Betts pays off for IceDogs
The wait to make the OHL was well worth it for Dakota Betts.
The 18-year-old Bowmanville native took an unconventional route to the Ontario Hockey League, spending his first two seasons of junior eligibility split between major midget and the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Betts was passed over in the OHL draft but got a second lease on life when the Kitchener Rangers selected him in the OHL U18 Priority Selection in 2018.
Betts wasn’t able to crack Kitchener’s lineup last season and ended up with the Whitby Fury of the OJHL where he caught the eye of IceDogs general manager Joey Burke and the team’s scouts.
Burke liked what he saw and worked out an arrangement with the Rangers for Betts to attend camp with the IceDogs. There, the big defenceman seized the moment.
“He came to camp and looked fantastic right away,” Burke said. “He looked like he could be a little bit of a diamond in the rough. We followed him closely during the week and he got better and better during camp.”
Betts was thrilled to finally have a legitimate chance to crack an OHL lineup.
“At first, I thought it was going to take some time but once I started playing a little bit more that definitely helped me out,” he said. “I was really excited. Coming to Niagara opened up opportunities for me. I knew there were spots open and I worked as hard as I could and just tried to grab a spot.”
Betts was undeterred in his dream of making the OHL.
“I never really gave up. I used it as motivation and just tried to get to play in the league and that’s what happened.”
He also realized this could be his last shot considering his age.
“I kind of looked at it like that and looked at it that I had to work the hardest and prove myself and stand out to the coaches and stuff like that.”
Once it was determined Betts was going to crack the lineup, Burke had to make a deal for his rights with Kitchener, who accepted a 10th-round pick as compensation.
“Three years (of junior eligibility) for a 10th round pick is a no-brainer,” Burke said. “We jumped at that chance.”
Betts, who has a goal and five points in 20 games, is seeing more meaningful ice time recently with the trade of Drew Hunter to Erie and injuries to Elijah Roberts and Mason Howard.
“He’s really starting to come on now, and with our injuries is playing huge minutes for us,” Burke said. “He’s been handling them extremely well considering his age and the unconventional path he took to get to us.”
Burke has been so impressed he is already considering Betts as a possible over-age candidate down the road.
“He’s proven to be of that calibre so far,” he said. “All credit goes to this kid. He’s worked his ass off for three years to get on the radar and all he wanted was a chance. We gave him that chance and he took it and ran with it.
“We expected good things but he’s vastly exceeded expectations for us for sure.”
Betts is enjoying the additional ice time.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Betts said. “I’m getting on the ice more and playing with more of the skilled guys and the top lines so it’s definitely making me a better player.”
The IceDogs (6-11-2-1) are in Peterborough (13-5-1) Thursday and home to Windsor (11-3-2) Saturday.
Ice cubes: Roberts (middle body) is expected to be out two or three more weeks while Howard (lower body) could play this weekend depending on his progress.
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