With 40 assists and 8 goals for 48 points in 43 games this season so far, Owen Sound Attack defenceman Sam Sedley is truly getting better with age. Last week in Barrie, he broke Santino Centorame’s franchise record for the most assists recorded by a defenceman. Having spent his entire OHL career with the Attack, Sedley is poised to have his most productive season yet and he’s doing it playing alongside his best friends and fellow over-agers Deni Goure and Ethan Burroughs. We caught up with Sedley before practice on Tuesday to get his thoughts on breaking records, this team’s true potential, his Philadelphia Flyers camp experience, team bus spelling bees and playing defence on Deni Goure.

You’re in the top 10 for assists in the league and you recently broke Santino Centorame’s franchise record for the most points by a defenseman. How aware were you of closing in on this record?

Yeah, I definitely knew about it. And my teammates and my family kind of informed me and told me that I was close to breaking them. But that’s obviously something I don’t really worry about during the game. I just worry about playing hockey and having fun.

And then when you realized it had happened, how’d that feel?

Well, I knew before the game I was one assist away from breaking it. And so as soon as Deni made that pass and Barz put it in the net, I realized right away. Then Deni got the puck for me which was pretty special. 

You’ve been having a very impressive overage year on defense. How important is it for you to turn some heads this year with it being your last year in the league?

Obviously going into my last year in junior, I want to have a good year, so I can hopefully sign a pro contract and I have to play well to give myself the best shot. So really that’s what I’ve been working towards. If I keep playing the same way I am, I should have a pretty good opportunity. Obviously, making assists fits my game well. Everyone knows I’m a puck mover and to help our strong forwards put the puck in the net is pretty easy. A lot of the credit goes to them.

Early in the season, there was a lot of talk about this team having everything needed on paper to make a solid playoff run. There have been bumps in the road, coaching changes and injuries, even for yourself. How do you feel about where things are at with this team now? Wehave a good team on paper for sure. I think going through a lot of injuries, up and down our lineup, and coaching changes, it can all be hard on a team. But I think we’re at the point now where we’re really starting to figure it out. The biggest thing is hitting our stride going into the playoffs and hopefully having that long playoff run, which I think we’re fully capable of doing.

We have an incredible overage lineup this year with all 3 over-agers having played their entire career for this franchise. What’s it like to play alongside Deni and Ethan now and over the last four years?

It’s really special. Those are two of my best friends so playing alongside them since we first got drafted, it’s been really amazing and exciting to see the progress we’ve all made. It’s been so awesome to have them by my side throughout my career.

You must have some good Deni and Ethan stories?

I think the funniest stories are the spelling bees on the bus. Me and Deni aren’t the greatest spellers, so Ethan loves to quiz us. We’ve definitely had lots of laughs.

Tell us a bit about the Attack’s new defensive style of play. What’s being asked of this team in terms of forechecking and smothering the offense by the current coaching staff?

We changed some systems around so we’re more aggressive. I think the biggest thing with our team is when our feet are moving, we’re at our best. So I think playing more aggressively is really helping us, like the win this weekend. Those were huge changes for our group but I think they’re really starting to pay off.

And obviously it must have felt like a million dollars to win at home on Sunday.

Yeah, obviously. We’ve had our struggles at home earlier in the year, but I think we owe it to the Bayshore to have a strong finish especially in this rink. You want to make it harder for teams when they come here. They don’t usually like playing in this atmosphere. So, I think if we can figure it out at home and use it to our advantage, we’ll have a lot of success.

The Attack’s power play has been impressive this year and many call you the quarterback behind that. Tell us about that role and how comfortable you are in it?

We have a pretty good power play. Both our power play lines are special. We have lots of skill and the guys work hard on it. Being the quarterback, it’s all about distributing the puck, about making the right pass at the right time to give those skilled forwards an opportunity to put the puck in the net. It’s a big responsibility but one that I am happy to take charge of.

And would you describe yourself as pretty calm in those situations? Sometimes I watch you take it behind the net and just slow everything down and you look so calm.

