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SEMWWIMATSWMMWMATWGM Stmxffvillc's Will Acton signs autographs following the Fdnmnton ()ilers' game-day skate at thcAirCmadaCcntre Siturday.Acton scored hisfirst NHL goal Monday in Washington. Hits dud. Keith Acton. was an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs for 10 seasons. ‘ Will Acton didn’t need help getting around the Air Canada Centre Saturday. And with the Adams living in Slouffville. Will .saw his sham 01” N! {L games in the Toron- to rink. Krilh. who became the (Wars awriate much after Will signed with the organization last summer. was on the bench. 'lhc story goes beyond the father-son con- ncction. Will Acton beat the odds. He took another step Saturday ~ the Oil- ers told him to "find a place to live". In other words. he wun‘t be back in the ML any time soon. Will skated against the Leafs on the AU: ice as a member of the Edmonton Oilers Saturday. ' wm scored [1‘5 first goal in the NHL Mon- day in Washington. but sounded like he would have rather had a win for the 1-5-1 Oilers. who play on Long Island tonight. ' Never drafted either. first past by r all teams. in the ()man'o Hockey leagua Ditto a couple of years later in the NHL draft. UNDIAFTEDMALLLEVES I {ow many other N I {L players never played a game of triple A minor hockey? Born in Minnesota. Will played the game as a youth in Philadciphia and New York. wlwn' his dad alsu coached. and then at the A level with the Slouffville Clippers. He was a wisp of kid wfién he played It ('2 in Uxhridgv and then blossomed in ILA with the Stuufivilkr Spirit. This isn't the Taylor Hall or Ryan-Nugem Hopkins story. ‘ He played four seasons on scholarship at lake Superior Slaw and eamed a Hymn with Acton beats odds to reach NHL ymusnnflyrmgrum BY IIM MASON He was less than a year old when he last lived in Bdmohton, when his dad won the Stanley Cup with the 1988 (filers and he was small enough to fit inside the cup for a family Photograph- Will huddled with his agent, [paf legend Darcy Tucker. and signed autograph» for a small contingent of Stouffville fans outside the Oilers dressing room following Saturday’s glue-day skate. ~ "lt's preny suneal. I don't think it's quite hit me just yet.” he said. “There were times you wondered if you were ever going to make it. "It's like I keep saying about \Vill. he jusx won't go away." Eakjns said Saturday. "Will still has a long road. but we're all very proud of what he has accomplished so far in his “But I just keija! it and Inth trying In get to the next lave! and just make the next team. We taken thin approach and it's led me And the father figure? “It's pretty cool. I'm pretty fortunate that way.” he said. “I don‘t think there's anyone who knows me or knows my game better than he doea It's pmtty nice have that tweet on the bench or between games to make adjustments. “On the other hand. It's kind of nice just 10 come to the rink and see yuur dad. Not a lot 0! people get to do‘thal.” TWO later. the 26-year-old follmved his coach. Dallas linkins. from the Marlies lo the Oilexs. On the Oikrs' trip to Toronto this seamp. there were multiple lickm requests to meet. “My phone bill has probabiy blmm up a link. but it's a good problem to have." he said of the support of family and the Leafs" American Hockey League atfihate. the Toronto Mame-s.