Ferraro rounding out
To suggest that Landon Ferraro is right on schedule would be nothing short of accurate.
“A point a game would obviously be very good in this league. I’d be really happy with that,” the Red Deer Rebels sophomore centre said this week, in reference to the personal goals he set for himself heading into the current Western Hockey League season.
Well, the Rebels are nine outings into the 2008-09 campaign and Ferraro is operating at a point-per-game clip with four goals and five assists. The Vancouver native, the second player selected in the 2007 WHL bantam draft, was expected to be the Rebels’ offensive leader this winter in the event that Brandon Sutter did not return from the Carolina Hurricanes, and so far he’s delivered.
“Landon has played very well for us,” said Red Deer head coach Jesse Wallin, whose club hosts the Saskatoon Blades and Brandon Wheat Kings Saturday and Sunday at the Centrium.
“Coming into this season there was a certain amount of pressure on him, and some of that he placed on himself because of his expectations. He’s a very competitive young man and expects a lot from himself.
“But with our team this season he’s a key player, a guy that we need a lot out of every night. That’s a lot to put on a 17-year-old’s shoulders, but I think he’s handled it very well.”
Ferraro is quick to credit linemates Cass Mappin and Thomas Polak for his early success. The trio clicks, he suggested, because each of the players can specialize.
“Mappin has the strength, he’s a lot stronger than Polak and myself so we trust him down low and taking the puck wide,” said Ferraro.
“Polak is obviously a really good playmaker and he has a good shot. I just try and bring speed, and when I do that I think it opens up some ice for Mappin and Polak.
“‘When Poley’ can make some plays and Mappin can kind of control it down low, I can just pounce on whatever they leave around.”
Ferraro was a member of Team Pacific in the 2008 world Under-17 Hockey Challenge and was invited to the selection camp for the Canadian under-18 team in August at Calgary. He didn’t earn a spot on the roster, but instead of getting down on himself, the son of former NHL forward Ray Ferraro decided then and there that he would strive to correct the imperfections in his game.
“I obviously thought I played well enough to make the (under-18) team, but the coaches said I didn’t bring enough offence and they didn’t trust me defensively,” said Ferraro. “I’ve talked to Jesse about that and he’s helping me become more of a two-way player like Brandon (Sutter), a guy who can play in any situation.”
Ferraro was effective at both ends of the ice during the club’s four-game East Division trip that concluded with last Sunday’s 2-1 loss at Regina, the Rebels’ second shootout setback in as many nights.
“I really focused on my defensive play the last couple of games and although I only had one goal on the trip, I found that I had the puck a lot more,” he said. “I was playing well in the defensive zone and in the end that let me have the puck coming up the ice with a lot of speed. I had a lot of good scoring chances and developed more confidence.”
Ferraro’s willingness to improve defensively has impressed the Rebels bench boss.
“Landon is learning that (scoring) is only part of his game,” said Wallin. “To be a really good player, a dominant player and a person to move on to the next level, he’s got to be really good at both ends of the rink. I thought that his defensive play on this road trip was exceptional and I think he realized that by being real good defensively he ended up with the puck a lot.
“He supported well in our end of the rink and he won his battles. If he continues to work and continues to put the time and effort into getting better . . . with the competitive drive, speed and ability that he has, the sky is the limit for Landon.”
If Ferraro does indeed develop into a more-rounded player, he’ll likely get another shot at playing in a world championship. If not this year, there’s a strong possibility that he’ll receive consideration for the Canadian national junior team in 2009.
“That’s a goal of mine,” he confessed. “I’ve started off well here and if I keep going this way and become a better two-way player, I think I’ll have a really good shot at (being invited to the national team selection camp). Obviously that’s in the future, though. I just have to focus on now and try and make sure our team does well. If I do that then I’ll become a better player.”
Ferraro got a sample of WHL playoff action in the spring of 2007. He enjoyed the taste.
“I got to play in one game and I can remember how much fun it was,” he said. “After missing the playoffs last season, I want to get back there.”
The Rebels will have to battle hard for a post-season berth this season, but Ferraro is confident the club can get there.
“Point-wise, we didn’t do well on this last trip, but we played really well and deserved to win a couple of those games,” he insisted. “But we’re not getting too concerned yet. We’ll figure it out and we’ll get it going.”
Contact Greg Meachem at gmeachem@reddeeradvocate.com
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