BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
For years minerals have been mined out of the ground in the Sudbury region and now universities from the United States are mining athletes out of the Nickel City at a wild pace.
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Matt Restoule, 18, has become the latest athlete from the Sudbury area to be recruited by a university from our southern neighbours.
Lake Superior State has recruited Restoule for its hockey team and if everything goes well, he will be showcasing his skills, playing Division One hockey.
Â?It should be a great experience,Â? said Restoule. Â?Opportunities like this donÂ?t come along often, so IÂ?
ll do what I can and have fun.Â?
While Restoule was with the Sudbury Northern Wolves of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), the assistant coach of Lake Superior came to see him play and liked what he saw.
Â?HeÂ?s smart, has really great upside and heÂ?s just a great kid,Â? said Jim Roque, assistant coach with
Lake Superior. Â?You can see this kid will work hard to achieve success.Â?
Lake Superior won national titles and produced NHL-caliber players like Doug Weight and Jim Dowd.
Â?WeÂ?re rebuilding our program and Matt fits the mould for our team,Â? said Roque.
Â?I played hockey against his father and I know heÂ?s coming from a genuinely good family and thatÂ?s what weÂ?re looking for.Â?
Roque likes RestouleÂ?s character and work ethic, and believes Lake Superior will be a tremendous experience for him.
Â?It doesnÂ?t matter what league you come from, the first year in Division One is tough,Â? said Roque. Â?We just expect Matt to show up in good shape and learn.Â?
Restoule has been playing hockey since he was four years old. He played mainly in Val Caron, including two years for the Valley East Cobras.
Restoule failed to make it to the Ontario Hockey League after an unglamorous bantam season and promised himself heÂ?d get better.
Â?I knew I had to push myself.Â?
After two short stints in the NOJHL, Restoule finally played a full season with the Northern Wolves this past year. After a slow start, Restoule piled up 32 goals and 55 assists for 87 points in 48 games.
Â?When I came into the league I had to adjust, but soon it all came together,Â? said Restoule. Â?I was happy with the season I had.Â?
The six-foot-one, 200-pound Restoule prides himself on his disciplined play.
Â?IÂ?m very disciplined because I donÂ?t take dumb penalties,Â? said Restoule. Â?I know when to get in
there and play rough.Â?
Restoule knows he is going to a highly competitive league and a team that prides itself on producing high-quality hockey players.
Â?At first it didnÂ?t hit me until I found out they play Division One hockey there and I remembered Mike Cammalleri, who played for Canada at the World Junior Championships last year, also played Division One hockey,Â? said Restoule.
Â?They have high calibre players in that league.Â?
Restoule recently travelled to Lake Superior State University and liked what he saw.
Â?The campus is clean and beautiful,Â? said Restoule. Â?The arena is the size of OHL arenas.Â?
Restoule had the chance to meet some of his future teammates.
Â?They told me, everywhere you go people know you because itÂ?s a heavy hockey school and they
support their team.Â?
Restoule is looking forward to pulling on a new jersey.
Â?ItÂ?s exciting, but IÂ?m nervous because you never know if youÂ?ve worked hard enough to be there and
compete.Â?
Restoule will miss the North, but will come back to visit.
Â?Going to play hockey there is just like an extended road trip,Â? said Restoule. Â?IÂ?ll get breaks and
come back to visit friends and family.Â?
