Hockey Night in Canada's Scott Morrison delivers his insights into the world of hockey, on and off the ice.
Winkler's Dustin Penner comes full circle
Comments (7)
Thursday, February 7, 2008 | 07:49 PM ET
By Scott Morrison
WINKLER, Manitoba - The White House in Washington, or the local hockey rink in Winkler.
One way or another Dustin Penner was destined to be some place special this week.
The White House, of course, was host to the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. Winkler is home to the latest edition of Hockey Day in Canada this Saturday.
It is also home to Penner, who in many ways was an unlikely member of that Ducks championship team last spring. But he didn't make the trip to President George W. Bush's residence because of a decision last summer to accept a lucrative and controversial five-year, $21.5-million offer sheet from the Edmonton Oilers.
"Winkler or the White House?" began Penner, who the Oilers allowed Thursday off to visit his hometown. "I would have liked to have met George W., I kind of like him. But it's not that big of a deal. Maybe one day I'll get to meet the Prime Minister with the Oilers."
Indeed, maybe one day the journey will take him there. It has already taken him places he never expected to be.
The journey, of course, is the theme of Hockey Day in Canada this year, and Penner's journey has certainly been remarkable.
Cut three times by the local junior team, Penner followed a different route to the ultimate goal, playing for a junior college team in North Dakota, then accepting a scholarship with the University of Maine, then signing with the Ducks as a free agent in 2004 and winning the Stanley Cup three years later.
From the depths of rejection, he kept trying and trying, working harder and harder.
"I remember watching an NHL game when I was 17, thinking the reality was it would never happen to me," said Penner, who last summer brought the Cup home for a day. "It was the reality of where I was. But at each level I just tried to be the best player I could. I wasn't focused on getting to the NHL. I wasn't thinking, 'I have to get to the NHL.'
"I went to play at Minot State junior college and just tried to be the best I could. It was the same when I got to Maine, but after the first year, when we played in the Frozen Four and scouts and agents started talking, I thought I might have a shot. As I did at every level along the way, I just tried to work hard and keep moving along."
The journey...
On the ride home to Winkler - met at the airport by his father, Terry, who he lists along with his uncle Ed as having the most profound influence on his career, at least in the early days - Penner was wearing an Oilers cap and a Ducks Stanley Cup ring.
"I thought a few people might want to have a look at it," said the 25-year-old Penner, who actually scored the Cup-winning goal for the Ducks. "Thinking back to the night we won, it's hard to put into words how you feel, or what you're thinking, but it was probably the biggest sense of accomplishment I have ever had.
"It kind of helped put Winkler on the map, I guess. If we hadn't won the Cup, they probably wouldn't be having Hockey Day here. It's a pretty big day for the community. All I did was watch Hockey Night in Canada and I bought all of Don Cherry's Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em videos. If I wasn't playing, I'd be here organizing a street hockey game."
On Hockey Day, Penner will be otherwise occupied, his Oilers playing the Calgary Flames as the journey continues for Penner, who started off slowly with the Oilers this season. He admits he had trouble dealing with the expectations and pressure after his grand signing, feeling he had to prove his 29-goal season with Anaheim last year and impressive playoff was not an accident.
With a goal the other night, he now has 17 goals in 56 games this season, after recording just three in his first 20 games.
"I had a lot of trouble dealing with the expectations, for sure" said Penner. "But I just kept working hard and was confident I could get through it."
It is the way, after all, his journey has gone.
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About the Author
Scott Morrison, the recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fameís 2006 Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award, has been covering hockey for 25 years. The Toronto native began his career at the Toronto Sun in 1979. After spending more than 11 years as a hockey writer and columnist at the paper, Morrison became Sports Editor in 1991 and led the section to being named one of North America's top-ten sports sections in 1999 - the first sports section in Canada to receive the AP Sports Editors North American Award. Scott, a former two-term president of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, joined Rogers Sportsnet in 2001 as Managing Editor, Hockey, and is currently both a commentator on Hockey Night in Canada and a columnist for CBC.ca.
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Comments (7)
Sheila Wiebe
Winkler
Hey Dustin thanks so much for taking the time out of your extremely busy schedule to come and spend time with your fans in Winkler. We are extremely proud of you and your accomplishments. Thanks for bringing the cup home. I hear it has your name on it! WOW!! You truly are a great hometown hero. Due to other commitments I was unable to see you when you were home, but I do hope to see you next time. Thanks for being a wonderful role model, these guys look up to you...did you notice you got the loudest and the longest welcome at Emerado? You deserve it man...we love you. Keep on doing great!
Posted February 10, 2008 01:33 AM
walter
china
wow...i cant believe i saw penner today....it was like so magical
him doing what he did makes me feel so good, and it makes me wanna do that same thing to help others
he really needs to write a book. what an amazing story he has
Having Hockey Day in Canada in Winkler is very exciting for us! It was great to see Dustin at a local game dropping the puck. Having seen Dustin make it to the NHL makes us feel we can do great things too!
Posted February 9, 2008 10:32 PM
Sherri Wimble-Martens
Winkler
Seeing Dustin again was a great pleasure. I was lucky enough to see his athleticism in phys. ed. when he was younger and it's wonderful to see him live his dream!
Posted February 9, 2008 05:18 PM
Theresa
Just want to let my 2 sons know, 1 who is a Leaf fan & the other a Wings fan, who are at the game in Toronto that I am watching for them & may the best team win.
Posted February 9, 2008 03:24 PM
Mrs. Doell's Grade 3 Class (Vicki Doell)
Having Hockey Day in Canada in Winkler is very exciting for us! It was great to see Dustin at a local game dropping the puck. Having seen Dustin make it to the NHL makes us feel we can do great things too!
Posted February 8, 2008 12:37 PM
Darrel
Dustin needs to right a book. What an amazing story he has.
Posted February 8, 2008 10:44 AM
Russ Friesen
Ive known Dustin Penner for many years and can even say we are second cousins(our gramma's are sisters). Being 2 years apart didn't stop us from hitting the golf course, going to junior touraments, being on the boys high school golf team together and even being partners in the local mens league. We even got to play the good old game of hockey together, although they may just have been street hockey games. People in Winkler are very proud of him and of what he has accomplished. This humble soft spoken gaint's story gives hope to all young hockey players that they can make to the NHL. His drive and determination are a classic grass roots story and he should be commended on his achievments.
Posted February 8, 2008 01:41 AM