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December 11, 2009
Giants' newest superstarrrrr!
Segal is the goaltender to watch in the Western Hockey League.
GARY LAZAR
Years of hard work and a strategy of attaching challenges head-on are paying huge dividends for Mark Segal, a young hockey player recently signed by the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants as their newest goaltender.
Segal's climb up the hockey ladder saw him begin this season with the North Delta Devils, a Junior B team. In very little time, his superior skill level led to a promotion to the Nanaimo Clippers, a Junior A team in the British Columbia Hockey League. Before long, the Vancouver Giants, a Major Junior team that regularly feeds players to the National Hockey League, began to closely watch his performance in Junior A.
Despite already being the leaders in their division, the Giants' general manager, Scott Bonner, saw in Segal a chance to further strengthen the team at the goaltender position. Segal made his debut Nov. 21 against the Portland Winter Hawks, stopping 27 shots in a seven to three victory. Being named third star in his very first game was the icing on the cake of Segal's living out the dream had by a million young Canadians. As of press time, he was still undefeated, bringing a flood of naches to the Segal home that would have sent Noah scurrying to his ark.
Entering the world in a family of South African intellectuals with a tradition of hockey matching most Canadian Jewish families' knowledge of cricket, and nothing but big sisters as role models, it seemed Segal was at a disadvantage compared with other boys.
"I can't overstate the role played by my Uncle Gary in those early years, with lane games and hockey talk that pulled me back from the brink of hockey oblivion," Segal told the Independent.
In actual fact, the influences behind his success are far broader. His family's long tradition in athletics included a zayde who was a boxer of some renown in Johannesburg, a father who brought terror to his opponents on the rugby pitch, a long-distance-running mother and two sisters proficient in the sport of marathon debating.
Years of coaching under Perry Kane, and collegiality with his son, Evander, rookie sensation with the Atlanta Thrashers, didn't hurt either.
At the time of his birth, Segal's parents, Barry and Amanda, remembered the biblical legend of Moses turning his staff into a snake that swallowed those of Pharaoh's court magicians. In giving Segal the Hebrew name Moshe, his parents imbued in him the spiritual influence of our leader on the desert road to freedom, leading, no doubt, to Segal's ability to perform magic with his stick. By age five, Segal's love for hockey was obvious. At the time of his bar mitzvah speech, Segal thanked the rabbi for his help, his parents and family for their love and support and, finally, he thanked G-d for the game of hockey.
"These last three months have been the most chaotic and exciting months of my life," admitted Segal. "With each level I have climbed, the incremental degree of intensity, commitment and professionalism has inspired me. The atmosphere in the locker room is fantastic, with every teammate aiming for the stars. With the top-flight coaching that Don Hay gives us, we all bring forth our best."
As for the future, the Giants have revived a system of a two-goalie rotation, last used in 2006-2007, with Tyson Sexsmith (now playing in the San Jose Sharks' system) and Dustin Slade. Since doing so, the Giants have won every game and have solidified their hold on first place in the B.C. division of the WHL. While Coach Hay traditionally has wanted a first-string goalie by the time of the playoffs, the Giants' coach stated, "I think both Jamie [Tucker] and Mark [Segal] see a great opportunity to be that guy. It might go on this way until the playoffs, and we're prepared for that."
As for Segal's family, friends and the whole Vancouver Jewish community, the forecast is for pride, joy and plenty of trips to the Coliseum to cheer on our hometown boy.
Gary Lazar is Mark Segal's proud uncle.
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