Frasca growing his game under the brightest lights
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies
Jacob Frasca has been so impressive of late, his coach has no doubt he’s a star the Soo Greyhounds can wish upon.
“He’s been incredible,” said John Dean, whose club has stepzped up its preparations for Round 2 of the playoffs against the Saginaw Spirit. “His intensity has absolutely ramped up in the playoffs. This is why Jacob Frasca is here.”
Dean, whose team plays the first two games in the best-of-seven, Western Conference semifinals on Thursday and Saturday (both at 7:05 p.m.) at the Dow Event Center, went on to explain how “we knew we’d see another level from him in the playoffs. But we didn’t realize how big a level it was going to be.”
In a four-game, first-round sweep of Guelph, Frasca contributed a pair of goals and four assists along with a plus-minus of plus-5.
But numbers only scratch the surface.
“He’s been a leader. He plays the right way and wants to put the team on his shoulders,” Dean said of the six-foot-five, 215-pounder. “He’s exceptionally good with the puck. For a big, big man he makes really intelligent plays and knows how to distribute the puck. He knows exactly what’s going to get him paid and get his line paid, and he makes some nice plays in tight and some great plays off the rush.”
Feeling a need for more size and physicality, the Hounds acquired the overage winger from the Barrie Colts just prior to the Jan. 10 trade deadline. For the 21-year-old (2003 birth year) and an eighth-round draft choice, the Soo parted with overage Brenden Sirizzotti, along with selections in the second, third and fourth rounds.
Frasca delivered both a physical and net-front presence in the regular season. He finished with nine goals, 12 assists and a plus-minus of plus-2 in 28 games. Overall, his season line was 16-17-33 in 45 games with the Colts and Hounds.
But since the post-season began, Dean has raved about the veteran’s “play away from the puck, relentlessness, physicality and the way he really drives plays. He’s first on the forecheck, he creates space for his linemates, he gets to the net and creates havoc in front of it.”
When asked, Frasca agreed he’s playing some of the best hockey of his OHL career.
He spoke of putting his body on the line in the playoffs.
“You’re hitting more guys, you’re blocking more shots and finishing your checks,” he added.
Frasca spoke of how his approach has always been to try to play the same way.
But he did admit that the “sense of urgency” changes in the playoffs.
“You want to win, you want it more,” he began. “Playoffs are do or die. You have to win. It’s what you train the entire season for. You have to dig deep and find that extra gear.”
Frasca was also a postseason force a season ago with the Colts. He posted a 6-4-10 stat line in 13 games, helping Barrie make it to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, before bowing out to the North Bay Battalion.
Asked whether his style of play is conducive to postseason success, the Caledon, Ont., native agreed.
“I think it is my type of hockey. I love playoff hockey more.”
Third in Hounds postseason scoring, Frasca discussed how he was determined to be hard on the Guelph defence, punishing that group throughout the first-round series.
Such an approach certainly paid dividends for his line, which includes Bryce McConnell-Barker (2-6-8) at centre and fellow winger Gavin Hayes (3-4-7).
“Obviously, I’m a power forward. If I’m going to play in the NHL one day, it’s going to be as a power forward and because of my size,” Frasca said. “My role is to get them pucks and create space. They’re really good at hunting pucks and their offence comes from hard work. As a line, we’ve jelled really well and each game it’s gotten better and better.”
Meantime, Games 3-4 in the Saginaw series are slated for next Monday and Wednesday (both at 7:07 p.m.) at GFL Memorial Gardens. Should a fifth game be needed, it’s set for Apr. 19 in Saginaw. Game 6, if required, is scheduled for Apr. 21 in the Sault.
And should this series go the distance, the deciding game would be played on Apr. 23 in Saginaw.
“We’ll have to be hard on their D, especially their skilled D,” Frasca said of the series. “I think it’ll come down to the little details and who wants it more.”