THUNDER BAY – Jared Staal is a bit of a realist.
He’s not giving up on his NHL dream just yet, but after years of trying to find his way in hockey’s minor leagues, the Thunder Bay forward is going to look in a new direction.
Just 25 and a veteran of six full seasons in the professional ranks, the youngest of four hockey-playing brothers has decided to take his game overseas to try his luck with the Edinburgh Capitals, one of four Scottish teams playing in the Elite Ice Hockey League.
Staal, who has just two NHL games to his credit, said it was simply time to move on to the next venture in his career.
Luckily, his wife agrees.
“We’ve always wanted to use hockey as a tool to see some more of the world and to get a chance to play hockey in a country like Scotland and over in the UK is going to be a cool experience. It’s something we’re looking forward to be able to do.”
Drafted in the second round in 2008 by the Phoenix Coyotes and later dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes where his brothers Eric and Jordan played, the youngest Staal has struggled since leaving junior, only once reaching double-digit goal totals.
He played parts of six seasons in the American Hockey League, but found himself mired in the ECHL this past season with the South Carolina Stingrays, where he scored 12 goals and added an equal number of assists in 64 appearances.
Staal said he thinks his game may translate well in Europe.
“I know it’s going to be a lot bigger ice, but the playing style is supposed to be a lot more like North America as opposed to the other European leagues, so the transition shouldn’t be too bad.”
The 6-foot-4 right-winger will arrive in the United Kingdom just months after voters decided in favour of leaving the European Union, a controversial result that sent stock markets plummeting and politicians scrambling to explain what it meant.
Staal said he and his wife looked into the ramifications of the vote, but it’s not something that influenced his decision.
“It’s not something I’m overly worried, where it was a decision where I wouldn’t want to go anymore. It never really crossed my mind that way. We’ll see what happens, but I’m too worried about that. I’m just worried about getting over there, playing good hockey and living in that country.
Will he return to play in North America?
Who knows, he said.
“Obviously you never know,” Staal said. “I don’t think (the NHL) is realistic at this point that I could get back, but if I start playing well, that could happen. Right now I’m moving on to play over there, deal with that lifestyle and that adventure.”
