At the 11:15 mark of the first period an announcement came over the public address system at the Centennial Arena in Okotoks earlier this month to mark the crowning achievement in what has been an impressive, if unexpected Junior A career.

With his 26^th goal of the season, Chris Duszynski became the Okotoks Oilers’ career points leader at 125 points. The Oilers went on to down the Royals 5-2 on Feb. 15 thanks to a goal that could serve as a metaphor for Duszynski’s career in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Chris Duszynski shows some of the mettle that led to him being the Okotoks Oilers’ all-time scoring leader as he fights for position in front of the Drumheller Dragons’ net on Sunday at the Centennial Arena. photo by Bruce Campbell

“It was the second goal of the game and it was just a hard work play,” said Duszynski, who has played 133 games for Okotoks.

At the time he knew the goal would put him in top spot as the Oilers’ career points leader. He went on to score the game-winner and the Oilers third of the night on the power play just over 10 minutes later to put an exclamation mark on his historic night.

“It was a bit of elation I guess,” said Duszynski of setting the mark.

Duszynski finished the season leading the team in scoring with 74 points (31 goals, 43 assists). He has upped his all-time scoring record to 132 points by the end of the regular season.

As a long shot to even make the Oilers, Duszynski was an unlikely candidate to be the team’s career points leader. He was a late cut from the UFA Midget AAA Bisons and played a season of Midget AA hockey in his hometown of Okotoks.

While Duszynski said he grew a lot as a player in Midget AA, being cut was a blow to the ego and he had to take a step back.

Fate stepped in and in December 2006 Duszynski received the phone call he had been waiting for. The UFA Bisons wanted him to play in the Mac’s Midget AAA tournament.

He made the most of the opportunity scoring four goals and two assists in five games. His performance in the Mac’s also grabbed the attention of Junior A scouts including the Okotoks Oilers.

“I had a really good tournament and was one of the top scorers on the team,” said Duszynski.

Hockey is a passion for Duszynski and the memory of being cut from the Bisons serves as motivation.

“I’ve always been on the top team or cut from the top team. I’ve never been the best by any means but I’ve always been up there,” he said.

Despite being continuously ranking among the best, it became quite apparent to Duszynski in his first Junior A camp in Okotoks he would have to improve as a player.

“You come up and you have to realize real quick that you are not getting anywhere on just your talent,” said Duszynski.

Even though he doesn’t think the points record will stand for any length of time, Duszynski admitted it’s pretty gratifying to be the gold standard for all Oilers’ players to come.

“There are some pretty good players coming up through the organization,” said Duszynski.

“It’s nice to get my name in there for now but I can’t imagine it being around for too long.”

With the Oilers playoff bound, there’s only one thing left for Duszynski to do: brag.

Duszynski said he’ll be placing a phone call to the previous points leader, Justin Daigle, who now plays in the National Collegiate Athletics Association for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

“Once we clinch that first place I’m for sure going to give him a shout and that one in. He’ll be happy to hear for sure,” said Duszynski.

The Oilers clinched first place in the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s South Division when they beat the Canmore Eagles 5-0 on Thursday in Canmore.

rnorthrop@okotoks.greatwest.ca

http://ajhl.ca/

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