Teddy Stiga knows himself and his game.
The 18-year-old NHL Draft prospect from Sudbury doesn’t need to score a hat trick every night. That’s not what made him a Boston College commit and member of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.
“I’ll outwork anyone. I’m gonna give it my all,” Stiga said. “Even if I’m not playing my best, I’ll still be working harder than the guy I’m going against.”
That tenacity may be worth more to some teams than eye-popping youth and junior scoring numbers. Effort doesn’t fade or depend on teammates or opponents.
“He’s developed a solid identity for himself as a hockey player, something that’s relatable, something that’s repeatable. You’ve got to be able to go back out and do it again,” USA U18 coach Nick Fohr said. “Those are the foundations that are going to allow him to get his foot in the door to take the next steps with the next teams.”
Stiga knows his next team: Boston College as a freshman on a team loaded with USNTDP compatriots fresh off a Hockey East title and national championship game appearance. After that, NHL Draft experts can’t agree on where he will or should be selected. Some rank him in the top half of the first round. Others slot Stiga closer to the third.
“After the combine there’s really nothing you can do to change where you’ll go. All you can do now is wait and see,” Stiga said. “You can get headaches trying to figure it out.”
Whatever round or pick number, it will happen either Friday (7 p.m. ESPN) or Saturday in Las Vegas.
“It probably hasn’t really set in and it won’t until it really happens,” Stiga said. “Obviously you meet with teams and you know there’s a good possibility of it, but it honestly doesn’t feel too real.”
‘I finally got a stick’
Stiga is at the end of one process and the beginning of others. He followed the familiar path of top prospects and friends he made on the way. That path started on one end of the ice in Valley Sports‘ learn-to-skate program a few miles from his house.
Neither of his parents played hockey past high school. They’re tennis players but enrolled him in learn to skate. He noticed the learn-to-play-hockey course on the other end of the ice.
“I always wanted to go over and get a stick. I finally got a stick, and I guess I fell in love with it at that moment and never looked back,” Stiga said.
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