SPIRIT THIS WEEK: HARD WORK PAYING OFF FOR ROOKIE EWERE
Odaro Ewere probably didn’t take the traditional route to a spot on a Jr. A hockey team.
Many, if not most, Ontario Junior Hockey League stars skated in the AAA ranks from their earliest memories.
Not Odaro.
“I’m not sure when I started,” the Stouffville Spirit rookie forward said Wednesday. “But my mom put me into figure skating first.”
“My parents were new immigrants (from England and Nigeria) who didn’t play and didn't know much about hockey.”
Enter his godmother, Francis McNeil. A hockey player herself until this day, she encouraged Odaro and his mom to let him try the game.
Odaro would play three years of house league and six seasons of AE, A and AA rep hockey all in his home town of Richmond Hill.
He’d eventually jump up to AAA in minor peewee and play at that level with the Richmond Hill Coyotes organization through his U16 season.
His last year of minor hockey was with the Markham Waxers U18 squad who have sent several fine players to Spiritville.
Six of Odaro’s eight points have come in the last month, including a two-goal game against Markham Saturday.
“I think just getting to 20 games under the belt,” the 18-year-old said of his recent comfort level. “Just getting more comfortable. Getting more comfortable with the team and with the league.
“I think the pace was very difficult at the start. You don’t have as much time to think as you did in AAA. I think I was struggling to keep up with the pace at the start, but I’m doing a bit better now.”
His coach likes what he sees.
“Odaro is getting better every week,” said Spirit Head Coach Scott Donato. “It was great to see the hard work that he puts in week in, week out turn into individual success with his two-goal performance against Markham.”
Odaro is studying police foundations at Seneca College with an eye on a career in law enforcement.
Goals?
“Going to school and playing hockey would be the ideal situation,” he said. “Just to keep playing and keep improving.”
THE SCORES
Aurora 4, Stouffville 1, Dec. 3
Davis Bone staked the Spirit to a 1-0 lead, which held up until the six-minute mark of the second period in Stouffville.
Markham 5, Stouffville 2, Dec. 4.
THE SKED
Milton at Stouffville, Dec. 9. 7:30 p.m.
Brantford at Stouffville, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville and Sharon
Photos by OJHL Images
