry draft later this year. “Hopefully, I can have a good game and show the scouts what I’m made of," he said. Another goal is to be first-round NHL pick While the Frontenacs are mired in the East Division cellar, Werek harbours no regrets in deciding to take the OHL route rather than accept a full athletic scholarship to attend Bos- ton University later this fall. “Obviously, I gave up a great opportunity. But I'm excited in playing for the Frontenacs and in this league (OHL)," said Wenek. who first played in the Whitchurch-Stouflville Minor Hockey Association. SPORTS Stouffville Sun-Tribune In making the progressional jump to playâ€" ing in the OHL and as a rookie. Werek conced- ed he was forced to make some adjustments on and 011' the ice. Living away from home for the first time, he's been forced to be more organized. “Now, I have to remind myself to eat my vegetables," he said. 'Like most first-year players, Werek said the game at the OHL level is far more up-tempo. “It’s definitely a faster game and the goal- tending is good. You've got to take advantage of what scoring chances you have when you get them,” he said. ' Satisfied with his own personal perfor- mance, Werek hopes to parlay his perfor- mance in the second half of the schedule into more victories and a late-season push for the postseason. “I feel that I'm having a good year and I can keep it up," he said. “But I hope we can play well enough to grab a playofi spot." PHOTO/ICE LEVE L MSIWEEK: Friday - lost 4-1 vs. Wellington Dukes. Four wins, one overtime win, three shoot- outwins, three shootout losses, 30 losses for 19 points. Last place in Central Division. m UP: Tonight vs. Hamilton Red Wings, 7:30 pm; Sunday atToronto Junior Canadiens, 7:30 pm; Monday at Cobourg Cougars, 7 pm. GAME "DIES: Spirit head coach Mark Joslin anticipated his club would be facing a sleeping 3am when it Uavelled to Wellington Friday to face the Dukes. After all, his club had upended the Central Division's second-place Dukes in their last two meetings. Sure enougi, when the Spirit played the Dukes in their home arena, Wellington erupted with four unanswered goals in the second period and emerged with a 4-1 win. Don Maloney, who came oh the injured list, accounted for the lone Spirit goal in the third periodThe Spirit, who saw their two-game winning streak snapped, were outshot 59-27. Hamilton, Spirit clash this evening INSIDER: The Spirit played last Friday without the services of forwards Massimo Lamacchia, who was attending to personal matters, and Jason Heydon (knee sprain). Lamacchia is expected back for tonight’s game against Hamilton. Heydon though, could be out for close to one week. ioslin had little time to dwell on the game as he quickly retumed toToronto to catch a flight to California to watch his nephew, Derek Joslin, make his National Hockey league debut as a member of the San Jose Sharks in their game against the New York islanders. Former Whitby Dunlops defenceman Don Sand- erson, 21, Mio died Friday while in a coma after his head hit the ice in a Dec. 12 fight auditioned last season with the Spirit Ironically, the player with whom he fought was Branttord Blast forward Corey Fulton, who played for the Spirit last year. GENERALU SPEAKING: “No question, they (Wellington) were angy. Wellington is a great team and they had just lost four straight games. They're an incredible team at home and we had to weather the storm. Especially in the first period and we did after the first period was scoreless,” Joslin said. ‘But we kind of ran out of gas and it paid oli for them. I thought we didn't play that bad. We were down H) and Craig McDowell missed an open net and then we had a power play, but we comâ€" mitted a costly turnover and Wellington capital- ized to make it 2-0 and then their crowd got into the game." For live scoring and updates, go to pointstreak. com For more on the Spirit go to: stouflvillespiritcom â€" Mike Hayakawe