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Thiessen willing to stir the pot |
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Written by JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor
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Monday, 06 October 2008 |
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In the process, he feels like he escaped from a hockey prison.
The 19-year-old defenceman, a Prince George product in his fourth season in the WHL, returns to the city he grew up in, and the city for which he played his heart out for over two seasons, on Wednesday when his new team arrives to face the Cougars. The Prince Albert Raiders make their lone stop at CN Centre that night, and No. 7 will be familiar to local hockey fans.
“There was a little bit of shock when I was traded, but as soon as I got here it was a lot of fun,” Thiessen said from Prince Albert, where he’s picked up three assists in seven games for the Raiders.
Thiessen is plus-1 with nine penalty minutes -- yes, just one scrap, a year after he fought everything that moved because, for the most part, he was the only Cougar willing from night to night.
“I’m really excited for this game,” said Thiessen.
“It’s been a long time since I played at home as a member of the opposite team, so I’d like nothing more than to come in and beat my old team, and see my family and friends again.
“I’m not going to plan (any fights), but I think everyone knows that if that’s how the game goes, I’ll do it for sure.”
Asked if there was anyone remaining on the Cougars’ roster he’d like to chuck knuckles with, he said: “anyone and everyone.”
Thiessen, a College Heights secondary grad, is on his third WHL team. Originally a draft pick of the Kamloops Blazers, the six-foot-one, 200-pounder played 22 games for the Blazers before being released, and dropped altogether. He skated briefly with the Spruce Kings, then was added by the Cats. Thiessen played 104 regular season games and 14 playoff games for the Cougars, with one goal, eight points, and 250 penalty minutes.
He was traded to Prince Albert days after being benched -- uh, make that “roomed” -- for taking two undisciplined penalties in a pre-season game against Kamloops. The coaches left him in the dressing room in full gear to start a period, and he was challenged by brass later on.
“I don’t really know what was going on, why I was traded, but I guess they didn’t want me to be part of the organization anymore,” said Thiessen, whose new team comes in with a 4-3-0-0 record.
“Prince Albert wanted me, and that’s all I care about now. I’m in a better place than I was in before. Everything’s been great. I’m used as a defensive guy -- penalty kill and five-on-five, situations where we can’t afford to have goals scored against us. I play my role.
“Being on a team where guys come to play every night, and are focused, you don’t have to find a way to get a spark. It’s already going. Last year in Prince George, it was always a struggle, guys would be whining and some of them even quit. I took it on myself to try and get them going.”
The Cougars did not have a vocal leader ready to replace Thiessen when the trade was made. Many times last season, Thiessen’s voice was the lone one heard in a dressing room which took its personality from blue-chip veterans who pouted, snivelled and all but begged their way into trades, even though Thiessen would speak up -- and loudly -- and request a show of pride from the older players.
Mind you, with the Cougars off to a 5-1 start, including four straight wins at home, the team hasn’t been in need of a boisterous body to put the train back on track.
“A lot of our guys were sad to see him go, and I was sad to see him go,” said head coach Drew Schoneck.
“Garrett brought a lot of good qualities to the hockey club and he’s a guy, as a 19-year-old, who we might not have had enough icetime to keep him happy. That’s why the move was made -- it wasn’t because we didn’t like him. He was a good leader in the room and a good teammate. There will be hellos before the game and after the game, but during the game there are no friends.
“I don’t think we have a Garrett in the room right now, a real voice, but you can hear guys starting to step up in different roles and different scenarios, and we need that.”
Said Cougars general manager Dallas Thompson, who sent Thiessen east for a conditional sixth-round bantam choice: “We have eight defencemen on the roster right now, I’m not sure how much Garrett would’ve liked being a healthy scratch. He’s playing well, and I’m happy for him.”
Thiessen admits he looks at the Cougars’ place in the B.C. Division standings and is surprised to see the club in second place, close behind the Vancouver Giants.
“I didn’t expect them to come out of the gate like that, no,” said Thiessen.
“They have some talent on that team, and some hard-working guys. I’m surprised, but at the same time I’m not.”
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Last Updated ( Monday, 06 October 2008 )
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