Justin DeZoete: Overcoming adversity every step of the way

All successful athletes have to be able to overcome the obstacles and adversity that are in front of them on their journey to success. For Petes forward Justin DeZoete, overcoming adversity is something he has had to do time and time again on his way to the maroon and white. 

For DeZoete, his first major obstacle presented itself during his major bantam season when he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. The illness forced him to miss a number of games during that season and he also had to rebuild the strength and stamina that he had lost while he was sick. The young Pete credits his parents and all the members of his support system for helping him get the disease under control and get back to playing the game that he loves. 

“It was definitely tough but everyone has their own adversity that they have to go through so this was just mine. When that happened, it was really annoying because all I wanted to do was get back to playing hockey.”

When DeZoete was able to return to the ice, he saw an explosion in his offensive game as he was able to rack up 98 points in 74 games with the Hamilton Huskies in his OHL draft year, before the season was cut short. While the state of the 2020-21 season was still uncertain at the time the 2020 OHL draft pushed on as scheduled and DeZoete was selected in the second round by the Petes with the 35th overall pick. Getting selected was a dream come true and an extra special experience when considering the adversity he had to go through to get to that point. 

GIVE ‘N GOAL ????

DeZoete picks up his 6th goal of the season after banking in @MeleeJonathan‘s rebound ????#GoPetesGo pic.twitter.com/YbnZwPtNzH

— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) February 6, 2022

Like the rest of the 2020 draft class, DeZoete had to wait a full year to make his OHL debut and he has been asked to adopt a very different role than the one he was previously used to playing. During the young forwards minor career, he was known for putting up goals in bunches but this year he has been playing lower in the Petes lineup and has put on focus on his game in the defensive end off the ice. 

“It’s been an adjustment. I was always a guy that put up a lot of points and played a lot of minutes so as one of the younger guys on the team I’ve been playing a bit of a different role. I’m just trying to do everything that the coaches are asking me to do for the team and I know my game will come along as I get older.”  

DeZoete wacks the biscuit on the doorstep to give us a 2-1 lead! Assists go to a pair of 2022 #NHLDraft prospects, Tucker Robertson and @Samuel6Mayer! #GoPetesGo pic.twitter.com/5PQlVyPwX5

— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) February 25, 2022

The cancellation of last season also created a very unique situation where DeZoete is a part of an abnormally large rookie class for the Petes this season. The group ranges in age from 16-18 and while the introduction to the OHL will be difficult to any player DeZoete said that the large rookie class has made the transition much easier. 

“We’re all depending on each other and going through the same thing so it’s nice to be able to have other people going through all the same things and we can help each other through stuff.”

Like most players, DeZoete has aspirations of making it to the NHL one day and will have his first opportunity to hear his name called at the NHL draft this upcoming summer. While DeZoete admits that he thinks about the possibility of being drafted from time to time he remains fully focused on his play for the maroon and white right now and believes that everything else will work itself out from there.