Young Turgeon making a name for himself I


By Matt Mackinder


t used to be that Dominic Turgeon was only known as Pierre Turgeon’s son, but, nowa-


days, the younger Turgeon is carving out his own identity in the hockey world. Dominic, a high-flying forward with the Colo-


rado Thunderbirds’ 16U team, has done nothing but improve his overall game to the point where, in the next several months, he’ll have to choose where to hone his skills next season. He’s a candidate for USA Hockey’s National


Team Development Program (NTDP) based Ann Arbor, Mich., will unquestionably be a high pick in the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Futures Draft and was selected last spring by the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Needless to say, the kid has talent. “Playing here for the Thunderbirds has given


me so many options and I’m looking at all of them,” said Turgeon. “Each route has its advan- tages, and I haven’t made any decisions yet. I’m hoping to one day make it to the NHL, but I also realize that I’m still young and have a lot of work to do.” “From what I’ve seen, he’s as good - if not bet-


ter - than any other 1996-born player in the coun- try,” offered Thunderbirds coach Angelo Ricci. “There’s no panic in his game and his hockey sense is unbelievable. “He’s the type of player that makes everyone


around him better. He plays such a mature game and he’s like that off the ice, too. If we’re on a road


Turgeon’s childhood wasn’t a typical one,


obviously. His father was on the road half the year, but that didn’t mean Pierre was out of touch with his wife, Dominic or his three daugh- ters: Elizabeth and twins Alex and Valerie. “My mom was always at home taking care


of everything there and she never complained,” said Dominic. There’s also an inspirational side to Tur-


geon’s game. Last December, Elizabeth was tragically killed in a car accident. Dom said he thinks about his sister every day and even more so when he’s on the ice. “She’s with me every time I get out there; I


can feel her with me,” said Turgeon. “She was a beautiful person and I miss her every day.” Turgeon is a gifted player, said Ricci, and one


The son of former NHL standout Pierre Turgeon, Dominic Turgeon, right, is developing into an elite prospect as a member of the Colo- rado Thunderbirds’ 16U team. Photo/YSPN.com


trip and we stop at a Dairy Queen, Dom won’t get anything. He’s a very disciplined person and just an unbelievable kid.” Born in Montreal while dad Pierre was star-


ring with the Canadiens in the mid-1990s, Dominic said hockey is all he’s ever known. Pierre retired in 2007 after two seasons with the Colo- rado Avalanche “and we just settled here,” said Dominic. “Hockey is all I’ve ever wanted to do with my


life,” said Turgeon. “I’ve always wanted to be just like my dad.”


that has the potential to create his own future in hockey. “When Dom came to our program when


he was 12, he wasn’t even among the top six forwards on the team,” Ricci said. “Then, as the years went on, he got better and better. “He’s the player I want out there taking a key


faceoff in the final minute or playing the penalty kill. He’s very responsible in his own zone and has quickly shown that he’s a very coachable kid. He’s even come such a long way in his development since August.” Moving away from Colorado next year seems


probable for Turgeon, but while the path he’ll choose is still to be determined, making an impact and developing into an NHL-caliber stud also seems inevitable for the 15-year-old prodigy.


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