Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Minutes away from the Ontario Hockey League deadline, Cal Uens’ phone rang.
He answered, not really thinking much of the fact his Owen Sound Attack GM was on the other end. That’s when the 17-year-old Napanee native was hit with the unexpected news: he’d been traded to the Kingston Frontenacs.
“I really had no idea that this was coming,” Uens recalled of the Jan. 10 deadline day deal. “I got the call from my GM probably 25 minutes before the deadline. I had to rush down to the rink to get some papers signed before the 12 p.m. deadline.”
Though he had been dealt to a team that plays just a short 30-minute drive from his hometown, it took some time to come to terms with the idea of being traded from the club that had drafted him.
“This first couple of days were pretty hard, letting go of all the relationships I built in Owen Sound, but coming back to my hometown is a pretty unique opportunity and I’m pretty excited,” said Uens. “Things are settling in for me more and more every day.”
The Fronts schedule had them in Ottawa the very next day to take on a very tough 67’s squad. Just over 30 hours after getting dealt, Uens was in the starting lineup sporting his new black and gold jersey.
“I only had about a day, not even a day, to learn a new system and jump right into a game,” he recalled. “It was really hard at first trying to understand all the new systems but now that I’ve been here a week or so I’ve settled in. Things are flowing nicely for me.”
Now that three weeks have gone by, he’s embraced the idea of suiting up for his childhood team.
“I feel like everywhere I look in the stands I see friends and family,” said Uens. “It’s a super cool opportunity for me to play every night in front of friends and family. I grew up idolizing the Frontenacs so to be able to play in that building I grew up going to to watch Fronts games is pretty cool.”
In his fifth game with his new team he picked up his first assist. As a defenceman more concerned with preventing goals as opposed to scoring them, he’s not one to show up on the score sheet on a regular basis.
“Points aren’t really something I stress over too often,” said Uens. “Everyone likes to get on the points sheet so getting a couple points is something I’m for sure happy about.”
Getting shipped from the Attack to the Frontenacs meant going from a team secure in a playoff spot to one that’ll have to fight down the stretch.
“As a hockey player, no matter the situation you’re trying to do what’s best for your team so it doesn’t really change much honestly,” Uens said of joining the Fronts. “We’re just trying to get in the best playoff position to set yourself up for success in the playoffs but I really take the same approach every game, no matter who I’m playing for. At the end of the day it’s just about getting a win.”
Earlier this season Uens reached a personal milestone, suiting up for his 100th career OHL game.
“It definitely hasn’t felt like I’ve played over 100 games in the OHL,” he said. “Looking back at my younger self I’d be pretty proud to have played in over 100 OHL games, so its something cool and a number I’m looking to build on.”
With now 112 games played, Uens has five career goals and 23 assists.