ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 21, 1996 TAG: 9611210021
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
Jeff Cowan was 18 years old when he bought his first suit. If he was going to be attending the National Hockey League draft in Edmonton, Alberta, he figured he'd better look his best when his name was called.
So he drained most of his savings and shelled out $1,000 for a designer suit, knowing that an NHL contract would more than cover the hefty price tag. Resplendent in his new duds, Cowan and five other clients of agent Roland Thompson waited to hear their names called out in Edmonton's Northlands Coliseum in June 1995.
Cowan was rated as a potential fourth-round pick by the league's central scouting bureau, but Thompson told him he might not get selected before the seventh. Certainly, he would be gone by the ninth and final round.
``I was thinking about what he told me,'' said Cowan. ``The fourth round came and went.''
Then came the fifth and sixth. The new tie began to feel a little tighter.
``The seventh comes and I cross my fingers,'' said Cowan. ``I waited for them to call my name out and no one did. The eighth comes around. The ninth comes and I'm praying by now. The last pick gets called and I'm still sitting there.''
Cowan, who apparently slipped out of the draft because teams questioned his ability to score goals, stood out from Thompson's five other clients. At the end of the draft, he was the best dressed. He would've swapped his fancy suit for what his buddies were wearing.
``They were all wearing their jerseys'' of the teams that had picked them, Cowan said. ``I didn't know exactly what had happened. My agent said he would never invite one of his [clients to draft day] if he didn't feel they had a good chance of getting drafted. I was pretty disgusted.''
As it turned out, Cowan's professional career began that draft day. Thompson worked out a tryout with the Calgary Flames, which led to him getting a position on the Flames' 50-man roster. After burning up the Ontario Hockey League in his last year of juniors in 1995-96, he found himself assigned to Roanoke, where he has scored nine goals to tie for second on the team with Jeff Loder. Jeff Jablonski has scored 11 times to lead the team.
``In June [of '95], he probably thought he was at the end of his hockey career,'' said Nick Polano, Calgary's minor-league chief. ``A couple of months later, he's got a contract in his hands.''
Every night, Cowan plays like a hockey player scorned. He's not the flashiest player, but he's got size (6-feet, 2 inches) and speed and he plays aggressively. If the East Coast Hockey League kept such stats, Cowan would probably lead the league in taking shots while sprawling on the ice and minutes played without a helmet. Almost once a game, his long, sweaty red hair gets exposed after some physical contact.
He's adapting to the physical style of professional hockey. He signed his pro contract on his 19th birthday - Sept.27, 1995 - and turned 20 just before Roanoke's training camp started.
``He's playing with the big guys now,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone. ``He's just taking the first step. He's getting better. It was a situation where they didn't feel he was quite ready for the [American Hockey League] but he was too good for junior.''
That was evident after he led the Barrie Colts with 38 goals last year in the Ontario League. It was a breakthrough season after two years of little ice time with the OHL's Guelph Storm.
When Cowan popped loose and scored four goals for the Express in an 11-1 win over Louisville last Saturday, he tied Lev Berdichevsky and Derek Laxdal for the franchise record for most goals in a game.
Big games like that are what an undrafted free agent needs if he wants to advance his professional hockey career. He and Express teammate Bobby Brown were the only NHL contract players to be sent to Roanoke from Saint John in the AHL. Both were signed by the Flames as free agents.
By the time Cowan and Brown played their first games, they had been to three training camps and two countries. Both went to camp with Calgary and Saint John before coming to Roanoke.
The assignment to Roanoke did not diminish Cowan in Calgary's eyes.
``We were impressed with his work habits,'' said Polano. ``He plays like he has a passion for the game. That's something every scout likes to see.
``After the first week of scrimmages [in the '95 Calgary camp], he was impressive enough to get signed to a contract. If he keeps working hard, he's bound to get better. That was the idea behind sending him to Roanoke. With Frank's help, we think the kids are going to get better down in Roanoke. I think he could have played at Saint John but not gotten the ice time he needed. Playing in game situations is the only way to get better.''
Since coming to Roanoke, Cowan has made a name for himself as a finisher. He may not have a ton of assists (he has six), but he gets the puck in the net.
``I get a lot of garbage goals,'' he said.
A goal's a goal. The finisher may just be beginning, though.
``I still have a lot to learn,'' he said. ``Some guys with Saint John are 25 years old. I say to myself, `What kind of player will I be like in five years?' This year has been a big step. I hope there's more.''
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: WAYNE DEEL Staff. Roanoke's Jeff Cowan has nine goals toby CNBtie for second on the team behind the 11 of Jeff Jablonski. color.