BY RANDY SCHULTZ –
Domenick Fensore felt that being a teammate of projected 2019 number one draft pick, Jack Hughes, in the upcoming National Hockey League Draft worked to his advantage this past hockey season.
“To go against Hughes and all of the other guys on the team every day in practice, I knew it would make me better in the long run,” said the 17 year-old Fensore, a native of Thornwood, NY, who played this past season on the US U18 National Hockey Team. “It made me push myself and challenge myself everyday.”
While Fensore is considered a player who could go high in the Draft, at 5-7 and 154 pounds looks can be deceiving.
“There are guys playing NHL hockey right now that aren’t the biggest or tallest,” remarked the young defenseman, who has been playing hockey since he was four. “But they’re fearless and not afraid to go into corners.
“That’s my style of game. And I think I convinced many of the NHL teams during my interviews with them that I can make a contribution to their team.
“The game of hockey today is changing. More defenseman are puck moving and fearless. If you can move the puck and think fast, you can make it in the NHL today.”
Fensore bsegan playing organized hockey with the Westchester Express, Fairfield Jr. Rangers, the PAL Jr. Islanders and finally to the NTDP.
Did the defenseman’s game improve this past year with the NTDP?
“I think I grew all year long,” answered Fensore, who grew up in Westchester, NY. “I think I started the year kind of slow.
“But as the year went on I kept playing my game and getting better in the gym and on the ice everyday.”
While growing up Fensore did play a couple of other sports.
“I played lacrosse and baseball,” said Fensore. “I stopped playing baseball when I went to the US National program two years ago.
“And I must admit that I do miss it.”
Fensore, who grew up a New York Rangers fan, was one of 10 players listed in the Top 29 prospects that could be drafted this year.
“I think there are so many people dedicated to the program to continually make it better,” remarked Fensore. “They work at getting each and every player better.
“And that’s the attitude of the players coming to the rink everyday and that is they want to be better everyday. We just want to get better and every practice and every game.”
Although he will be at the upcoming NHL Draft in Vancouver, BC, Canada, the defenseman admits that he will be watching the draft very closely.
“You want to see your teammates do well,” said Fensore. “I want to see each and everyone of my teammates who are eligible for the draft get taken in this draft.
“That’s what this is all about.”
