Rookie arrives Justin time
Justin Randhawa is reaping the benefits of taking a step back last season.
The Mississauga native showed well in training camp for the Niagara Falls Canucks last year, but was deemed not quite ready to make the jump from minor midget to junior.
But instead of trying to hook on with another junior club at all costs, the slick forward decided to head back to midget for a season where he was the centrepiece of the Niagara North Stars.
Randhawa developed into a leader for the North Stars and also led the team in scoring. He arrived at Canucks camp this season bigger and more confident than ever which has translated into a strong rookie campaign.
“Justin could have played in this league last year but he did himself a good thing,” Canucks coach Frank Pietrangelo said. “You have to play and play a lot. We’ve had players who played on the fourth line and then the next year they’e not ready to take that next step.
“Development is different for everyone. In Justin’s case, he’s a smaller kid who was always behind everyone physically. He’s still growing into his body.”
Randhawa, who is sixth on the Canucks in scoring with 29 points, is happy with his decision to play major midget last season.
“At the beginning, I was a bit upset I didn’t make the team but as the season went on it really helped,” he said. “I didn’t have the most confidence in myself going into the regular season, but I had a leadership role there and led the team in points.
“Looking back, I think it was the right move. Playing last year (with the Canucks), I wouldn’t have played as much and maybe I could have lost confidence in my game but I got my points and my ice time.”
Randhawa did get into eight games with the Canucks last year, scoring his first junior goal.
“What he did last year was the best for everybody,” Pietrangelo said. “He got a taste of what it’s like to play here and he practised with us regularly so he had the best of both worlds.
“He knew our systems and when he stepped in this year, he knew exactly where he sat with me and the comfort level was already built in.”
Randhawa agreed.
“It was really helpful because I knew what I was getting myself into and knew what the league was all about. It helped me mentally prepare for the season.”
Randhawa’s success comes as no surprise to his coach.
“He’s a young guy who works hard with good hands and good speed,” Pietrangelo said. “I think he’s scored just about everywhere he’s been. It’s a situation where we put him with good players and we knew we was going to have a good season for us.
“I think his future is very bright.”
Randhawa, who set a goal of 60 points for himself this season, does benefit from generally not having to play against the top lines on the other side of the ice who are usually saved for the Canucks big unit of Justin Kyle, Ben Evans and Mitch Mendonca.
“It’s helpful because as a rookie it’s nice to not have to get the top guys, but the second and third liners, so I can build my confidence and show what I can do,” he said.
Pietrangelo sees a big difference in Randhawa this season compared to last.
“We’ve had 16-year-olds who have performed well. But the difference between a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old is like night at day. Physically, they develop that much more and mentally, it’s not an easy thing for a 16-year-old to step into a dressing room with some guys that are 20. The social part of it is night and day from where they have been their whole lives.
“You have to make sure the maturity level is there.”
Randhawa has attended rookie camps at the Ontario Hockey League level with both Flint and Hamilton and also went to the Bulldogs main camp this season.
He is slated to play in the GOJHL Top Prospects game in Waterloo at the end of the month and is leaving the door open for a career in the OHL or the NCAA.
The Canucks, who lead the Golden Horseshoe Conference of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League with a 24-3-0-1 record, wrap up the unofficial first half of the season with a home game Friday versus Hamilton followed by a road game Saturday in Fort Erie.
“It’s pretty fun. We had a winning team in midget last year so it’s fun to have the confidence we can come out and absolutely dominate the other team,” Randhawa said.
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