Post by Score on Jan 30, 2007 18:31:06 GMT -3
University Grad Gets NHL Shot
Ward's Wild ride culminates with big debut in Vancouver on HNIC.
Joel Ward received the best Christams gift of his life in 2006.
The former UPEI Panther skated in six games with the Minnesota Wild, making his NHL debut in Vancouver Dec.16 and picking up an assist in his hometown of Toronto Vs the Maple Leafs along the way.
"I started the game in Vancouver, which was unbelievable feeling because it was on Hockey Night in Canada, " Ward said.
After recording 76 goals and 152 pts in four OHL season with Owen Sound, Ward -who was undrafted- scored himself a camp invite with Detroit in 2001.
"The tryout didn't really work out so I decided to come home and see what options I wanted to pursue and going to school was the best thing for me," he said.
"UPEI seemed like a good fit, so I ended up going their for four years and was fortunate to get my degree is sociology".
In 2003, Ward earned in invite to the Wild's camp.
"I was still in school and they wanted me to sign with their AHL affiliate team in Houston, but I had already competed two years of school and I wasn't prepared to give that up," Ward said.
After graduation, the Wild had Ward try out with Houston and the right winger dressed for 66 games in 2005-2006 before signing an NHL contract last fall.
Ward, 26, was sent back to the Aeros Jan 2, leaving former Western Mustang Steve Rucchin of Atlanta and ex-Dalhousie Tiger Jody Shelley of Columbus as the only two active NHL players with Canadian University experience.
"The CIS is a great league," Ward said. "You don't hear much about it, but there are a lot of great players who do want to continue playing at a higher level. It's unfortunate it doesn't get the attention it should."
Ward's Wild ride culminates with big debut in Vancouver on HNIC.
Joel Ward received the best Christams gift of his life in 2006.
The former UPEI Panther skated in six games with the Minnesota Wild, making his NHL debut in Vancouver Dec.16 and picking up an assist in his hometown of Toronto Vs the Maple Leafs along the way.
"I started the game in Vancouver, which was unbelievable feeling because it was on Hockey Night in Canada, " Ward said.
After recording 76 goals and 152 pts in four OHL season with Owen Sound, Ward -who was undrafted- scored himself a camp invite with Detroit in 2001.
"The tryout didn't really work out so I decided to come home and see what options I wanted to pursue and going to school was the best thing for me," he said.
"UPEI seemed like a good fit, so I ended up going their for four years and was fortunate to get my degree is sociology".
In 2003, Ward earned in invite to the Wild's camp.
"I was still in school and they wanted me to sign with their AHL affiliate team in Houston, but I had already competed two years of school and I wasn't prepared to give that up," Ward said.
After graduation, the Wild had Ward try out with Houston and the right winger dressed for 66 games in 2005-2006 before signing an NHL contract last fall.
Ward, 26, was sent back to the Aeros Jan 2, leaving former Western Mustang Steve Rucchin of Atlanta and ex-Dalhousie Tiger Jody Shelley of Columbus as the only two active NHL players with Canadian University experience.
"The CIS is a great league," Ward said. "You don't hear much about it, but there are a lot of great players who do want to continue playing at a higher level. It's unfortunate it doesn't get the attention it should."