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awrlou's Brandon Whlmnch couldu't hide the samurai grin he had all day his! Thursday when he heard the New York Rangers algnvd Mark Messier. Dietrich looking for his bite of the Big Apple A life-long Edmonton Oilers fan. lhcmrh also recently signed a free agent cummcl with the Rangers. and may get id chance as early as this full to share a dressing mum with the "Mouse." Complete Bike te Skate Store Mcrhairs d 'That cuuld be me ill sumv pmm in mm- putting on that jersey. "It's just mind boggling." said an excited Hietrich at his parents" Waterloo home, "lust swing Messier put on his jersey toduy and know ing l could be m the mum- dressing room (ls him ts ttVtT- whelming. I've gm ttt pinch myself sometimes." Dietrich makes no on usL-s for his obvious excitement considering the lung and winding road that lead to hm potential NI IL c'an'er, ' He WEB always one of those players saddled wuh the tag ot bung talk-med Andrew (missl (my Lou Huh Scott and lush Sulht-rldnd sand II was a tough dercsittn In mum back and play ball the, we“ after 3mm of um missing the pinnal Iv m 1hr Waterloo Minor Fastball s) stem "Sume- of us .umally decrded In quu this year but (lauded [u mum together for one mom war .. smd [m- Local boys chase their national title dreams BUB VHHNVAL (Jug-"[110 it”: Bun VIIMVAI. f in mun? Sill-5' 98 King Street. North WARM 886-4 340 but too small With liule ()Hl. interest, Dielrlch tried his hand at lumur B hockey with the hunmluwn Siskius in the hopes of landing a scholar, ship lo a US. college he was told he wasn't good enough " , . fol the Siskins it'sju and was lrud- bo I " ed m the gg 1. lilmlra Sugar could I kings somel Duelrich TV””’ sud the ttme pl Slskjhs' decr that [ sion was a J significant -Brande blow In) his (m at oo, cusnfidence, But instead of dwelling on n, he used it as motivation. He and another exisiskm. Hub Collins. powered the Sugar Kings tu a Sutherland Cup title in their tirst year with the mum. In his second year with ihe duh Dietrich refused In rvsl an his laurcls after securing a scholarship to ht Ltwretwts College UI upstate N32. and wored Gl goals [0 lead the Midwestern Junior B league in goal scoring. Elmml gave me mun- The Kitchener Kolts won the recent Ontana elimination tournament in 1karborouqh. qualifying them for the nation als in August The team features four Waterloo players, Andrew Grassi, Greg Lee, Rob Scott and Josh Sutherland All] I, the I hm k “We [ml all drum-(l thai thrs was will"; In hl' tht. last w." trt' had a rhanrr- ol doing wHI, and Wi‘ w [WWI pmruxmg \‘rn hard t'VPr smrv," added Huh _ on That pram: t' pan! Off In I waslit grung in play, the, your HI said Sulhrrlam! 'Idldn'l PM} fur first month Unix] I ftnulls nuns "ft's just mind boggling. That could be me at some point in time putting on that jersey." - Brandon Dietrich kn m' "ockey playm pa than a chance and helped turn around my conrrdence," said Dietrich. "Thurs the kind of person I am. HI want to do something I'm going to go out and try to do it." His two years at St. Lawrence College also helped I """.r' In his first Dietrich year with the y ptayet team, he scored 20 goals, helping the squad reach the regional playoffs. In his second year with the club he was a point-a-game player who received Hobey Baker considerations (for the most valuable player in us (,0!!ch hockey; as his team reached the final four. "The coach put a lot ttHu me and let me play." said Dietrich "I got a good shot right away; it's surprising how well it went the past two years. "lust 21 few short rears ago SPORTS Sulrhnmugh as the hoavy hitting team of KitchcnttWmerloo plan-h bun [cams like Scarborough, the My walled dream mum. and stuufrville m the Finals to (“[th a hvrth at the nationals "We kn ew rtvv all along,' 'We were lune saying cement the turnaround. and gave the super sopho- more a sense that he might have a lung- term future in the game. we wtrre going In be top smdlre gmng along the whuk we won‘ gong to bl CHRONICLE I} I was playing in Elmira, and here 1 am trying out for the New York Rangers." - Dietrich also knows that the championship pedigree he established with both teams probably helped get him his shot at the NHL "Success has derrnitely helped me." he said, "lt's also helped to be on successful teams." The college route has also been a good alternative to the usual OHL way of getting noticed enough to become a prospect. "lt doesn't get much press around here, but I wouldnt trade It for anything," said Dietrich. "You Only play 35 games. but every game is like a playoff game, and the guys are bigger, stronger and faster, "You're nu: getting all the games. but m some ways you're playing " better brand of hockev' Now Dietrich has decided to leave school early to iry to chase down hi, NI I L dream. "The dream situation would obviously be to make the team," he said, "l feel like I can play and whatever hap- pens. happens." [he (Imam) champs" "when we attually played "Scarborough Jud b at them "I thr semis. we knew .. gals-Sum The team put up the "lng grw‘n wall" un detimrv m hold off the favounws and used the buts In pound mu d c, 3 decroorr"matr, our game," and Gravu "Our pitching was way better than Brandon Dietrich gets his shot with the NY. Rangers this fall anyone else." said Sutherland. "We Just went out them with no womes/ Anyone interested In helping the team can call Sum at 576-9002 Anything from L ande foods for the growing lads In fmanoal help would be appreciated "Nobody figured we'd be there at all, but we surpnxvd a I'm of people F? However. the plenum surprise has been a little ditrtsult firrancrah for the team ”in could use a huh- hrlp tooftwt dw costsof d title run it's something head coach Robin Sam knew the lrovs had In them all along e "They were the supposed 'Dream ream.” said [so "They acted like they didn't even know win) we were" Nuw the buys dunk they've inher tted the mantle of the Scarborough mam "We're going to win It all." said late. "This lum- were serious," said Grassi. "Therv's no joking around anymore" Ihey knew if thrs name togctlwr they'd have a shoip It,” said Mull “And tt came ttrgetlwr at the ugh: time