Great year capped by draft selection
Marcus Sulug played Hamilton Bulldogs AAA travel hockey for six seasons before joining the Niagara North Stars this season.
“Going into my draft year, I felt like Niagara was the place for me to go for the best development during this important year,” the 16-year-old Stoney Creek resident said. “Coach Jay Glenney talked to me and wanted me on his team.”
It turned out to be a great choice for the Grade 10 student at St. John Henry Newman. This past Saturday, he ended up getting selected in the 10th round, 185th overall by Peterborough Petes in the Ontario Hockey League draft.
“It was a great year. I had a lot of supporters help me through the year; my coaches on the team and Jason Glenney for pushing me the whole year, getting me a lot of exposure and getting me to play with the junior Bs in St. Catharines under Tyler Bielby.”
Suiting up for three games for the Falcons was a transformative experience for the six-foot, 175-pound left defenceman.
“That whole organization has actually done quite a lot for me and impacted my life a lot. I give most of that credit to coach Bielby for helping me. I was in a bad place at that time of the year and he got me back up.”
Bielby is a big fan of Sulug.
“Marcus is an outstanding young man who is extremely determined. He approaches the game the right way and wants to be a sponge and learn as much as he can. He was a welcome addition to our dressing room and we believe he has a bright future.”
Glenney echoes those sentiments.
“Marcus was a student of the game. He had a great work ethic and always wanted to get better. He was an exceptional skater and excelled in penalty killing and blocking shots,” he said. “He was a big strong defender who used his size and speed to his advantage. He was a constant professional both on and off the ice.”
Sulug had five assists in 33 regular season games for the North Stars this season.
On draft day, Sulug was watching with his parents in the family room of their home.
“I was hearing a lot of names being called and wasn’t hearing mine yet and I started thinking that it maybe wasn’t my year,” he said. “I was going to keep on working next year and hopefully something would work out then but luckily the Peterborough Petes picked me up. I was so thankful and grateful for them for that.”
Sulug described getting drafted as surreal.
“It felt like a dream and it all happened really quick but it was a great feeling with all the hard work I put in for my whole life. To see your name on the screen is what you work for. It was a great moment for my family and I.”
Playing in the OHL has always been his dream.
“I have done a lot of research and it all appeals to me. It is a highly competitive league. And Peterborough is a great organization and has a great history.”
His goal for the upcoming season is to crack the lineup of the Petes.
“Of course, I will keep working in the gym, getting stronger and faster and working on the on-ice training.”
He has been blessed to have coaches like Glenney and Bielby in his corner. He also thanked the Niagara North Stars coaches Craig McPhee and Dave Lostracco, off-ice trainer George Rusich and Hamilton Bulldogs under-15 coach Tyler Hore.
“He (Hore) did a lot for me. He changed my game and opened up a different style of game for me. I think that is what got more eyes on me because he developed me in that way.”
