WHL hot shot going to the Dogs

[Shootmaster_44]

If he doesn't turn pro, DaSilva will join Huskies
Darren Zary, The StarPhoenix
Published: Saturday, May 10, 2008

STEVEN DaSILVA

Forward

- Born in Saskatoon

- Played for AAA midget Contacts

- Played in WHL for Kootenay Ice the last four seasons, scoring 103 goals and 234 points

- - -

If this big fish gets away, it won't be to a rival Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) team.

Steven DaSilva -- one of the top recruits graduating from the Western Hockey League this season -- has committed to play for his hometown University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

However, DaSilva will continue to take nibbles. He could be lured by a professional contract.

"(U of S) seems to be the plan for now," said DaSilva, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound right-winger. "My agent (Rick Valette of Octagon Agencies) and I have decided to wait after the NHL draft. Once that's over with, we'll decide. If I'm going to school, I'll be going to the U of S. Hopefully, pro is still an option, but if that doesn't work out, I'm pretty happy going to the U of S and playing for the Huskies.

"I probably had eight to 10 schools interested. There were some places out east -- I had never been out there and that kind of interested me -- but it came down to deciding if I can get a good education right here at home there's no need to move away from the family again."

DaSilva scored 40 goals and 50 assists for 90 points in 68 games this season for the WHL's Kootenay Ice, his fourth year with the team. He was fifth in the league in points and sixth in goals. The Ice captain had five goals and two assists in 10 playoff games this season.

Former Kootenay teammate Casey Lee joined the Dogs this past season. DaSilva also knows Huskies forward Steven Gillen, who played AAA midget on the Saskatoon Contacts with DaSilva's brother, Dan. Steven DaSilva played for the Contacts, too.

DaSilva watched the Huskies on TV in march in University Cup national semifinal action.

"They're a good team," he said of the Dogs. "They're losing some of their big guys. Hopefully I can fill in for what some of those guys did."

Overall, the Huskies lose at least eight players to graduation, including forwards Curtis Austring, Brent Twordik, Mason Wallin, Jeff Schmidt and Garett Soparlo.

"Derek Endicott might come back, but that's iffy," said Huskies head coach Dave Adolph. "Until you see the whites of their eyes, I don't even like to talk about (recruits). With Steven Gillen (last year) and Steven DaSilva (this year), it may have opened the door for a few other guys who might be on the fence as well."

Adolph feels DaSilva's decision is big on many levels.

"More than anything else we're still a destination for Saskatchewan kids," Adolph said. "We have a very good program -- a top-five program in the country for the last 12 years. We have to keep sending the message to our kids in Saskatchewan that it's OK to come home. When a big guy, a highly coveted guy like Steven, decides to come home, that's big news."

dzary@sp.canwest.com


© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008

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