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Ozar makes big statements with small frame

Feb 19, 2014 | 12:53 PM

Even before the puck drops, Owen Ozar stands out.

To call him pint-sized would be generous as he’s listed at a meagre 4’11, 84 pounds by the Prince Albert Venice House Raiders Bantam AA club.

But Team Lakeland was sure happy to have him for their Saskatchewan Winter Games tournament, which ended Wednesday with an eighth place finish.

“Ozie, he works his butt off,” said Lakeland head coach Frank Fazio. “He’s a good skater and he’s intelligent. In that regard, he handles the puck well. 

“What he does in those aspects, he makes for anything he may lack in size. He’s got a big heart that gets him in and out of battles.”

When asked if he ever shies away from contact because of his size, Ozar scoffed at the question.

“No, I never do that,” he said. “It’s frustrating sometimes when I try to hit ‘em, because they don’t move.

“I just try to use my quickness and my speed to get around them.”

Ozar’s elusiveness has been his calling card for his first year of bantam.

The PA-raised 13-year-old has 14 goals and 21 points in 28 games this year for the Bantam Raiders, who are second in the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League North Division with a 18-6-7 record, after starting the year off at 4-4-4.

Also on the Lakeland are two of Ozar’s teammates in Ethan Regnier and Brayden Dirks. Matthew Flodell, who’s played six games with the Raiders this year, spent a lot of time on Ozar’s

“It’s pretty awesome,” said Ozar. “It’s always good to play with your friends you already know, but it’s also good to make new friends.

“I made a lot of new friends this week.”

Although he’s from PA and his warm bed is never far away from any of the venues, Ozar and the rest of Team Lakeland is staying at the athlete’s village with the rest of the competitors.

It’s been quite the experience so far.

“It’s really fun, the dance, the food, it’s awesome,” said Ozar. “It’s like the real Olympics, just a little smaller.”

And as Ozar can tell you, good things come in small packages.

Parkland 8 Southeast 4

Team Parkland Valley took the gold medal in the boys hockey event, beating Team South East 8-4 in the gold medal game Wednesday at the Art Hauser Centre.

Parkland had the best record in the group stages, going 4-0 in their pool and outscoring their opposition 41-9.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea