From the Stands
It is rare for the average teenager to have a career path set at age 16, but Robby Fabbri is not an average teenager. The Guelph Storm’s 2012 first round draft pick is not only busy finishing up grade 10, he’s preparing for the biggest hockey challenge of his life.
For the first time in many years he’ll be coming into training camp as the unproven commodity, the new kid looking to prove he belongs. After years of being “the man” on his teams he will start at the bottom and have to work his way up.
“I really excited about coming to camp” said Fabbri. “I realize I haven’t made anything yet and I will have to work hard to earn everything I get. I’m working out in the gym four days a week. I work with a personal trainer on the ice one day a week and I’m playing in a summer league with some other OHL players and draft picks.”
Sounds like the kid means to be ready by September.
Fabbri has made it to the next Team Ontario Under 17 tryout and would like to add another ten pounds to his 5’10” frame by the fall. On draft day he was listed as weighing only 150lbs but he’s already up to 160 and is hoping to get to 170.
“It’s going to be a tough switch over to the OHL,” says the former Mississauga Rebel. “I’m going to be (one of) the youngest guys in the league so it will be like starting all over again. That will provide me with some great motivation to get back to where I want to be. It will be different for sure but it will be good to have to work hard and earn everything instead of just having it handed to me.”
No doubt there will be some high expectations after the way Hunter Garlent, Jason Dickinson and Tyler Bertuzzi performed as 16-year-old rookies last season. They struggled a little before Christmas but really turned it on after the holiday. Garlent and Dickinson were centering the top two lines while Bertuzzi was a key cog on the third line.
General Manager Mike Kelly signed Fabbri recently and can hardly wait for Storm fans to see this young man compete.
“He is skilled with a whole lot of character and entertainment value” said Kelly on draft day. “We felt he was the very, very best player at caring about winning.”
Fabbri should fit in nicely with this young team as it grows and matures as a group but he also realizes it will be a challenge off the ice as well.
“Living away from home, going to a new school, being on the road and managing my time will take awhile to adjust to” said Fabbri who says one thing he won’t be is homesick.
“I’m way too excited to get homesick!”
From the Land of Oz…..Everyone knows the Guelph Storm connection in the Stanley Cup Final on the Los Angeles Kings in Dustin Brown and Drew Doughty, and there is Cam Janssen with the Devils (although he has yet to play in the post season yet), but who can name the other Storm tie-in with New Jersey? You’re right if you said Dave Barr. The former head coach and GM of the Storm is an assistant with the Devils.
