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haunt-blonds! Tommmmnhoubm-chm Wmmoahomamt mmmMWum m,qu'mmm~ Sufi-Tribune whit “you-land.“ ICU PAINTS‘ The 20-year-old Stouffville vesi- dem who is in his third season with the Stouffviue Spirit is proof that making_such.a huge Competiâ€" tive leap can be accomplished. What's required. he warned. is plentyo'f hard work. ‘ After graduating from _ the midget Stuuffville Clippers. Porter earned a berth on the, Spirit as a gangiy, six-fact. fourth-line player (hire seasons ago‘ That's enabled him to be one of the club's top players and its sec- ond-leading scorer. With 15 goals and 18 assists in 23 games. good for 10th in the league’s scoring race through Wednesday. “I knew I could play It. A hock- ey.” Porter said."But todo It] knew that I had to work hard. lake no time off when the season ended You always have to do it.” If you think it's impossible for a minor hockey player who competes at the midget A level 'to make the jump to the Ontariu Iunior Hockey 11-3qu don't tell Chris aner. 1 But. the six-foot; three-inch. 204-pound forward was quick to acknowledge it's not easy. ‘ Since that time though. Por- ter has sprouted three inches and added 40 pounds of muscle. That's enabled him to be one of the club's top players and its sec- ond-leading scorer. With 15 goals credit an oflseason conditioning program he's undertaken for the last three years under the supervi- sion of Spirit conditioning coach Randy Smith at his Bodysmlth gym in ("yormle-y. Porter plans to keep defying hockey odds BY M MIHAEL HAYAKAWA mhayakawuflyrmg mm Pan of his’ trainin regimen included outdoor iOVIscul'ar wort twice a week and three days in the gymnasium. As Well. Forte! said he would take to the ice at least once a week. mmmzmmm~ man made jump tram midget A Chppets to Spirit )1. A cub. SPIRIT “(Turner and Titanic) realized I could be a forward and made the call," Porter recalled. *But i! was something I wanted to try and I enjoyed it." “He’s Genuinly one of the most im proved players on our team over his junior career and he's definitely transformed himself over the Ins! Playing for the Cardinals“ senior hockey team under coaches Dave Mner and Paul "manic. the deienceman was converted to for- ward. Having played on defence helped immensely in making Por- ter a better twoâ€"way player. in the leaglle for three years has also been beneficial {or Porter. who now serves as one of the Spirit's senior leaders. “When you're in your first year you're sort of feeling things out in the league. In my second yen I started to move up to where I'm now more confident and that helps.“ he said. Spirit head coach Craig Don- ovan was quick to acknowledge Porter is one of the great fec’lgood stories on the team. “When you“ play on defence it's more of a thinking thing Whereas when you play forward it’s more of a skating thing," he explained. St. Brother Andre Catholic High School in Markham. From a team perspective, Por- ter hopes the team can take things one step further from last season in which-they reached the league semifinals» \ “He should be proud of what he's accomplished and. as a coach. you [the to see players who want u) get better. Chris is a great example of that.” Personal goals include '75 points in this. his final season. and a chance to play at the collegiate level next year. To date. Porter, who has taken pmvtimc courses during the last two years at UOIT in Oshawa, said he’s had exploratory discussions with U5. schools. “Hopefully we can click like last year at the same time and get to the finals." he said. Porter sees no reason why the team can'! do “it. 40 months." Donovan “He's gone from being a guy who firsx started as a weak skater to being a powerful skater now who can skate by guys. The Stouflville Spi'l hosts the Newmar he! tlmicanes tomorrow at 2:30 pm. at the Stouffvile Arena SPIRIT RIGHT AT HOME