Sanvido making mark on Spits D

by Rob Benneian

In the Ontario Hockey League, 16-year-old rookies aren’t expected to make much of an impact.

That’s why it’s so remarkable that just four months past his sixteenth birthday, Windsor Spitfires defenceman Patrick Sanvido has made it impossible for his coaches to take him out of the lineup.

“Just consistency, there’s not a lot of dips in his game,” said Spits defence coach Bob Jones of why the team’s 2012 second round pick has played every game this season. “He plays a real steady, average game. That’s what we’re looking for right now.”

The Spitfires are carrying eight defencemen on the roster and Sanvido is by far the youngest. The Spits next oldest blue liner is 2011 OHL Priority Selection first-round pick Adam Bateman. A full year-and-a-half Sanvido’s senior, Bateman was a regular on the Spitfires back end a year ago, missing just four of the team’s 72 games over the course of the regular season and playoffs.

Bateman, Brandon Devlin, rookie Jordan McNaughton and 18-year old John Bowen have all lost ice time to the six-foot-six Sanvido. The hulking native of Guelph, Ont. has used his strength to his advantage.

“My big reach helps a lot I guess. I just try to do the best I can,” Sanvido said. “Obviously my size helps. I like to use my size to my advantage. Just go out there and really use my stick well, break up plays and whenever I can finish my checks.”

Though Sanvido is an imposing physical presence on the ice, team captain Saverio Posa describes his young teammate as “one of the most quiet guys” he’s ever played with. At 16 years old, Posa was playing junior hockey in Michigan for Detroit Little Caesars. The next year he played 48 games with Windsor before establishing himself as an everyday player for the Spits in 2010.

“He’s very poised with the puck, especially at 16 years old,” Posa said. “That’s hard to come by because when you’re a (rookie), no matter what size you are you still feel the jitters. I think he’s blended in really well.”

Sanvido admitted to feeling antsy prior to the team’s first game at home against the Owen Sound Attack. According to him, the biggest game he played prior to taking the ice as a Spit was his high school’s district finals when there were about 500 people in the stands. With Windsor having approximately 5,000 more fans per game, it is understandable he would be feeling some pre-game nerves. However, Sanvido said he is starting to feel comfortable with his new surroundings.

“The home opener night, I couldn’t even sit still. I was just going nuts,” Sanvido said. “I’ve never been so nervous. Once I got a shift in, got a few hits, I took off from there. Now I don’t even realize it. Every game is fine.”

That is a scary proposition for the OHL’s other 19 teams.

Follow Rob on Twitter @robbenneian