Markham, Richmond Hill, Wexford and the Toronto Marl- 18$. they were teammates on» the Spirit two years ago. McEachen, who will play at Clarkson Uni- versity in New York this fall, is a dark horse candidate for the draft. Another Spirit team- mate, Damn Archibald, is also ranked, He's now a Barrie; Colt ’ One . of his teammates from that Stouffville Clippers team of ï¬ve-yearâ€"olds was Pat McEachen. Good friends still, “It should be pretty excit- ing,â€~ Were]: said from his Goodmod-area home Mon- day. “But I’m trying to put (the draft) in the. back of my mind and. not think of the draft and just look ahead towards next MikeHumphreyshasspentalotoftimeattheStOuï¬'vflleArena inrecentymrsasahockeyadminisflatormoadlandparent. Hewasaguestofhisagent at last year‘s draft in Ottawa. wa friendsSteveStamkos of M am and Stouflville’s Michael Del Zotto get selected in the opening mum. Weak, who left for Mon- treal earlier this week. is in a positive frame of mind aï¬er what he went through'durlng the l 8 annual combine for mngible candidates Bizarre questions part of interviews with 28 NHL teams near Pearson International in late May. Spending ï¬ve days at the combine, Werek has been inter- viewed by 28 of the league’s 30 teams. In addition, he under- went a thorough medical examination and participated invarious physicaltestingdrills including sit ups, push ups, jump and upper body tests. ' “it was exciting and I think I did well," he said. GEOGRAPHY QUIZ In spite of some trulybizarre questions. 7 “What would you rather have, a loaded gun or a nicely written poem?†the New York “i told ’them the poem. I don’t want them to think I was crazy,†he said. ‘ The San Jose Sharks asked what the longest river in Can- ada was. . It’s the MacKenzie. He nailed it. He’s been busy. During a video interview and photo session with The Sun-Mbune at the Stoufl‘ville b Watd1 the NHL draft onTSN Fridayfmm7to 10 pm. STAFF PHOTOISTEVE SOMERVILLE Award winner worked in several hockey leagues Arena last Thursday, arena manager and long-time Spirit volunteer Bob Heickert wished him good luck at the draft. Earlier in the day, there was a luncheon interview with Colo- rado Avalanche scouts plus a skating session. numberofteamsdlathavedonewell. Ithanlmmurtobemenflonedatmat mmnioefhesaid. An unprecedented six Stouffville Clippers teams won titles (three Ontar- io Minor HockeyAssociation and three York Simeoe championships). 'IWo other teams also reached the OMHA andYorkâ€"Simcoe ï¬nals GOOD FOUNDATION While Humphreys was glad to be associated with the success experi- enced by those teams, he’s more proud of the situation he’s left the association in from a business perspective for his successor, Don Easter. He's working out at York University, skating in a league with several NHLers in Bramp- ton and taking a correspon- dence course from Queen’s University. As for which NHL team might select Werek, he has no idea as to where he will end up. Nor does he have any prefer- ences. A New England hockey publication says the Boston Bruins, who pick 25th,. like Werek a lot. The prospect met another power forward in Bruin legend Cam Neely, now the team’s vice-president, at the combine. “There’s a system in place. They have a good foundation. I’ve been for- mtetobeintherightplaoeatme dghttimeJt’salotlikeaï¬venltwon't stoplwasabletobeflxetewhmmere wasbtsofwaterandalotofsueeess cameabout,â€hesaid (badmigthe ' minormidgâ€" etstotheOMl-IAA' thispastseason bebreaocepï¬ngmeroleasassociaï¬on preskiennFasterachla/«riedgedh'sjob has been made easier through what lâ€"hnnplueyshadaooomplished. “Durhghistenureaspx'esidennme association had enjoyed an unprece- “I have no idea where I will be going,†Werek said. “A mil- lion diï¬etent people tell you something different. I’ll just wait for the draft and we’ll see what happens. “I know it will be hand to make an NHL team’s roster at a young age But I’ll go to what- ever NHL team’s camp and try to work hard." From my 1. Stouflville product Ethan Werek. left, and Calvin de Haan race in the CHI/NHL Top Prospects Game skills competition at the GM Centre in Oshawa in January. dentedpedodofsuooess both onand otfthekaeâ€"innosmallpartmetï¬rect kafMikdsbadmstï¬n’Eastasakt {Mike's contribution to amateur sport in this community well beyondhismleasahocby ' - tot'lhisawaxdumldalsoservetorec- hismanyoomributionstosport o miscommunityovertheyears.â€Easâ€" tersaï¬mhtsletterofmminaï¬on. Rabed in North York before mov- ing to Stouï¬ville in 1989. Humphxeys Stoufl'ville Minor Hockey Association in 1995-96 when close friend Marty Devenyaskedifhewouldassistlï¬min coachingamitehouseleagueteam Aï¬erhorking with Devény for three seasons, Humphreys took on his own mite team for three yeara “I enjqedworkingwidmkidsat that level because there was little influence wimpamnmlesshassle,"hesaid Phunphreys’indocu'imtionintome world'of sports administration came after he helped coach a novice select team in 1997-98. He became house league convenor and served m that position fort'wo years. He was encour- aged byfellowboard members to nm for president. I “It wasn’t something I originally strivedfor." Humphleyssaid.“ButifI didmlvuwedlwoulddoittothebest thmIcan." While serving as president. Hum- phmalsofoundflletimetocoadla ooupleofdippers’teamsmatendured toughtimesontheioaAmong them coach a couple of other teams that werealreadysubng. But I wanted a d1allenge.lwantedtotakemekidsto ahighetlevel,"hesaid This past season, Humphreys coached a minor bantam AE team that exhibith a vast improvement from the priorcampalgn H d Whhdetoufl'villeSpiritjuniorA duhhewasadilectorandbilletco- ordinatorfromZOOZtoZIflDuring the2004-05 campaign, heservedas assistant general manager. IR. A, GIRLS HOCKEY Humphreys also found tinie to be involved in the Stouflville Markham Girls Hockey Association where he helped coach his daughter Courtney’s teams from 2003-07. If that wasn’t enough. Humphreys alsoooachedawomen’steammthe Stouï¬ville Amateur Hockey League. _ Humphreys said his volunteerism wouldn’t be possible without the sup- port from his wife, Lorraine, along with his other daughter, Iaddyn. Both volâ€" unteered with the Spirit when he was involved with them. His philosophy on life came fmm his late father, Richard, and mother, “They've always been a positive influence," hesaid.“I'vealwayswanted to hetp and see others succeed. It’s rewardingtowatchandseethosesucâ€" ceedatthenextlevel." METROLAND PHOTO