Syvret finally gets his shot
By Morris Dalla Costa, Free Press Sports Columnist
He wasn't drafted by a National Hockey League team. He's been overshadowed by members of his own London Knights team.
Now, finally, Danny Syvret will get a chance to step out of the shadows.
And deservedly so.
The lack of recognition had nothing to do with Syvret's play on the blue line. He's been one of the most consistent, dependable and valuable Knights.
But with the hype generated last year with the signing Danny Richmond, a top NHL draft pick from university hockey, and the play of Dennis Wideman, Syvret always seemed relegated to the role of the "other guy" on defence.
He was even passed up in the NHL draft, with teams preferring to go with bigger defenceman, regardless of talent.
Syvret didn't worry too much about the snub. He put together a solid season.
Recognition would soon follow.
Syvret was invited to this year's New York Rangers rookie camp. But the really big invitation came from the Canada's national junior team. He participated in the team's summer camp along with the best junior players in the country.
"I hear that Danny did well in both camps," a Rangers scout said. "If there's an NHL season, I wouldn't be surprised to see him invited to the Rangers main camp."
On the home front, some despaired about how the Knights would replace Wideman. Who would run the power play? Who would play all the ice time Wideman logged?
That was never a concern for the Knights' head honchos, who have been consistent in their answer to the problem.
"Danny Syvret."
It's good they think that way, because they need him.
"I'm not really thinking about being in that position," Syvret said. "I think last year, we had a lot of leaders in general. That's why we did so well. Obviously, I learned a lot from the three (overage players) we had.
"I'll just continue playing my game, one game at a time. But I love more responsibility. I'm up for it. I love challenges, whether it's playing with a young guy or whatever.
Syvret was part of a Knights defence that had a great deal to do with an outstanding goals-against average.
He joined the Knights with players such as Marc Methot and Kyle Quincey and they all played regularly, forming one of the younger defences in the league.
His stint at the Rangers camp and his involvement with the junior team allowed him to continue to grow.
"I learned at lot at pro camp," Syvret said. "I think I did pretty well.
"And the junior camp was really intense. It was great going against the best forwards in Canada."
Meanwhile, he's spent a lot of the summer working to improve on some areas.
"I weighed 195 last year and I wanted to get over 200," Syvret said. "I also wanted to work on my shot a lot."
He and his brother, Corey, who plays junior B hockey in Cambridge, set up a room in their basement with a net. They spent hours shooting a bucket of pucks at the net.
"We played that for three weeks every night. The biggest change I noticed was my shot got harder and I got a quicker release on my snap shot.
"Making the junior team is a top priority," Syvret said.
"That and winning the Memorial Cup. That's why I want to start well because (those selecting the national team) will be looking pretty closely."
A position with the junior national team, a berth in the Memorial Cup and a move into the spotlight.
This promises to be quite a year.
