Excellence has its rewards: A young man on the way up

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This article was published 06/05/2009 (6330 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE naming of Oakville’s Eric Delong as the Canadian Junior Hockey League player of the year looks good on the Portage Terriers, on the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and, of course, on Hockey Manitoba and its well-worn rural roots.

But the honour — only the third time the award has been bestowed upon a Manitoban — looks best of all on the 5-foot-11, 191-pound forward himself and on his parents, Chris and Grace, who stood quietly to the side Tuesday as their oldest offspring shone in the limelight of an unbelievable year.

"My wife actually told me," Chris Delong said. "I was sick in bed and I thought I misheard her. She said, ‘Guess what?’ I didn’t know what had happened. We’ve had so many good things happen to us I thought it couldn’t keep going. But I just sat up and said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding.’ I couldn’t believe it."

Eric, 20, had already played in the all-star game. He had already been named MJHL player of the year, finishing seventh in league scoring with 46 goals and 47 assists for 93 points in only 49 games. He had led his Terriers to a second consecutive ANAVET Cup.

He had won the league award combining sportsmanship and ability. He had received an RBC Cup scholarship and had committed to play with the Sacred Heart University Pioneers in Fairfield, Conn, an NCAA Division 1 school, next year.

Still, Eric and the Delong family — which includes Scott, who plays for the MJHL’s Winnipeg South Blues — didn’t think he could win this one.

Chris said he mostly coached all three as kids, but both he and Grace were heavily involved in their hockey upbringing. Dany Heatley is among the NHLers who have won the award, along with Manitobans Cory Cyrenne (1995 with the St. Boniface Saints) and Junior Lessard (the Terriers in 2000).

And now Delong joins that group.

"We moved out there from the city when Eric was 3," Chris said. "The goal was to go to a small community. He started hockey there when he was 4, I think. He scored a goal in his first game and he was hooked after that. He’s always had a desire for the game; that’s his biggest attribute."

Delong will be travelling to Victoria with his dad later this week to accept the award at the RBC Cup banquet Saturday night. One of the eight other players he beat out for the award — nifty defenceman Brady Wacker of the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos — is in Victoria trying to repeat as national champion.

"It’s interesting to look back, because when I first started out with the Terriers, the only mindset I had was to make the team and just get to play," Eric said. "So to get an award like this, it’s been a long road. First of all, credit the team for developing me, as they’ve done with other players.

"Other than that, it’s just basically work ethic and a good attitude… I’ll just keep trying to work hard and get my degree and after that, if I’ve got some options (to potentially turn pro), I’ll definitely be willing to take a look at them."

 

chris.cariou@freepress.mb.ca

Eric’s excellent adventure

 

The MJHL career of Oakville’s Eric Delong:

 

2005-06: 7-13 for 20 points in 24 GP, 1-2-3 in 6 playoff games

2006-07: 37-51-88 in 61 GP, 1-6-7 in 7 playoff games

2007-08: 30-50-80 in 60 GP, 13-12-25 in 16 playoff games

2008-09: 46-47-93 in 49 GP, 11-8-19 in 13 playoff games

 

Highlights:

 

2009 CJHL player of the year

2009 MJHL MVP, winner of league’s ability/sportsmanship award

2009 MJHL all-star first team (third straight all-star game)

2009 Winner of RBC Junior A $5,000 scholarship

2009 Commits to Sacred Heart University Pioneers, NCAA Division 1

Led Portage Terriers to two consecutive MJHL championship titles

2009 Terriers team MVP, won fan appreciation award

2008 Terriers playoff MVP

Elected class valedictorian in senior year of high school

90 per cent student in high school, works as education assistant

Plans to take business-related degree at Sacred Heart