Dylan Blujus: Pursuing a Dream

By: Ted Gioia Western New York has a good reputation for producing NHL talent. Current NHL players like Patrick Kane, Tim Kennedy, Todd Marchant, Lee Stempniak, and Patrick Kaleta all come from the Buffalo area. Dylan Blujus is doing everything in his power to get himself on that list. Blujus was a student at Canisius High School for grades nine and ten before he left to play in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), one of four major junior hockey leagues in North America. Dylan was drafted in the third round of the 2010 OHL Draft by the Brampton Battalion. In what is now his second OHL season, Dylan Blujus is continuing to make the most of his opportunities on the ice, and NHL scouts are beginning to take notice. In his first season with the Battalion, Blujus put up an impressive 26 points in 56 games. This was good enough for third among rookie defenseman in scoring during the 2010-2011 campaign. As impressive as his opening year in the OHL was, Blujus has come back for his second season showing why NHL scouts have their eyes on him. Through 23 games, Blujus already has 15 points. When talking about his expectations for his the 2011-2012 season, Blujus said, I really want to be known as one of the better two-way defenseman in the OHL. Personal goals I have for myself are having 35 or more points as well as making a run in the playoffs. The possibility of the Battalion having a chance at making a run in the playoffs looks good. Brampton is currently in first place in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. This is largely impart to the exceptional play of the 63 defenseman from Amherst, New York. Blujus likes to be compared to Brent Seabrook of the Chicago Blackhawks, who also stands at 63. Seabrook is

known to be a hard hitting defenseman who also has the ability to make a pretty offensive play

every once in a while. Blujus has showed he also has offensive talent, recording four goals and eight assists throughout the months of October and November. If Blujus keeps it up, there is a chance he could be playing against Seabrook in the foreseeable future. NHL scouts have taken notice of Blujus impressive play. On Thursday November 17th, the NHLs central scouting department listed Blujus as 21st on the list of 25 top OHL prospects for the 2012 NHL draft next June. Blujus is excited to be ranked where he is, but assures the rankings wont be a cause for loss of focus. It means a lot to me to get that recognition, but I not to let it get to me because its a long season. I definitely dont want to get ahead of myself, Blujus explained. With this as his draft year, Blujus has a lot on his mind as the season nears the half way point. The NHL Draft is the biggest day in the life of a hockey prospect, and with draft day in less than seven months many players can get distracted on the task at hand. Obviously its on my mind, Blujus says of the draft, But Im trying to focus on my season now, and I know if I keep the good year Im having so far good things will happen in the draft. Right now scouts have predicted Blujus to go anywhere from the third to the fifth round of the NHL Draft. Blujus hopes to join the likes of Jason Spezza, Wotjek Wolski, Matt Duchene, and Brent Burns on the list of successful Battalion in the NHL. Blujus leaves behind a good legacy as a Crusader as well. Blujus helped Canisius win the Catholic state title as a freshman. He was liked by all of his classmates for his kind ways. Dylan never had a large ego although he had reasons to boast. Dylan was your typical Canisius kid, very nice to everyone and had a good sense of humor, said Jack Fleming of his former classmate. Blujus is proud to come from Buffalo, and he represents the city well. However, as an NHL prospect, coming from Western New York brings a lot of expectations upon the shoulders of the young two-way defenseman. Blujus is aware of the talent that has been produced by the region he

calls home, Its very inspiring, especially with Kaleta playing with the Sabres and Kane in what he has turned out to be. It would be an honor to join that group of guys. Kane, who won a Stanley Cup in 2010, is regarded as one of the NHLs best young forwards. If Blujus keeps up the hard work, he could be going head to head with Kane at the NHL level. Dylan Blujus is not just your typical athlete. He is a member of the Canisius family and continues to be a man for others. His outgoing personality and kind heart left an impact on his classmates at Canisius, disallowing him to be just a forgotten jock that left school to pursue a professional sports career. His success on the ice reflects his determined and dedicated mentality. Without a doubt, Blujus can expect to hear his name called at some point during this Junes NHL Entry Draft. It is likely that he will play another season in the OHL after being drafted, giving him time to reach his full potential. The way things are going now, it looks like the sky is the limit for Dylan Blujus.