BY SCOTT
HADDOW
Shawn Sirman isn't the type of person who waits for good things
around for great opportunities to be handed to him.
The Val Caron native went out on a limb and earned everything
he knows about hockey the hard way.
After a productive AAA midget season with Valley East last
year, Sirman was picked in the 2006 OHL Draft by the Oshawa
Generals in the 12th round.
As a late pick, Sirman knew immediately he had a lot to prove
before he would ever, if ever, pull on a Generals jersey.
In the summer, Sirman took it upon himself to find the hardest
challenge possible for 2006-07 to help bolster his chances of
realizing his dream of playing in the OHL.
He found that challenge in Blind River, playing the back-up
goalie role for the Beavers in the NOJHL.
The move has accelerated his development and made Sirman into a
strong prospect with a bright future.
Sirman has seen his fair share of the workload in Blind River.
He has 16 games under his belt and has a record of 7-4-2. He
owns the league's fifth best goals-against-average mark with
3.20 and the NOJHL's second best save percentage at .909.
When Sirman is in-between the pipes, he gives the Beavers a
realistic chance of grabbing a win. Most recently, Sirman
helped the Beavers get at least a point by stopping 43 shots in
a 3-2 shoot-out loss to the Soo Indians on Jan. 6.
Sirman's play is just one of the reasons Blind River is near
the top of the NOJHL standings and considered a contender.
"I'm getting the challenge I was looking for…I'm getting a lot
of playing time," said the six-foot puck stopper. "I want to
play in the OHL next year. Playing in the NOJHL is making me
better everyday. It's getting me ready to face harder shots and
bigger players. It's helping me develop a lot faster than
another year of midget hockey. My season has gone well so far.
Now, I just have to keep it up."
The grind of the NOJHL can get to many young players and Sirman
is paying a hefty price to chase his dream. He makes the trip
to Blind River on Tuesday and Thursday nights for practices. If
the Beavers have two home games and any extra practices, Sirman
can be on the road to Blind River five nights a week.
"It's worth it," said the 160-pound goalie. "It can be tough
too. It was hard at first with all the travelling, but now I am
used to it. It can be tough going to school the next day after
getting home at 12:30 in the morning from a game. It's not all
that bad…it's part of hockey."
Sirman has been a welcomed addition in Blind River.
"He's a very dedicated young man," said Beavers head coach Todd
Stencill. "Shawn wanted to play at the highest level because he
was an OHL Draft pick…he wanted to face the best shooters
night-in-and-night-out. I sat down with him earlier this season
and my commitment to him was he wouldn't be the back up every
game and he would play. He has come in and done a great job.
Not too many junior teams in Canada would carry a 16-year-old
goalie, but we felt we had to. Shawn has maturity beyond his
years and he can play with the best of them on any given night.
Look at his stats…he's one of the top goalies in the
league…that says something."
Sirman is finding out he has the right stuff.
"I have definitely proven to myself I can play at the junior
level and have success game-in-and-game-out," said the Grade 11
Confederation student. "I never thought I would be able to do
so well. I've just kept pushing myself harder and harder to
make it happen. I know I can play…having that confidence in my
own ability is important."
Sirman has set his sights on playing at the next level, even if
it isn't with Oshawa.
"I've set my goal to play in the OHL next season…If I don't, I
will try the scholarship route," said Sirman. "Whatever comes
first."
