Anytime you join a new team, there can be a bit of an adjustment period on the ice where it may take a few games to get used to your new teammates and surroundings. That doesn't seem to be the case for new Estevan Bruin Jonathan Ceci.
The 20-year-old forward joined the Bruins at the trade deadline on January 9, and has been their most prolific offensive presence since with seven goals and 13 assists in 15 games.
Before arriving in Estevan, Ceci was one of the lone bright spots on a lowly Nipawin Hawks team. He led the Hawks with 45 points in 36 games, and when the Bruins acquired him, he automatically became their leading scorer as well.
Ceci admits that while his play may not have slipped after being traded, he was a bit upset having to leave the Hawks after spending the better part of two seasons with that franchise.
"I spent a lot of time in Nipawin, so it was definitely tough being traded - I have a lot of friends up there so it was tough coming to a new town, but everyone has been unbelievably nice to me and I love my billets here and all the guys are great so I'm very happy here," said Ceci.
The North Vancouver, B.C. native was named the SJHL's Player of the Month for December when he was a member of Hawks; he was head and shoulders above the rest of the league that month with 22 points in nine games.
For good reason, Bruins' head coach Chad Leslie had nothing but good things to say about the five-foot-ten, 170-pound forward.
"He's terrific. Obviously he's a smaller guy, but he's skilled, he's got great hands and good vision," Leslie said. "He's really good in small spaces and he's actually really strong on the puck so we're pretty happy with him."
Just to give you an idea of how much of an impact player Ceci is, he averages 1.27 points per game, and scored the shootout winner in his first contest with Bruins in 4-3 over the Sherwood Conference leading Yorkton Terriers. He also had an assist that game.
In his second contest with Estevan, Ceci had three assists in a 7-3 win over his former club, the Hawks.
"I'm not the biggest guy out there, but I think I see the ice pretty well and can make a pass or two that other guys don't see," said Ceci regarding what makes him so effective. "I take pride in my defensive game too, and I try to be a two-way player."
Ceci shines off the ice as well. According to Leslie, he's a quiet leader and is very easy to get along with. The Bruins were looking for that type of go-to offensive game-breaker at the deadline and so far it looks like they've found their man.
"Definitely, I mean he's really stepped up. In shootouts, he's fantastic and he's gained us a couple valuable points. We needed help with our power play and we're still trying to sort that out, but he's a guy that fit the mold," said Leslie, who hopes Ceci can be a big part of the Bruins' success in the final few games of the season and in the playoffs.
"He brings an element to our team that maybe we were lacking bit of - the bigger the game is, the bigger he seems to play, so I think he'll play a huge role for us."
In the final stages of his 20-year-old season, Ceci said he has been thinking about life after junior hockey and will likely be going to school.
I've been talking to a few schools and I think I should be able to get a scholarship," he said. "There are a few different types of offers, so I'm still on the bubble as to what I'm going to do."
One thing is for sure; whichever school Ceci decides to attend will be lucky to have him.