Yeah, I think playing the top of the power play, you’re basically in charge of the whole power play. You’re the quarterback, like you said, so slowing things down at times is the right move, but it can also be the wrong move. Just making those key decisions on the ice is a habit for me now. I’ve played the top of the power play for a while and I’ve figured it as I go, I can make decisions as things unfold.

How would you describe yourself as a defenseman and your style of play on this team?

I like to think of myself as a two-way puck mover. I think my puck handling and passing is one of my strong suits and one of my advantages. I think just a little more work in the D zone will take me a long way.

Tell us a bit about the getting the invite to the Philadelphia Flyers camp this year and what that experience was like?

Obviously, it’s a huge, huge honor and experience to go to any NHL camp. I think going to Philadelphia really, really changed my mind set and work ethic. With John Tortorella there it was like a bootcamp. That really changed my work ethic and practice habits a lot seeing what the pros do every day.

After an experience like that do you stay in touch with the Flyers?

I just try to leave it up to my agent to make those calls so I can just worry about playing hockey and having fun. But I know Philadelphia has stayed in touch with my agent and they chat quite a bit. So that’s always a good thing.

Darren Rumble was quoted in The Owen Sound Sun Times as saying the defense coach in Philadelphia had a lot of good things to say about your time at training camp. What kind of feedback do you get while you’re there?

Yeah, to be honest, I heard a lot of good things. They tell everyone the same thing I’m sure. Work ethic will get you further than skill. At the next level, every player in the NHL has skill. It’s how determined and how hard you work that will set you apart. That was the biggest thing, and honestly, the practices were like a game tempo. Everyone’s working hard, everyone’s doing everything they’d do in a game so that’s what they told me to work on—my practice habits—and I think I’ve been improving on those all season.  

Let’s rewind a bit to you how you got you start in the game of hockey?

Actually, funny story, my parents put me in ringette to start off when I was around two or three years old and I played with my cousins in St Mary’s. Then after a few years, I went to TimBit’s hockey. I grew up playing in St. Mary’s until Atom and then I was fortunate enough to make the AAA team in my area, the Huron Perth Lakers. I played there until I was in minor midget when I got drafted to the Attack and I’m still here.

What are some of your earliest and favourite hockey memories?

I think just staying in the hotels with your team playing mini sticks and spending quality time with your friends. It’s always a good thing.

And tell us about your minor hockey career in St Mary’s and with the Lakers? Do you have friends who play in the OHL now?

I grew up playing against Deni Goure in minor midget. That’s a funny story too.One year, we had playoffs against each other and he was by far the best player in our league. So we just had a guy shadow him the whole series and he was getting pretty fed up with it. He spent most of the playoff series in the box so our strategy worked perfectly.

What has been your favourite thing so far about playing in Owen Sound?

I like the small town vibes. I love the fans and how they support us every Saturday or Wednesday night. The Bayshore is always fun. Playing here, you’re going to have a good crowd every night and lots of support. That’s by far the best thing.

I found a Meet the Draft Pics interview from 2019 when you were first coming to Owen Sound so I thought we’d compare your answers now and then.

What is one word that describes you as a hockey player?

Now: Energetic.

Then: Smart.

Who is your favourite player in the NHL?

Now: Quinn Hughes.

Then: Thomas Chabot.

What is your favourite pre-game meal?

Now: Pasta and chicken.

Then: Pasta and chicken.

What is your favourite movie?

Now: Stepbrothers.

Then: Stepbrothers.

If you couldn’t play hockey, what sport would you play?

Now: Baseball.

Then: Baseball.

What coach has meant the most to your development?

Now: Joey Hishon.

Then: Greg Devries.

What is one thing you need to improve on as a player?

Now: My strength.

Then: My strength.

What are your favourite hobbies other than sports?

Now: Video games, fishing, road hockey and hanging out with my friends.

Then: Baseball, fishing, road hockey, roller blading.

Who is your favourite artist/band?

Now: Drake.

Then: Drake.

What is one thing you know about the City of Owen Sound? I’m sure you know way more now.

Now: I know a lot more than one thing now (laughs).

Then: Smaller than most OHL teams so it fits me because I live in a small town, it has a river and everyone likes the Attack

Thanks so much for doing this and good luck this week.

Thanks Allie.