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| Saturday, June 09, 2007 | |
Knights lure another Ivy Leaguer |
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By RYAN PYETTE, SUN MEDIA As a native New Yorker, Tony Romano admits he's a die-hard Yankees fan whose mood often reflects the fortunes of the major league baseball dynasty. Then the 19-year-old Long Island hockey star should feel right at home as a member of the London Knights, whose deep pockets, free-agent signings and recent disdain for rebuilding have turned them into the OHL's version of the Bronx Bombers. Romano, a slick high-scoring forward selected by the New Jersey Devils in the sixth round of the 2006 NHL draft, left a lucrative and prestigious education at Cornell University to sign on with the Knights for next season. It's the second straight year an Ivy Leaguer has left the U.S. college ranks for a taste of Hunter hockey after David Meckler spurned Yale to skate at the John Labatt Centre. "I know what I'm leaving but you only play 30 games at Cornell and it takes more than that to get to the next level," said the five-foot-10, 180-pound Romano, who was enrolled in pre-law while playing for the Big Red. "I was used to playing 60, 70 games a season so it was a big change for me. I love hockey and I want to play as many games as I can." London GM Mark Hunter promised Romano he could play somewhere in the 97-game range if the Knights fulfilled their goal of winning the Memorial Cup next spring in Kitchener. Even if Meckler and potential first overall NHL pick Pat Kane don't return, the Knights are expected to contend for a fifth straight OHL regular season title. "We're always looking at signing free agents like David and Tony because we're always picking last in the draft," Hunter said. "We drafted Corey Perry fifth overall and Rick Nash fourth overall. Now we don't get a chance at those kinds of players so we have to do something else." Romano, who had 19 points in 29 games in his rookie season at Cornell, isn't coming to the OHL uninformed. He used to play against Kane, his longtime pal Vladimir Nikiforov plays for the Barrie Colts and he has trained in New York with former Knights strength and conditioning coach Spero Mantzavrakos. "Vladimir is a big supporter of the OHL and he loves what the London Knights have done and their approach to the game," Romano said. "I started following the Knights and you watch what they do with five forwards on the power play for two minutes straight and it draws your attention. The defensive guys probably don't like it too much but as an offensive player, you love it." As an older player, Romano knows he will have to limit his OHL learning curve and take on a leadership role the way Meckler did last season. Meckler made such a first impression, he was named an assistant captain, scored 38 goals in the regular season, added 15 in the playoffs and played the final two months with a broken foot suffered while blocking a shot. "As a 19-year-old, I'm still considered a rookie but I'm also an older player and there's the expectation of being a leader," Romano said. "I want to come in and do what I can. I'm excited about the opportunity to play here. I've played in front of big crowds before (6,000-plus in U.S. college games)." Meckler, who attended Romano's press conference yesterday, has been offered a two-year contract by the Los Angeles Kings to play for their American Hockey League affiliate in Manchester. Because he left college, his rights are owned by the Kings until he is 21 -- his natural fourth year of university -- so the NHL team doesn't have to worry about losing him unsigned for another season. "I'm going to attend L.A.'s camp in July and then likely decide what to do after that," he said. Romano figures a strong year in London will go a long way to advancing to a pro hockey career. This year, London had one recent graduate win the Stanley Cup -- Anaheim's Corey Perry -- and seven ex-players -- David Bolland, Rob Schremp, Brandon Prust, Marc Methot, Dan Girardi, Kyle Quincey and goalie Adam Dennis (if you include a backup assignment for Buffalo) -- appear in their first NHL games. NEWEST KNIGHT Tony Romano Position: Right wing Stats: Five-foot-10, 180-pounds Hometown: Smithtown, N.Y. NHL status: Sixth round pick (178th overall) of the New Jersey Devils in 2006 Former teams: Cornell Big Red (NCAA, 29 GP, 9 G, 19 Pts, 18 PIM); New York Bobcats (Atlantic Junior Hockey League, 40 GP, 52 G, 102 Pts) |