Kings defenceman to enjoy Stanley Cup in Friendly City on July 27
Muzzin's fierce dedication part of long journey to NHL
By Mark Schadenberg
A
Stanley Cup Parade in Woodstock!
Wow!
Congratulations
to Jake Muzzin of the Los Angeles Kings.
Jake's
story is about perseverance and dedication, as much as taking a set
of athletic tools to develop into a top-calibre NHL defenceman.
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Watch on
Rogers TV this summer as there will be a newly produced feature on
Jake Muzzin with myself as host and John Payne as videographer. I
don't have a copy of the tape, so no comments from those new
interviews are included here.
()()()()()()()()
Much of
the Muzzin biography is well known in Woodstock – learning at a
very young age on Woodstock Minor Hockey Association (WMHA) teams,
including an atom team that went 110 games without losing over more
than one season. Jake would elevate his play on AAA squads for the
Brantford 99ers, was then drafted 11th overall into the
OHL by the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds, drafted in the NHL's 5th
round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007, but did not sign a
contract, and then joined the Kings organization as a free agent. In
his OHL's overage year in 2009-10 he was the OHL's defenceman of the
year in winning the Max Kaminsky Trophy (as voted on by the league's
general managers), and thereby was also first-team all star.
“To be
recognized with that trophy was a big accomplishment for me,” said
Muzzin back in May 2010 when he was interviewed by myself for a local
Rogers TV segment. “To be listed on that trophy is a great honour.”
Muzzin
was proud to be listed next to previous winners, such as current
teammate Drew Doughty, plus Chris Pronger, Bryan Berard, Denis
Potvin, Brad Marsh, Rick Green, Larry Murphy, Bryan Campbell and Marc
Staal.
The part
of the Muzzin tale not talked about enough -- you could say is about
Jake's tail as he missed about 16 months of hockey (major midget
year), after being selected by the Soo Hounds, due to a significant
lower back (two herniated discs) injury.
His
arrival in the NHL was not a meteor as he played 11 games in 2010-11,
but then spent the entire 11-12 season in the AHL with the Manchester
Monarchs.
Muzzin
noted in 2010 that the AHL was a big step from the OHL.
“All
the guys in the AHL are bigger and stronger – they're all men. With
the puck, you have to make up your mind a lot quicker and have to
pass much quicker. You have to be ready to take a hit and they hit a
lot harder too.”
The
lockout of 12-13 might have been an assist in reaching his goal as he
started out the campaign back in the AHL, but when the work stoppage
ended, Jake Muzzin – with No. 6 on his back – was a full-time NHL
player and even earned the NHL rookie-of-the-month honours for March
of 2013 with 11 points in 17 games, including a 3-point night against
the St Louis Blues on March 5, 2013.
Now,
after 132 regular season and 43 more playoff games, including a
Stanley Cup title, plus the determination, the accolades the
25-year-old is now receiving are very well deserved. Muzzin was given
a lot of credit along the way with increased ice time with partner
Drew Doughty as the Kings battled back from trailing San Jose 3-0 in
the opening round, and also beating Anaheim and defending champion
Chicago, before downing the New York Rangers in five to win the
Stanley Cup. In 26 post-season games, the 6'3” blueliner earned six
goals and six assists, including netting one in the Stanley Cup
Final.
The
Woodstock celebration on Sunday, July 27 will include a few surprises
for Jake, but essentially includes a parade on a fire truck from City
Hall to Wellington and Dundas, then south on Wellington over the
train bridge to Henry Street, then east to Finkle and south to the
community complex and Goff Hall.
Autographed
pictures (as donated by Woodstock Print & Litho) and viewing of
the Cup for fans will be available. A Muzzin L.A. Kings jersey, a
framed photo and other memorabilia will be on hand.
The WMHA
will be hosting a fundraising bbq, plus donations will also be
accepted for the Alf Langdon Memorial Fund, which distributes dollars
to boys and girls requiring financial assistance to play minor hockey
locally.
As an
OHL broadcaster for Rogers TV, I have had the absolute privilege of
interviewing Jake several times over the years as the Greyhounds are
in the same conference as the Knights. When he scored his first NHL
goal, myself and John Payne (pictured below) visited his parents' home to talk hockey
and look at the modest collection of Muzzin memorabilia. Following
Jake's advancements through the hockey ranks has been most enjoyable
and certainly added to by the fact his aunt Carolyn is a Realtor like
myself based out of the same Royal LePage Triland office.
Stanley
Cup champions have a short off-season. In September, Muzzin will
return to Hollywood as he is under contract for one more year
(2014-15) at $1 million (www.capgeek.com)
with the Kings. When I chatted with him for the Rogers TV special to
air later this summer, Jake noted that while in Los Angeles he shares
an apartment with teammate Dwight King.
Congratulations Jake on your well
earned accomplishments!
Where
Was I ?
By the
way, it will always be easy for me to remember where I was when the
Kings won the Cup in double overtime – I was at the CASS track as a
steering committee member for the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay For
Life.
Eight
Fun Facts
- The
only player selected in the 5th round of 2007 with more
NHL games than Jake Muzzin is: Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars with
344, 116-156-272.
-
Remember the NHL's Tyler vs Taylor debate before the 2010 draft, both
Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin were first-team OHL all stars as
forwards in 2010.
- After
his overage OHL year in 2009-10 with the Greyhounds he played 13
playoff games in the AHL with Manchester for an instant learning
experience.
- Jake's
first NHL goal was Jan 26, 2013 versus Jason LaBarbera of the Phoenix
Coyotes. Muzzin also had an assist in the 4-2 win over the Coyotes.
Muzzin also had a minor penalty for holding in recording a different
version of a hat trick.
-
Winning the Max Kaminsky Trophy as most outstanding OHL defencemen is
interesting in 2010 as Drew Doughty won same trophy in 2008 with the
Guelph Storm.
- Among
Jake's coaches in the Soo were Craig Hartsburg, who also won the Max
Kaminsky in 1977 playing with the same Greyhounds (See the graphic).
- Back in 06-07 when Muzzin made his
OHL debut, second on the Greyhounds in scoring that year was Cody
Thornton – of both Embro and Woodstock. Thornton, who now plays pro
in Germany with the Landshut Cannibals, had 36 goals and 40 assists.
- Among Jake's WMHA teammates was the
remarkable Kelly Paton, who in 2010 was a finalist for top female
NCAA Div 1 hockey player (known as the Patty Kazmaier Memorial
trophy). Paton, who played with the Univ of New Hampshire Wildcats in
NCAA, while Jake had been assigned to Manchester, New Hampshire in
the AHL. It truly is a small hockey world. Paton, who is now a coach
at the University of Western Ontario, played women's pro hockey in
Switzerland.
LINKS:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=663190
A look
back to 2012:
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2012/07/19/six-questions-with-woodstock-native-and-la-kings-prospect-jake-muzzin
Picture: Borrowed from USA Today
LA Kings Fan & A Full-Time Realtor
Mark
Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior
Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal
LePage Triland Realty
757
Dundas St, Woodstock
www.wesellwoodstock.com
(519)
537-1553, cell or text
Email:
mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter:
markroyallepage
Facebook:
Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
Discussion
. . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination
