The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Being a prized commodity to NHL clubs, Stamkos accepts the fact publicity comes with the ten'itory. “It’s been pretty crazy the last couple of weeks, but it's been good,” he said. Stamkos, a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, admits his odds of donning the blue and The top pmspect has been besieged in recent weeks for a part ofhis personal time by NHL teams and the media In the CHIS annual coaches poll, Stamkos was voted the best stickhandler and the player with the best shot He was awarded the Bobby Smith Tinphy as the OHL scholastic player of the year. Last season, Stamkos led the Sfinginscoringagainandwasfifthover- allintheOHLwithSBgoalsand47 assists in 61 games The NHL's Central Scouting bureau rated Stamkos at the top of the list. He was the OHL’s player of the month for February after scoring 13 goals and 22 points in 13 games And there's good reason for the top rating After a whopping 105 goals and 92 assists with the Markham Waxers minor midgets in 2005-06, Stamkos was the first overall pick in the 2006 Ontario Hockey League draft by the Samia Sting. DuringhisrooldeyeaxwiththeSting, Stamkosliveduptohisbillingbylead- ingtheminscoringwith42goalsand50 assists in 63 games At the same time, the 18-year-old Unionville resident and Grade 12 Broth- er Andre Catholic High School student is counting down the hours to another mega moment in his life. And it can’t come soon enough. Tomorrow and Saturday, the Nation- al Hockey League will conduct its 46th entry draft in Ottawa. Stamkos leads a record crop of highâ€"end prospects from York Region set to be drafted The ’six-foot, one-inch forward is expectedtobeoneoffliefirstplayexs seiecteddiisyear.HeoouldgofiIstover- all to the Tampa Bay Lightning, “It’s tough not to think about it (the draft)," Stamkos said. “I'm anxious and excited about it. It’s coming up quick, quicker than I thought. Right now, I’mjustu'yingtofinishupmy school and get my exams done." 905-852-7382 BY MIKE HAYAKAWA Staff Writer Like most students, Steven Stamkos isoountingthedaystotheendofthe yearandhishighschoolcareer. Will Stamkos go No. 1? Dentistry scaring you away? No problem. . . We can help. . . I. ll. Sedatiali Come and check us nu!!! McQueen played at the OHL level and coached at the NHL level. He had confidence in me and made me grow as a player." white are remote. . Stamkos credits 3 number of people with helping him reach the cusp of the big leagues. Among them are his father, Chris, and mother, [esley, whom were good athletes in their youth. He also praised two of his coaches Paul Titanic, a Markham resident who coached him with the minor Waxers for almost seven seasons and Dave Mac- Queen, hisooach with the Sting. Titanic made us better players and better people off the ice," he said of the Brother Andre Catholic High School teacher. STAFF PHOTO/STEVE SOMERVILLE Steve Stamkos has excelled at all levels of hockey. This weekend, the Union- ville resident could be selected first overall in the NHL entry draft in Ottawa. “((ll/lfllxl [II/(ml oWfll/(T (2) film C(gbal. " New patients welcome. Thus flgntal contra: cover all aspects of dentistry Bumper crop of York Region residents wait with bated breath to see If they will get the call to play in the National Hockey League WITH THE NEXT PICK Titanic, who first coached Stamkos as GO TO YORKREGION.COM AND FOR A VIDEO ON THE NHL PROSPECTS 905-642-5777 from the OHL and I'm commiitéd tb working hard at it." Stamkos won't be satisfied With being drafted. “My goal is to play in the NHL next year,” he said. “I think I’m ready to do it. But I’ve got a lot of hard work to do this summer. The next level is a big jump “He was could do things at five years of age that juniors couldn't do," the for- mer University of Toronto Varsity Blues head coach recalled. “He had great lat- eral movement and his puck skills were special. He was an obvious early exam- ple of someone who would make it (to the NHL). “As far as raw skills, when he was small, hg was like a child prodigy." a five-year-old in house league, detected greatness way back then. Position: Centre. Help“: 6'1" Nolan: 170 pounds. 