g track. Parras arm was bandaged and he had scrapes on his

Sherry Bassin couldnt believe his eyes.The veteran owner-general manager of the Erie Otters was in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., last year along with the teams chief scout to watch one of the teams prospects when a little water bug named Alex DeBrincat stole his attention.We watched the game trying to concentrate on our prospect and Alexs team won 8-2 and he had three goals and two assists, Bassin said. He was outstanding. He sees the ice and he doesnt know that hes five-foot-seven. He could have had another five points in the game.DeBrincat, now a 16 year-old rookie with the Otters, leads all Ontario Hockey League freshman in scoring with 43 points (24 goals, 19 assists) in 30 games. He is plus-31 and ranks eighth among the leagues top scorers. The next highest rookie scorer is Petrus Palmu of the Owen Sound Attack who ranks 75th with 10 goals and 20 points in 28 games.As Bassin pointed out, DeBrincat is tiny by most hockey standards at 5-7 and 160 pounds. The Farmington Hills, Mich., native played last season for Lake Forest Acadamy, a prep school in Chicago, scoring 54 goals and 111 points in 50 gamesHe had committed to the University of Massachusetts for a full-ride scholarship. After being approached by the Otters, DeBrincat changed his mind and opted to go the junior hockey route.DeBrincat admitted he was disappointed he had not been drafted into the OHL, but was thrilled that a team suddenly had interest in him.I thought about it for a while and decided it was the best opportunity for me, DeBrincat said. Growing up I was pushed toward college hockey and I really liked UMass so I decided to commit there. Honestly I didnt know how serious Erie was so I put it on the backburner, but when I realized they really wanted me it was really exciting.If the rest of the OHL had no interest in DeBrincat because of his size, Bassin was only too happy to sign the free agent.We thought he was going to be a really good player, but let me tell you, this guy can skate, he can shoot, Bassin said. There are guys who are six-foot-three and six-foot-four and he goes after them like hes six-foot-three or six-foot-four. He plays like hes 200 pounds.DeBrincat is blessed to be playing on a team that also has rising stars Connor McDavid and Dylan Strome. Although McDavid is injured now, when he is healthy he and Strome command a lot of attention from the opposition. That leaves open ice for DeBrincat.DeBrincat said his goal is to play in the NHL and he believes the OHL is the best route for that to happen.The OHL sends more top guys to the NHL, DeBrincat said.The NHL used to be a big mans league, but when obstruction started to be called with more frequency following the 2004-05 lockout, the opportunity for smaller players increased.Martin St. Louis, the poster child for small players at five-foot-eight and 180 pounds, has won two NHL scoring titles and was the NHLs most valuable player in 2004. DeBrincat said St. Louis is a role model for him.You look at the career Marty St. Louis has had and you know height isnt everything, DeBrincat said. You can still make it being that small.Other significant smallish NHLers include Buffalos Nathan Gerbe (5-5, 173 pounds) and Brian Gionta (5-7, 174 pounds) and his brother, Stephen Gionta (5-7, 185 pounds) of the New Jersey Devils.Calgary Flames rookie Johnny Gaudreau is 5-8 and 150 pounds and won the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in the NCAA last year.DeBrincat said he has been teased by opponents because of his size, but he doesnt let it get to him.I hear things like, Youre two-feet tall a lot, DeBrincat said. I just dont let it get to me. I cant let myself get pushed around so I stick up for myself. I dont let the size factor get to me when I am playing.DeBrincat knows he is a work in progress, but hopes NHL scouts can look past his stature.I feel like I have great vision and I can score if the opportunity is given to me, DeBrincat said. I think I need to work on my passing. I have been told I am fast, but Im not too sure about that one.Bassin only has one worry about DeBrincat.With McDavid out we have been kind of overplaying him because hes such a key guy, Bassin said. Who would have ever expected a rookie would come in and make the kind of impact he is making? New Balance Outlet Online España . Ricciardos exclusion from the results tarnished what had been a day of celebration for local fans, who were jubilant that the Red Bull driver had apparently become the first Australian to finish on the podium at his home race. However just before midnight, stewards ruled that Ricciardos car had "exceeded consistently the maximum allowed fuel flow" and that the team refused an instruction from the races technical delegate Charlie Whiting to change the fuel-flow sensor before the race and a further request during the race to reduce the fuel flow. New Balance Ofertas España .C. -- The RBC Cups semifinal participants were decided by a pair of overtime games. http://www.newbalancebaratas.es/ .ca. Hi Kerry, Love reading your column and loved watching your analysis on the TSN broadcasts!And were now in Round 2! Bruins! Canadiens! We know all about the great games of the past from the players, the broadcasters and the writers. New Balance Baratas Outlet . Bale has had a successful debut season in Spain, and Ancelotti appears ready to reward him with a starting role on Saturday. Ancelotti says "Gareth had some problems at the beginning (of the season) but when he found good physical condition he scored a lot of goals, he had a good impact on the team. New Balance Baratas España . -- When the Los Angeles Kings are on top of their formidable defensive game, they revel in the silence they can create in a frustrated road arena. NEW YORK -- Once the rain stopped, the hits came for the New York Mets. Jeremy Hefner and the Mets handed Patrick Corbin his first loss, breaking away from the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-1 on a drizzly Tuesday night and sending the NL West leaders to their season-worst fifth straight defeat. Josh Satin hit an RBI double that put the Mets ahead 2-1 in a seven-run seventh inning that lasted about 2 hours, albeit with a rain delay of 1 hour, 41 minutes in the middle. "I know we havent scored a lot of runs here in this ballpark, so seven was pretty good," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Just took an hour and a half to finally get them." When Arizona retook the field, there was another halt -- the grounds crew hadnt redrawn the batters boxes or put a rosin bag on the mound. Corbin (9-1) was pulled and the Mets poured it on against the bullpen. Anthony Recker, who began the day batting .157 and then homered, hit an RBI single off Brad Ziegler when play resumed. "We had a lot of momentum going" before the delay, Recker said. "I was really excited about that at-bat. When they decided to put the tarp on, I was a little bummed out." No problem, he got the burst going again. Omar Quintanilla hit a two-run single and Eric Young Jr. lined a two-run double as the Mets quickly made it 8-1. "The inning got away from us," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. Hefner (3-6) won while the Diamondbacks continued a most curious streak -- their starting pitchers are 0-11 in 24 games since June 5. Arizona fell to 1-7 on its road trip after two straight losses to begin this four-game visit to Citi Field. "Were not really clicking on anything right now," Corbin said. The Mets, meanwhile, posted their most lopsided victory at Citi Field since opening day and won consecutive home games for the first time since late May. Hefner allowed four hits, struck out six and walked two in seven innings. It was his sixth start in a row permitting two or fewer earned runs. "If I give a quality outing, go deep into games, Ive done my job," Hefner said. "If we score runs, then Ill get a win. If we dont, then I might get a no--decision or whatever.dddddddddddd Just as long as the team wins, Im happy." Martin Prado homered off Hefner in the seventh, tying it at 1. Prado was the only hitter on the Arizona roster who had previously faced Hefner. Corbin was trying to become the first lefty starter in the majors to begin a season 10-0 since Ron Guidry opened 13-0 for the New York Yankees in 1978. The 23-year-old Corbin left with the bases loaded and no outs when play was delayed. All three runners scored, and he was charged with a season-high five runs. He was denied in a sixth try for his 10th win of the season. Satin doubled home David Wright and extended his hitting streak to eight games, and is batting .390 (16 for 41) this season. Satin has been playing first base since Ike Davis was demoted to the minors, and his lively bat has impressed Collins. NOTES: This was the first time in franchise history the Mets beat a starting pitcher who began a game at 9-0 or better. ... Quintanilla drove in three runs ... Arizona OF Gerardo Parra was out of the lineup, a night after jarring himself trying to make a diving catch on the warning track. Parras arm was bandaged and he had scrapes on his face. Gibson said Parra had been due for a day off. ... Heath Bell was set to close for the Diamondbacks. J.J. Putz, who blew a save chance Monday night in his first try since going on the DL in May, will work in middle relief for now, Gibson said. ... Young started at 2B in place of Daniel Murphy. Collins said Murphy was worn down and "stinkin out of gas." Murphy pinch-hit in the seventh and stayed in. ... Wright has taken a lead of nearly 850,000 over the Giants Pablo Sandoval in fan voting to start at 3B for the NL in the All-Star game at Citi Field. ... Mike Piazza has been added to the roster for the All-Star celebrity softball game at Citi Field on July 14. Comedian Chris Rock, actor Kevin James and singer Ashanti also will take part. ... Hefner struck out in both of his at-bats. He is 0 for 23 -- the most at-bats of any player in the majors this year without a hit. ... Mets reliever LaTroy Hawkins pitched his 907th game, moving past Cy Young for 22nd place all-time. ' ' '