Right Wing for the Calgary Hitmen.
Fussey did have some bright spots on paper when he was drafted - he played AAA Midget and Junior A hockey at the same time in 1998, a rugged schedule most players can't handle. He also played at the '99 under-17 World Juniors Championship in Ontario. (Where, concidentally, he roomed with the Capitals' 4th round pick in the '01 draft, Jeff Lucky.)
"Owen is a power-type winger, a tremendous skater." Caps scouting director Ross Mahoney said of Fussey at the time of the draft. "He goes to the net and finishes his checks.. Owen is a Steve Konowalchuk type, very honest up and down the wing."
More importantly, Mahoney spoke these words after a freak accident that not only left Fussey on the IR for 24 games, but also spleenless and confined to a hospital bed. It was questionable if he'd still be alive today, let alone playing hockey:
"I took a stick in the stomach in practice." Fussey said. "I was driving home when I decided to stop at the doctor's because I had so much pain. I passed out on the floor. I had lost 3&1/2 pints of blood, half of what I had in my body. I was lucky. If I had passed out when I was driving, I would have been toast."
The injury didn't phase Fussey after he returned to the ice 24 games later: "I didn't worry about getting hit. I just went out and played my game. I like to crash and bang."
Fussey's injury no doubt added to scouts overlooking him at the draft, and the Capitals were criticized later for selecting him as early as they did. At training camp, Fussey was one of the first prospects to be sent back to juniors (again, along with Lucky). However, the following season, after the 19 and 20 yr-old Hitmen from the previous season had moved on, Fussey silenced his critics with career numbers, posting 41-23-64 in 64 games so far. Currently he's 4th in goals scored in the WHL and has flourished in all situations, having scored short-handed, on the power play, and even strength. He is also strong defensively when needed, leading Calgary with a +17 rating. His goals come in bunches, as Fussey has had 2 hat tricks, a 4-goal game, and 3 4-point games recently.
Fussey's success can be directly linked to two factors: his speed and work ethic. While the speed is a natural gift, the son of a bodybuilder works harder on his physique than most WHLers. His mother actually called him at a gym in Winnipeg to inform him he'd been drafted. He does not shy away from physical contact, and will occasionally fight if necessary. He, Brandon Segal, and Michael Bubnick form Calgary's second line and constantly receive praise from their coaches.
"Everyone who knows Owen, knows he is extremely quick," Hitmen assistant coach Jeff Maher said after Fussey's most recent hat-trick, in a 5-1 win over the Prince Albert Raiders. "Tonight he was able to blow right by defensemen." Calgary's head coach Rich Kromm describes a typical Fussey game as one of "speed, strength, and a powerful left-handed shot."
It is a safe guess to say Fussey has a future in pro hockey, but he will have to consistently put up solid offensive numbers. It is likely he will spend a few years in Portland, but has 3rd line NHL potential. For the moment, he is ahead of the prospect pack and can safely be named this year's "pleasant surprise." After the career year this season, Capitals scouts will be giving Fussey extra attention in his next -and last- year of juniors.
Born: April 4, 1983 in Winnepeg, Manitoba
Nickname: real - Fuss, I/O's - none
Favorite team/player: Winnipeg Jets, Peter Forseberg
Career Highlight: being drafted by an NHL team
What makes him special: Did you not read what I wrote? The boy has no spleen.
Quotable quotes:
On his injury: "Yeah.. I almost died. It doesn't hurt anymore, but for a long time I had to get a lot of blood tests."
On the fact Sutherby hadn't heard dubs tell Paetsch that he looks like Lance from NSync: "Oh, he will."
His impression of DC in the summer: "Hot."
On his thick Canadian accent: "Nobody actually says 'oot and aboot' up there. "
Calgary Hitmen (team site)
Calgary Times Herald (local news)
Hockeysfuture.com (prospect site)
faceoff.com (WHL section)
January: Brian Sutherby
February: Nathan Paetsch