NEWS

There is no doubt about it: North York Rangers captain Jeremy Szabo (photo credit - Amy Deroche/OJHL Images) has a difficult job.

Piling on to the fact that he was not even an assistant last season, the club lost 14 players from its veteran-laden roster, and a big part of his job is to help reign in the nine or so rookies that North York head coach Mark Joslin dresses on any given night.

This is all on top of the fact that the savvy, intense, two-way defender from Toronto is trying to impress scouts, and earn a Division I NCAA scholarship.

Nevertheless, Szabo has chosen to look at the positives of who is at the Herb Carnegie Centennial Arena this year, as opposed to worrying about who has left it.

“My time as captain so far has been really great,” says Szabo, "especially with all the help I get from the other vets."

“Guys like Brett Seldon, Gabriel Valenzuela, Matthew Whittaker, they have made my life a lot easier. Those guys are more vocal than I am in the room, while I really just try to lead by example on the ice and let that do the talking for me. Those other guys do a great job all around as well.”

While the veteran leadership present is considerable, the club has missed its captain for far more games than they have hoped, with Jeremy hitting the injured list for 12 games. 

Yet with him back the last few contests, the confidence level has certainly grown in the club; a tribute to the subtle job Szabo has done already.

“I think in most situations out there you don’t need to say too much,” says Szabo.

“I think you can be the calm in the storm when everyone is hyped up in the big game. When you’re in the room, a calm level of confidence is more effective in a tough or big moment. I just feel like my role in the room is to calm everyone down and tell these guys to not worry, that we are capable with what we have to pull it out.”

Last year as a rookie himself, Jeremy began the year unsure of ice time after a handful of call-ups as a midget the season previous. What transpired, however, was an ascension to a key role by the time the playoffs came around; and though he got hurt in the first round against St. Mike’s, the North York brass had seen enough of his intensity, character, and passion to pencil him in for big things come this campaign.

Szabo’s experience around that team is something he holds dear, and he feels that it played a huge role in preparing him for being a captain at the Junior 'A' level.

“Last year as a rookie I was a very emotional player,” Szabo says, “but I learned from (last year’s captain Patrick Piacentini and assistant captain Corey Kalk) that it is about being calm, and confident, and that success will come from that.

“Being with those guys, I really learned how to lead by example. Even in the gym, they would help me stay focused, and they really pushed me mentally and physically. They showed me what it takes to be a leader at this level.”

Another obvious piece of preparation for Szabo was the fact that he had been a captain throughout the ranks of the North York minor hockey system, a fact that undeniably went into picking Jeremy in the first place. 

And as the young Rangers continue to find their identity in this new campaign, Jeremy is confident that the club can do big things.

“Our rookies are pretty mature,” he says.

“At this point of the season, all the players are starting to get it, if you will, and I have needed to learn myself how to be captain. It really is such an honour for me, with a captain like Piacentini last year, and Dana Tenenbaum before him, it’s really such an honour to walk in their footsteps.”

Jame Neugebauer is the play-by-play voice of both the North York Rangers and Toronto Patriots, while providing the occasional story for In The O Radio.