2007-08 statistics: 19 goals, 50 assists in 39 regular season games. Was second on Spirit in team scoring. Awards: Being this year’s recipient of the Provincial JuniorA Hockey League's Top NHL Prospect Award. Winning the Stouffville Spirit Ranked 49th among North American skaters by Central Scouting for 2008 NHL entry draft mutational/national experience: Playing on under-18 Team Canada squad last summer. To play forTeam Ontario that won gold at Canada Games in Whitehorse as an under-17 Biggest "liner hockey Hyman to date: winning the OHL Cup with Markham Waxers minor midgets and scoring gamewinning goal in final against Toronto Red Wings. Minor hockey uranium from M Roflon days: to play on the Markham Waxers minor midget team that went 69-4 overall. Most Influential people In mlno: hockey: father Steve Del Zotto and minor Waxers coaches Paul Titanic and Adam Lamarre. NHL Idols: Bobby Orr COREY TRIVINO Oshawa Generals Ranked 15th among North American skaters by Central Scouting for the 2008 NHL entry draft. Residence: Stoufiville. Position: defence. Helfllt: 6’ Weight 211 pounds. 2007-08 statistics: 16 goals, 47 assists in 64 regular season games. Was ranked third in the OHL scoring race among defencemen. Tied for fifth overall in Shorthanded goals during regular season with five. Maids: Chosen on second team OHL all-rookie team last year. To play in OHL all-star game last year as a rookie. Was MoaValuable Player of OHF Tournament while with bantam Waxers. Named top defenceman in back-toâ€"back years with bantam and minor midget Waxers in the Toronto Marlies Tournament. STOUFFVILLE’S CLASS OF 2008 MICHAEL DEL ZO'ITO : Toronto Stouffl'ille Sunvfli‘ibuné'I Thursday, [um 12 2008 date: winning the gold medal wim the under-18 national team against host Russia and to do it in front of 10,000 pro-Russian supporters. Mhor hockey w from York Regen days: scoring the game-win- ning goal in the seventh game in the first'round of the North Conference playoffs this past season against the host Huntsville-Muskoka Otters. Most Influential people In rninor hockey: Current Stouffville Spirit head coach Dave D'Ammizio, who also coached Trivino during his time with the Toronto Mariies of the Greater Toronto Hockey League. NHL Idols: Doug Gilmour JAMES MCIN‘I’OSH Stouffville Spirit Ranked 162nd among North American skaters by Central Scouting for 2008 NHL Entry draft Residence: Holland Landing Position: forward. Helgrt 6'1” Weight: 177 pounds 2007-08 statistics: 28 goals, 36 assists in 44 regular season games. Was third-leading scorer on Spirit. lnternatlonel/ national experience: Played for Canada East team that won silver medal at 2007 World Junior Challenge in 8.0. Biggest minor hockey hlgrllght to date: Being part of Canada East team this past season that won the silver medal at the World Junior A Hockey Challenge in British Columbia. Minor hockey hlgiilgit from York Region days: as a first-year member of the Stouffville Spirit and being a part of a team that went to the Provin- cial Junior A Hockey League final three seasons ago. Most Influential people In minor hockey: father and former minor hockey coach Frank McIntosh. NHL Idols: Wayne Gretzky, Joe Thorn- ton, Jarome lginla Frank Selke Award while with the Mad- ies major bantams; winning the Five Year and Seven Year Marlie Awards. International/national expeflonce: Played for Team Canada that won gold medal at IIHF World Underâ€"18 Championships in Russia. Scored four goals for Team Canada. Also played for Canada East squad that won a silver medal at the 2007 World Junior ‘A' Challenge in British Columbia. Earned hockey scholarship to Boston University. mmwmmm â€"with files from John Cudmore