Scott Brown, The Daily News
(Right) Kyle Ostrow won't attend the University of Denver until the Fall of 2007, but for now he's tearing up the British Columbia Hockey League
Kyle Ostrow tallied three goals and an assist in Saturday's 5-4 Clippers' win in Langley. It was the first four-point game of the 19-year-old's B.C. Hockey League career -- it won't be his last.
With three goals and three assists, Ostrow rates third among BCHL skaters, behind Merritt's Wade MacLeod and Casey Pierro-Zabotel, with nine points and seven points respectively. The Merritt pair, however, have played one more game than the skilled Nanaimo forward.
It's probably too early to pay too much attention to the league's leading scorers, but Clippers coach Bill Bestwick says there is no reason why Ostrow won't contend for a BCHL scoring title this season.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he reaches 100 points this year," Bestwick said after Wednesday's practice. "He's more than capable of it."
The veteran bench boss compares Ostrow's puck skills to those of former Clipper snipers Tyson Mulock and Michelle Leveille.
"Kyle has that innate ability to read the game extremely well," he said. "He's a special player."
Registering 100 points on a Bill Bestwick team is no small order. He rolls four lines and plays without a set powerplay unit. Mulock, maybe the most gifted player to throw on a Clippers' jersey in the past decade, could only muster 89 points in his one-season stay in Nanaimo three years ago.
Bestwick rewards hard work, and skilled players aren't afforded a free ride on his watch. Ostrow wouldn't have it any other way.
"I like it. He expects effort from everyone," he said. "It keeps you honest."
Ostrow, who is playing on a line with fellow sophomore Cody Danberg (1g, 2a) and 20-year-old Nanaimo product Brendan Mason (2g, 2a), hasn't set any offensive goals for this season -- at least none that he will admit to.
"I just want to lead this team on and off the ice," said Ostrow, who registered 20 goals and 40 assists in his rookie season last year.
The Calgary product, who will attend the University of Denver next season, was passed over in the NHL Entry Draft this past spring. Despite the snub, he still harbours pro ambitions.
"I knew the scouts were following the team because of Chevy (goaltender Marc Cheverie-Another 2007 DU Recruit), so I was thinking that someone would take notice of me," he said. "This year it's the same thing, the scouts will be out watching the Devins (brothers Mike and Joe) and maybe someone will notice me."
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