FILIPINO GOALKEEPER DRAFTED
IN US HOCKEY
(From the Phil Daily Inquirer)
Manila, September 9, 1998 - JOMAR Cruz, a son of Filipino expatriates in Canada, may have unwittingly achieved history when he became the first Filipino ever to be drafted to the National Hockey League (NHL) of the United States after he was chosen by the Washington Capitals as their first pick in the entry draft held last June.
The 18-year-old Cruz, a goaltender, was drafted 22nd in the second round and 49th overall. Data from the Washington Capitals website said ''Cruz was the fourth netminder chosen in the draft and played the 1997-98 season for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League.''
Washington, which topped NHL's Eastern Division this year, made 10 picks overall, including two goalies, five forwards and three defensemen.
There is a chance that he might see action in the NHL's pre-season which begins on Sept. 15.
A story filed by Washington Post staff writer Rachel Alexander reported: ''We thought he was the best available, a lot better than any of the skaters that might have been available," said Capitals General Manager George McPhee. ''He's (Cruz) a real good prospect. You draft three or four [goaltenders] and hope one comes through. As we learned this year, if you have excellent goaltending, you can go a long way.''
The same story said the Capitals ''were somewhat surprised to find him still available.''
Here are some excerpts of the Washington Post report:
The fourth goaltender taken, Cruz is a 6-foot-1, 177-pound butterfly-style goalie who grew up in The Pas, Manitoba, about six hours north of Winnipeg. Playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings this season, Cruz led Western Hockey League rookie goaltenders with three shutouts.
One of the few people in the building who didn't seem impatient by the time his name was called, Cruz said he was thrilled to be selected by the Capitals, even though it may be years before he plays in Washington.
''I've been pretty calm all day. This is a great experience to have,'' he said.
''I had a really good feeling after the interview with Washington the other day. It went really well, and the feedback I got from them was good.''
Just getting to the draft was an accomplishment for Cruz, whose parents immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in the early 1970s and did not want their son to play hockey. But when Cruz was 5 years old, his mother, Perpetua, said, he would dress up like a goaltender, strapping pillows to his shins and placing a baseball catcher's mask over his face. When Cruz was 8, he finally talked his parents into letting him learn how to skate, and at 9 he began playing hockey.
Cruz has been dreaming of the NHL ever since, although it is still too early in his career to predict how successful he can be.
''He's a big goaltender and he's physically agile,'' goaltending coach Dave Prior said. ''He has a lot to learn, and how well he learns it will determine how far he goes.''
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 1998 by PHILIPPINE
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