His hockey season may be over, but Jarrett Fontaine is still looking back on the past year with a sense of accomplishment.
The 15-year-old forward saw his Tisdale Trojans unceremoniously bounced from Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League playoffs last week, falling in three straight to the second-place Saskatoon Contacts. Nevertheless, he said the year was a tremendous learning experience, and he hopes he can draw on that experience as he looks forward to next season.
One of the biggest highlights was earning a spot on Team Saskatchewan. Fontaine traveled with the club to Halifax last month to participate in the Canada Winter Games, helping Team Sask finish sixth.
"It was really great seeing all the people from different places at the athletes' village, and to be able to compete at the highest level was a great experience," he noted.
After struggling early in the Games due to injuries, Team Saskatchewan began to pick things up thanks in part to some juggling of lines. Fontaine said one new combination saw him moved from centre to right wing on a line with cousin Jordan Tkatch (left wing) and Saskatoon Contacts forward Craig Leverton at centre. The three clicked immediately.
"Our power play was dynamite," Fontaine said. "I've played with my cousin for years, from Pee Wee to Bantam and on up, so it was pretty special to be able to do that at such a high level, and to share that experience with him, being at the Canada Games."
Fontaine noted one of the biggest thrills was having the opportunity to play in front of the entire country, as Saskatchewan's quarter-final game against Quebec was televised nationally on TSN. The limelight shone brightly on Fontaine, as he scored two goals.
"Even though we lost (4-3), that was pretty special," he said.
Brothers in arms
Back in Tisdale, Fontaine had the opportunity to play much of the 2010-11 season on the same line as another relative, brother Curtis Fontaine. Curtis is two years older than Jarrett.
Maybe it was genetics, or maybe just all those years of shinny on the driveway or the backyard rink. Either way, the two really clicked.
"People joke sometimes that we're twins, like the Sedin brothers," Jarrett laughs. "We can draw passes from out of nowhere, and we can anticipate what the other one is going to do. We've grown up together and played together, and we know how each other thinks. It's like on the ice, we can read each other's minds. It's pretty cool.
"Getting to play with Curtis was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I may never get that opportunity again. Those moments will last with you forever."
Unfortunately Tisdale's fortunes came to a screeching halt against Saskatoon, as the Contacts' potent power play was simply too much to handle.
"Actually, five-on-five we dominated them," Fontaine noted. "And all our talk was about keeping them off their power play. But some of our guys couldn't help mouthing off and stuff like that. We couldn't stay out of the box.
"In the end, a lack of discipline hurt us. We're kind of known for taking stupid penalties sometimes, and we did that in the series. It killed us. The Contacts' power play is unreal."
From a personal standpoint, however, Fontaine's season has to be considered a resounding success. He hopes to build on the experience he's gained to make the jump to the next level, whether that be Junior-A or the Western Hockey League. Fontaine's WHL rights belong to the Prince George Cougars, who selected him in the third round of the 2010 bantam draft. Cousin Jordan Tkatch was also drafted by the Cougars in 2010.
"Making the step up to this level (Midget AAA) took some adjustment too," Fontaine said. "Obviously the game was a lot faster than what I was used to before, so I had to adjust to that. It will be the same thing if I make the step up to the WHL."
Fontaine is confident he's got the ability to succeed at that higher level, if he's given the chance. He's also got the right attitude.
"I've got good speed, and a lot of people tell me that my work ethic is above average," he noted. "I think I'm a gritty player - I might be smaller, but I'm not afraid to go into the corners and fight for the puck. I can grind it out, and I can score."
If there was one weakness in his game at the beginning of the year, Fontaine feels it was likely with his shot. Although he's always had a nose for the net, he needed to add more zing to his release. The extra practice he put in paid off. Fontaine finished the year with 15 goals in 37 games, and added two more in three playoff contests.
"It definitely got better as the season went on," he said.
Another area he's worked on is his patience, both with and without the puck.
"I think learning to be patient is especially important," he said. "That, and playing with more confidence - that's really the biggest thing."
One person who is confident in Fontaine's ability to make the leap to the next level is Trojans head coach Trevor Blevins.
"He was our playoff MVP," Blevins said. "All season he competed hard. His attitude and his work ethic are second to none. That's all you can really ask for.
"He's a very good skater, and he sees the ice really well. He's also very responsible positionally. He's a smart hockey player. He may get bumped around a bit (in the WHL), so he'll have to work on his strength. I've told him that. But as far as hockey players go, he's the full package."
Blevins quickly dismissed any notion that Fontaine's relatively small stature might hold him back. Indeed, at 5'5" and 145 lbs., Fontaine could have easily have been overlooked in the WHL's Bantam draft in 2010. The fact that he wasn't overlooked speaks volumes about his abilities as a hockey player. It also shows that hockey attitudes about size have finally started to change.
"Let me tell you, there are a lot of six-foot players that play a lot smaller than Jarrett does," Blevins said. "And with today's game, the clutching and grabbing has largely been taken out of it, so you've got a lot more open ice. Size doesn't matter so much, especially with forwards. So you don't worry about picking the biggest guys. You have to go with who is the best player.
"Honestly, I don't see Jarrett as 5'5" or whatever he is. I see him as a good hockey player. He may be small in stature, but he's got a big heart. And he's going to have a very successful career.
"If he does move on (to Prince George), then we've done our job. But there's no question that if he's back in Tisdale next season, he'll be a very big part of our hockey team."
