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Foegele carving out role with NHL’s Hurricanes




By Jake Courtepatte

Four years after hearing his name called in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Warren Foegele is finally living his childhood dream.

The Markham native and ex-St. Andrew's Saints assistant captain officially earned himself a roster spot on the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes last week for the 2018-19 season, announced by Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour, who called Foegele “the perfect Carolina Hurricane” in a media scrum following the announcement.

“I just came to camp, just put my head down and tried to work hard and tried to make good plays,” said Foegele. “I'm a hard-working player and I think I can fit anywhere in the lineup. I think I can grind, I think I can make plays, but I think the work ethic is what I really take a lot of pride in and that's what I try to show.”

Born in Markham, Foegele cut his teeth with both the Toronto Nationals and Markham Waxers AAA programs before taking on a varsity role at St. Andrew's College in Aurora, where he had attended since Grade 6.

Suiting up for a slew of games for the varsity Saints squad as just a sophomore, he led the junior varsity Saints in scoring in 2011-12, before joining the varsity squad in a full-time capacity the following season.

He once again led his team in scoring at over a point-per-game pace, with his scoring prowess and leadership skills combining to warrant an “A” on his chest in his senior season.

Leading the Saints to a CISAA title, Foegele put up an outstanding 87 points in 44 games to attract the attention of some of the American college hockey's top programs.

Originally slated to play junior hockey in the BCHL the following season, he instead chose to graduate and accept a scholarship to the University of New Hampshire, around the same time he was ranked the 66th skater for the upcoming 2014 NHL Draft. That June, the Hurricanes would take him 67th.

“That moment was just surreal to me,” Foegele told The Auroran at the time. “It's something that I'll never forget.”

Since then, Foegele's journey led him to an over point-per-game pace while with the OHL's Erie Otters and Kingston Frontenacs, before making the transition to professional hockey with the Charlotte Checkers last season, the Hurricanes' AHL club.

Foegele credits Saints coach David Manning for helping him flourish into a top-level player.

“He's a guy who dogs the puck,” said Manning. “The engine that never stops.”

With three goals and two assists through the first nine games of the NHL season, the 22-year old has seen plenty of playing time on a line with veterans Jordan Staal and Justin Williams, while also killing penalties.

Foegele said he's “fortunate to have two great linemates” that make his job pretty easy.

“They tell me what to do and how to improve and it's been a lot of fun playing with those two. A couple of times I'm like, ‘Wow, this is pretty cool.'”

 

 

Excerpt: Four years after hearing his name called in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Warren Foegele is finally living his childhood dream.


Post date: 2018-10-24 18:13:17
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