Tavares Blazed Exceptional Trail
By Will MacLaren
How soon is too soon to reach the next level? In hockey, it’s a long-standing debate. One player who put the debate to rest for himself in the Fall of 2005 was a 15-year-old named John Tavares, who singlehandedly ushered in a new era for the CHL in the process.
Traditionally, the window for major junior hockey has only been open to players aged 16-20. Before Tavares, a select few did manage to skate their way through at a younger age. Prior to the institution of a draft, Bobby Orr patrolled the blueline for the Oshawa Generals as a 14-year-old in the Boston Bruins junior network. Jason Spezza was granted permission to join his local squad, the Brampton Battalion, at 15 before entering the OHL Draft the following year. Tavares, who would follow Orr’s footsteps with the Gens, became the first player selected prior to his 15-year-old season in a major junior draft under the modern exceptional status rule.
Earlier in 2005, Tavares attended Generals Spring camp. Randy Ladouceur, then the Oshawa Head Coach, was happy with what he saw but not overwhelmed. The assignment was simple; the newest OHL wunderkind had some work to do.
Message received.
That fall, Tavares went on a tear that continued until his final game in the OHL and beyond. An overwhelming choice for OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year – that’s what 45 goals as the youngest player in the country will get you – Tavares would blow the doors off the league the following years, finding the back of the net 72 times. His 215 goals and 433 points in 247 OHL regular season games between Oshawa and London from 2005-09 are numbers only legends put up. That said, the three most memorial tallies from this Major General over that span came in another red and white uniform; a New Year’s Eve hat trick against Team USA as a member of a Canadian squad that went on to capture a fifth consecutive gold medal at the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa. Six months later, the New York Islanders made him the first overall selection at that year’s NHL Entry Draft.
During Tavares’ first weeks in the CHL, The Hockey News published a profile of hockey’s latest prodigy. No less an authority than legendary Peterborough Petes Head Coach Dick Todd was quick to sing a young General’s praises. “He’s a very special kid,” Todd said at the time. “He has tremendous instincts in terms of knowing where the puck is going. The puck seems to follow him.”
Two decades later and the puck is still following him. Entering this season, his 17th in the NHL and eighth with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, Tavares sits six regular season goals shy of the 500 mark. But beyond the 1114 career points, seven seasons of 30 or more goals and gold medals at the World Juniors, World Cup, Spengler Cup and 2014 Olympics lies what might be the most understated yet critical part of Tavares storied career. He’s been named either Team Captain or Alternate Captain in each of the last 15 seasons. Need a goal? Need a game-changing play? Need a leader? JT is your guy.
Talk about exceptional.
