In Matthews Sop's 24th game for the Mississauga Chargers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, the second-youngest player on the ice made a massive impression on his second shift last Saturday.

The 16-year-old Kitchener native swooped past his older defensive opponent with a nifty display of skill and then made an even more delicious deke on North York Rangers goalie Eli Shiller for the game's opening goal.

 

The Rangers prevailed for a 4-2 win, but Sop scored again midway through the third period to knot the affair at 2-2. The Kitchener Rangers' seventh-round selection (135th overall) last April continues to find his way.

 

"Matt has been a very pleasant surprise for a 16-year-old player," Chargers head coach Joe Washkurak said. "His skills and high hockey IQ have stood out. He is a hard-working kid, and is liked by all his teammates.

 

"Matt just needs to work on getting stronger to get to the next level. He has all the tools to do so. We are very happy with his play."

 

Washkurak should know. His resume includes stints as an assistant coach in the Ontario Hockey League, and he currently is part of the Oshawa Generals scouting staff. The Generals have the best win percentage in the OHL Eastern Conference this season.

 

Washkurak can tell you there never are any guarantees for a prospect taken in the seventh round of the OHL draft. But the Rangers liked Sop's skill level, hockey smarts and potential. It's also never easy for a local kid to excel at the OHL level in his hometown. He has to be unique. He has to have character and the drive to succeed. Sop has these attributes.

 

The son of Vivian Deutschmann and John Sop was born into a hockey family. John was part of the goalie triumvirate at Laurier when the Golden Hawks managed to win the 1982-83 OUA championship.

 

"I have to give my credit to my Mom and Dad," said Matthew, whose uncle Rob (Vivian's brother) was John Sop's teammate at Laurier. "They raised me into a hockey family. Ever since I could, I'm told, I held a mini-stick in my hand."

 

Later, the young Sop couldn't wait to go for a skate. When weather permitted, there was a backyard rink at the family home. He also was a regular visitor to Morrison Park's outdoor rink near Chicopee.
Sop swiftly developed in minor hockey and his passion for the game further developed with trips to Ottawa Street to watch the Rangers.

 

"Growing up and watching games at the Aud with that atmosphere, which was pretty crazy, and the amazing fans, helped me like the game even more," Sop said. "It helped me be the player I am today."
Former Rangers Darby Llewellyn and Adam Mascherin were two of his favourites. Sop zoned in to watch shifts of Llewellyn for his work ethic, and Mascherin for his hockey IQ.

 

Sop also viewed videos of Pavel Datsyuk and the way the Detroit Red Wings star stole pucks from opponents and made his moves in each of the three zones of the rink.

 

Sop performed with the Kitchener Jr. Rangers minor midget team, which advanced to the OHL Cup last spring. He spent three days at the OHL Rangers' training camp in August but knew he was destined to spend this season strutting his stuff at the venerable Port Credit Arena with the Chargers.

 

He lives at home, attends Victus Academy under the watchful eye of Mike Ellis and Todd Hoffman, and commutes to Mississauga for games and practices.

 

Sop chose to further his career with Mississauga because he would play under the tutelage of Washkurak and gain an opportunity to play against older players.

 

"[The Rangers] wanted me to play against older guys, and the OJHL is certainly an older league," Sop said. "They also wanted me to get stronger and work on my defensive play."

 

With third-line minutes and duty on the Chargers' second power-play unit, Sop is second on Mississauga in goals (nine) and points (21).
His development has not gone unnoticed. He has interest from some United States Colleges and, of course, to one day perform at home for the Rangers remains a strong possibility.

 

Sop also has been chosen to play in the OJHL prospects game in Oakville this Saturday.

 

"It's an amazing feeling to selected for that game," Sop said. "It's another learning experience."

 

And where does he feel his game is after two months with the Chargers?

 

"I feel I'm much more confident with the puck now at this point of the season," he said. "I have had more chemistry with the guys around me, and I think my game has gone up a level."