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Hamilton native Steve Staios is one of the busiest men in professional hockey these days.
Staios says he was blessed to have played professional hockey for nineteen years, and when he finally hung-up his skates in 2012, it was only natural for him to stay close to the game he loves.
“In those last few years I was always paired up with a young player. The team not having to tell me, that was my role, to mentor some of these young players, help them to become good professionals.”
Staios was drafted 27th overall by St Louis back in 1991. Today, as a player development advisor with the Leafs, he evaluates and assists up-and-coming stars. He admits that it wasn’t until 2003 — when he helped Canada win his first of two world championships — that he really came into his own.
“That was the first step for me, to evaluate myself against high end players, and it was a confidence boost for me.”
Last week he was named Team Canada’s director of player of personnel, and will assist the yet-to-be-named coaching staff in Belarus this may.
To add to his accolades, Staios was recently honoured here in his hometown. As part of a career achievement award from the B’nai Brith, a room at the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre in Hamilton will be named in his honour, and decorated with some of his memorabilia. It’s located in the old Robert Land School, where Staios’ mother attended classes when she first emigrated from Macedonia.
“That’s when you look at your family and thank them, because you know you’d never get to that situation without them.”