Bang! Crash! Pow!
Anyone who watched the old Batman and Robin shows on TV has seen these expressive words pop out on the screen as the “Caped Crusader” and his sidekick Robin would lay down the law on the villains they had chased down.
Watch Mason Zebeski go in on the forecheck during an OHL game, and you can almost see those same striking terms used to explain what is happening on the ice.
While he’s no DC Comics superhero, the Barrie Colts winger also has no fear when it comes to launching himself at opponents in his pursuit of the puck.
“Not at all,” Colts’ vice president and general manager Marty Williamson said of Zebeski, whom he acquired at the OHL trade deadline for that exact reason. “The first thing I noticed when I started watching him, his feet were always moving. He’s always in pursuit, whether it’s to get on the net or get on the forecheck and make contact.
“That’s one of the things we like about him.”
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That bone-crunching style, which can often lead to turnovers and pucks in the net, is one well sought after by GMs in any hockey league.
Zebeski is more than happy to bring that punishing game every night.
“There’s a spot in hockey on every team at every level for playing styles like that,” said the 20-year-old, who has 19 goals and 27 assists for 46 points in 62 games this season. “It is the sport of hockey that everybody has to play with physicality, no matter who you are, and that’s one thing I model my game towards and want to do every night.
“I’m pretty fortunate that I have a lot of guys that I can look up to, and even the past teams that I was able to learn from. I’m happy to do that here.”
For Williamson, bringing Zebeski in, who was acquired with Parker von Richter from Brampton in separate deals for several high draft picks and Sam Black, was a “no-brainer.”
While Steelheads teammate Gabriel Chiarot and Sudbury Wolves sniper Kieron Walton were other possibilities, the six-foot-two, 197-pound forward was the “perfect fit.”
While Chiarot was a similar player, he shot right. Williamson and head coach Dylan Smoskowitz sought a left-shot winger who could effectively complement centres Brad Gardiner or Cole Beaudoin.
“We needed help on the left side,” said Williamson. “He’s a left winger. He brings size and is hard to play against. For me, he was kind of a no-brainer. He checked all the boxes for a guy we wanted to play the second half.
“We had Alex Assadourian and just felt this player was more of a fit for the playoffs and what we needed.”
Zebeski has delivered exactly what the Colts were looking for.
“He fits our hockey team. He fits our identity,” said Williamson. “As much as I love Walton and the goals he can put up, he’s not quite our identity.
“That’s what we just thought with Zebeski, that he was a Barrie Colt.”
One of the things Williamson loves most is that Zebeski brings it every night.
“The thing with him is the consistency of his game,” he said. “You just don’t see a drop off. He has a really good desire and passion to want to play the right way.
“He’s just a likeable kid. He’s really fit our dressing room, and James Richmond (Brampton GM and head coach) couldn’t say enough good things about him when we acquired him.”
The former Steelheads captain was in his fourth season in Brampton, but with this being his last junior year, the veteran wanted a chance to win, and that meant leaving the rebuilding team.
“I think pretty much the biggest part of my decision to leave Brampton was I wanted the opportunity to win,” said the Oakville native. “I had a great run there for four years, and I can’t thank them enough. Now, I’m excited for the team we have here, and the opportunity to win and to go all the way, hopefully.”
Zebeski has fit on both of the top lines, and while the offence has taken a little longer to come around, it hasn’t stopped him from having an impact on games.
The hulking winger is starting to find the net more consistently, and with goals in back-to-back games, appears to be heating up at the right time.
What matters to him is simple, and that’s winning games.
“When we were winning games after the deadline, like we are doing now, you don’t really think of those opportunities as missed opportunities,” said Zebeski. “You think of it just as contributions to a team, and helping with momentum and stuff, so it was easy for me not to get into my own head and that.
“Winning is great.”
That kind of confidence is what you get with a 20-year-old, said Williamson.
“A guy that has been through streaks and not scoring, and that kind of stuff,” explained Williamson. “He knows if he does his job, it helps us win. Whether it’s just a good forecheck. Whether it’s putting bodies on guys
“That’s the great thing about him, and now the scoring seems to be a little more consistent with him. It’s pretty exciting to see. He carries great practice habits and works hard in practice. He wants to get better, and he wants to win.”
Zebeski and the Colts host Ottawa Thursday night at Sadlon Arena. His final regular season may be winding down, but the playoffs and a possibly long run are right around the corner.
A smile comes across Zebeski’s face when he’s asked about wanting to keep the ride going.
“Yes, sir,” he said. “Yes, indeed.”
After all, this Dark Knight’s job is far from over.
COLTS SIGN FREE AGENT SHARGORODSKY
Speaking of good fits, the Colts added another power forward to the prospect pipeline with the signing of Phillip Shargorodsky on Monday.
The six-foot-three, 200-pound winger, who had 12 goals and 22 assists for 36 points in 37 games for Culver Military Academy this season, is a strong combination of size, pace, and hockey IQ.
He fits the Colts’ scheme of being physical, strong on the forecheck, while also being able to contribute on the offence.
“He sure does fit the identity,” Williamson said of Shargorodsky, who will join the Colts next season. “I don’t think I’ve seen a guy hunt pucks as hard as he does.”
Williamson said the free agent had several options of where to sign. He drew interest from teams in both the QMJHL and OHL.
It was expected he'd sign in the Quebec league, but a Zoom call with Williamson and Barrie head scout Shane Sullivan convinced the forward to come to Barrie.
“We had a Zoom call, and they (Phillip and his dad) met with Shane Sullivan and I,” explained Williamsom. “We both talked about what we wanted and what we thought each other had. He got back to me about a week later, on the day he said he was going to, and said he wanted to be a Barrie Colt. It’s pretty exciting.”
JASWAL BAGS WEEKLY LEAGUE HONOUR
Barrie’s Arvin Jaswal, who has won 13 straight starts, was named the OHL’s Goaltender of the Week.
The Pickering native went 2-0 with a 2.00 goals against average and .937 save percentage in wins over Brampton and North Bay last week. The 17-year-old has posted an impressive 17-3-0-1 record with a 2.20 GAA, .928 save percentage, and two shutouts in 21 games this season.
It’s the second time this season Jaswal has received the honour.
