Alfano anxious for OHL draft
Sam Alfano of the Southern Tier Admirals could be the top local player selected in the Ontario Hockey League draft. Photo: SPECIAL TO BPSN.
Everything came together for Sam Alfano this season.
The 16-year-old Cayuga resident put together a memorable campaign for the Southern Tier Admirals minor midget AAA squad where he collected 36 goals and 63 points in 32 regular season games before ramping up his production even more in the playoffs with 26 points in 13 games.
Alfano, who attends St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic Secondary School in Hamilton, was rewarded when he was named the Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s minor midget player of the year.
“Before the year I didn’t know there was an award like this at all,” Alfano said.
Alfano, who captained the Admirals, was quick to give much of the credit for his success to linemates Andrew LeBlanc and Trent Swick.
“I played with two great players all year,” he said. “It was the best line I’ve ever been a part of.
“I think it’s (production) a combination of being on the end of some great plays by Trent Swick and Andrew LeBlanc and just trying to get to the net. I’m a big guy and I like to make the goalie’s life a pain and get into his vision and crash the net and be strong in front of the net and use my strength and size to my advantage.”
Alfano is dedicated to becoming a better player.
“Every year I just try and work my hardest. I love the game. It’s not a chore for me to work my hardest and develop as a player. It’s something I love to do,” he said. “My summers are dedicated to becoming a better hockey player. All summer, I train so when I go into the season I do look like I’ve become better each year.”
Alfano is biding his time until Saturday’s Ontario Hockey League draft where he could be the top local player selected. According to Prospectpipeline.ca, he is ranked 23rd in the draft.
“In a normal time, it would have been trying to not think about it too much but sitting at home, you can’t but wonder and become more and more anxious as the days go on,” he said. “I just try and stay busy and active and that usually helps me to not think about it for a little bit and then you get back around the house and you get back to being anxious.”
Alfano said the anxiousness stems from the unknown.
“I think it’s just not knowing. It’s not too much the wondering how high you’re going to go. It’s the place, that’s the biggest thing. You talk to teams and after every interview you think it went well but there are so many . . . you just wonder where you’re going to go.”
Alfano has shown he has good offensive instincts and already has enough size at 6-foot-3, 181 pounds.
“Just keeping my feet moving in all three zones,” he said when asked what he’s working on. “I think that’s huge. For a big guy I can’t afford to stop moving my feet for a second because that’s when I start to stick out as maybe a little slower but when I keep my feet moving and play on the right side of the puck, I think I can skate with the game and keep up no problem.”
Prospectpipeline.ca has high praise for Alfano.
“Alfano is a visibly intelligent player on the ice, playing the game one step ahead of his competition. He understands the dynamics of a developing play and can make smart decisions based on what he sees. This innate sense of the game makes Alfano a very dangerous player with the puck, as he can understand the benefits between a shooting or a passing play. Further, he’s a very elusive skater who can change up his speed and direction on a dime, making him extremely tough to defend. Alfano’s agility with the puck makes him equally lethal on the rush and on the cycle. On the power play, Alfano effectively moves the puck to keep opposing defenders out of position and is wise in his shot selections.”
Alfano plans to follow the draft on line Saturday with his family. The first round begins at 9 a.m.
For more on the draft see links below:
Wyatt Gibson profile at https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/better-late-than-never/
Keaton Zavitz profile at https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/captain-zavitz-hopes-for-ohl-shot/
Ethan Whitcomb profile at https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/clutch-player-eyes-ohl-draft/
Connor Thomson-Dick profile at https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/commitment-to-hockey-pays-off/
Derek Smythe profile at https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/smythe-content-to-stay-home/
Trent Swick profile at https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/hard-work-pays-off-for-swick/
Jacob LeBlanc profile at https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/leblanc-brothers-sticking-together/
Andrew LeBlanc profile at https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/the-centre-of-attention/
Tai York profile at https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/york-hoping-to-fulfill-ohl-dream/
Nathan Duplessis profile at https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/late-bloomer-chases-ohl-dream/
Niagara IceDogs draft preview at https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/icedogs-looking-for-impact-players-at-draft/
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