Trent Mallette a good overage bet
His coach calls him a character kid and consummate team guy who plays with a lot of energy. And that is just some of why Trent Mallette is a good bet to be an over-ager with the Ottawa 67’s next season.
In an interview with HockeyNewsNorth.com, 67’s coach-general manager Jeff Brown had plenty of good words to say about Mallette, a hard-toiling right winger who has played four full seasons in the Ontario Hockey League — two with the Soo Greyhounds and two more in Ottawa.
“Of course,” Brown exclaimed when asked if Mallette would be a top contender to be one of Ottawa’s three overage players for the 2016-2017 season. “Why wouldn’t we want Trent back? He’s a character kid and an energy player who puts the team first. He’s the best.”
Mallette, a 5-foot-10, 190-pounder who hails from the Greater Sudbury Area town of Levack, has a few options for the 2016-2017 campaign but said he said he would like to return to Ottawa and play a fifth OHL season.
“If (Brown) wants me back I will go back for sure,” Mallette told HockeyNewsNorth.com.
After having played for coaches Mike Stapleton and Sheldon Keefe during his two full OHL seasons in the Soo, Mallette said he finds that he relates more to Brown’s coaching style in Ottawa.
“He’s got a way of making you feel really good about your role with the team,” Mallette said of Brown. “He’s a really good guy. He knows the game and so does (associate coach) Mike Eastwood.”
Brown — who has helped revive the 67’s program with winning records in each of his two seasons in Ottawa after the team missed the playoffs two years in a row — has extensive experience as a National Hockey League player, as does Eastwood.
A standout defenceman who played four OHL seasons with the Sudbury Wolves, Brown went on to skate in more than 800 NHL games, regular season and playoffs included. Eastwood also played in more than 800 NHL games as a useful, dependable centre.
Interestingly, the 49-year old Brown — he turns 50 this month — and the 48-year old Eastwood were both born and raised in Ottawa.
As for Mallette, while his offensive game has improved somewhat since being traded by the Soo to Ottawa, he thinks he can be more productive.
“My style of play is built around hard work and energy and being a team player but I need to work more on my offensive skills,” he related.
In 113 regular-season games with the Greyhounds, Mallette totaled 8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points. In 123 games with the 67’s, Mallette has 20 goals, 21 assists, 41 points.
Growing up in Sudbury and having played his first two OHL seasons in the nearby Soo, Mallette said he has taken to living in Ottawa during the hockey season.
“I am a small-town kid and when I first got traded to Ottawa it was a bit of an eye-opener but I have adapted to living in a much-bigger city. I like Ottawa a lot,” Mallette offered.
The youngster — whose dad, Troy Mallette, was the first overall pick by the Soo Greyhounds at the 1986 OHL draft and who would go on to play in close to 500 NHL games as a big, strong, hard-nosed left winger — said he still keeps in touch with his Sault Ste. Marie billet parents, Curtis and Alisa Barkley.
“I enjoyed playing in the Soo, it was a good experience and I had a good billet family,” said Mallette. “But going to Ottawa and playing for Jeff Brown has been great. He’s a good teacher and a great coach and the guys love playing for him.”
PHOTO: Trent Mallette, in action for the Ottawa 67’s.
I always liked the way the Malette kid competed hard when he played for The Hounds. We should have kept him imo.
I still remember when Trent skated on the venerable SkiBack Centre and gazed upon his father Troy’s enshrined name on the Greyhound Ring of Honour! I recall that he thought it was extremely cool! I believe he snapped a pic of the board too!
I also remember tweeting him an OHL program cover of Troy after he was drafted by the NY Rangers! I’ll send a few pictures of that night for you to share with your readership.
Trent Mallett # 26 is the epitome of what Coaches Brown and Eastwood want in a player. Thanks for sharing such a nice article with us 67’s Fans.
You hit the nail on the head … … Trent is a fan favorite at TD Place given the way that he plays the great game of Hockey. I truly enjoyed this piece. by you Randy Russon. along with your other articles since I have found your site.
Classy player. He plays bigger than his size.
Seems like a great fit.
Good call!