Here is an article with former Vernon Vipers forward Mike Zalewski & his older brother Steve.
Zalewski attended the Canucks Prospects development camp in early July and was also at the Canucks Training camp this year got into some exhibition games with the Canucks before being sent down to the American Hockey League. In 14 games this season with the Utica Comets Zalewski has (1-goal-1-assist-2-points).
Zalewski left his third year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) last season signing with the Canucks on March 17th 2014. Zalewski skated in his first NHL practice with the Canucks on March 21, 2014 before making his NHL debut on Saturday April 12 2014 in a 5-2 loss in Edmonton. Zalewski picked up his first career NHL point (assist) in a 5-1 win over the visiting Calgary Flames the following night. Zalewski played two season's in Vernon (2010-2012) In 106 regular season games with the Vipers Zalewski collected (50-goals-54-assists-104-points).
Mike Zalewski's Player Profile:
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=60363
This was posted on the Syracuse.com website:
Brothers Mike and Steve Zalewski bridge hockey generation gap as teammates with Utica Comets
By Lindsay Kramer |
lkramer@syracuse.com October 02, 2014
Utica, N.Y. — Six years separate brothers Mike and Steve Zalewski, a mere blip of time in the real world but a gap long enough to almost constitute an era in professional hockey.
Sitting together in a spare locker room in the Utica Memorial Auditorium earlier this week, the siblings from New Hartford still seemed worlds apart in many ways.
Mike, a 22-year-old who could pass for 18, is a sculpted 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, fresh out of college and on his first pro contract, a two-way deal with Vancouver.
Steve, 28, carries an unshaven look that adds a grizzled aura to his 6-foot, 195-pound frame, If he's not at the end of his North American hockey career, that destination is just a few exits away. He's on a tryout deal with the Comets and is coming off a bad knee injury incurred while playing in Finland last season.
For all the differences though, the forwards have arrived at a rare and important intersection of their careers together for the first, and perhaps last time.
After all those thousands of hours they have spent in junior, college and pro rinks following their shared passion of the sport, they finally have a chance to play as teammates.
And when it comes time to stuff their hockey scrapbooks, it doesn't get much better than that.
"Even when it happens, I don't think it's something you can put into words,'' Mike said.
"It's probably something you look back on, say it's a pretty awesome experience,'' added Steve.
Mike and Steve form the core of a hockey-rich family that included five children who soaked in the game. Older brother Richard played at Oswego; younger sister Annika skates at Colgate.
The two pros were obviously the most talented of the group, but because of their age difference didn't get much of a chance to play with or against each other.
"I think when you're younger, anybody who has grown up with older brothers, pretty much everything about him is the coolest thing,'' Mike said.
Steve played four seasons at Clarkson and was a fifth-round draft pick by San Jose in 2004. He skated for Worcester of the AHL from 2007-11, peaking with 22 goals and 40 assists for that team in 2009-10. He also earned three games with San Jose.
He then jumped to the New Jersey organization for three years, playing mostly in Albany but also getting seven games up top. He skated in Finland last season, an adventure that was delayed half a season by his knee injury.
Steve wanted to come back to North America this season, but by his own admission he didn't draw a lot of interest. Utica's tryout offer gives him at least a shot and carries the added bonus of playing in his backyard.
"I was pretty excited to hear that,'' Mike said of his reaction when Steve signed. "I didn't want to get my hopes up until I heard something. Hopefully, it works out for both of us.''
While Mike is on his way up, Steve clearly doesn't see himself on his way out.
"This has been a lot of fun, getting back after the long summer,'' he said. 'But I don't see it as being in the twilight of my career. Physically, I feel like I can keep playing. I feel really good. As you get older, you have a better idea of what it takes. You take care of your body better.''
Mike worked his way up with the Syracuse Stars junior team and played the last two seasons at RPI. He was never drafted, although he opened enough eyes at that school last year that Vancouver offered him a free agent pact. He played two games for the Canucks at the end of last season, recording an assist.
"There seems to be a good opportunity in this organization,'' Mike said. "I felt it was time to move on and get acclimated to the (pros).''
Utica opened camp this week, giving the brothers a chance to start building the professional side of their relationship.
"It's fun running a few drills together. But he's like any other teammate on the ice,'' Steve said.
"When you're out there playing, you're just worried about playing,'' Mike said. "Obviously, it's cool to be playing with your older brother. But you don't think about it on the ice.''
Steve said his veteran's advice to Mike was to keep doing the same things that put him in this position in the first place.
"I think the biggest thing is to not ever change your mindset because you are playing professional hockey,'' Steve said. "If anything, it's easier when you're young. You keep going out there, playing, enjoying it. You accept there is a business side to it (now). You can't really get caught up in it.''
Mike appreciates the chance to look to his brother for more than just a pass.
"I think he's already made a great career for himself,'' he said. "Pretty much everywhere he's been, he's been successful. That's given me something to look up to, try to do myself. I don't see him as old. We're still training just as hard as we can.''
Still, shadows of the older brother-younger brother dynamic remain.
When asked to compare himself to Mike, Steve pointed out that his sibling might be a little flashier and have more of a power forward game, but that they share good ice vision and an understanding of the sport.
When the same question was posed to Mike, he basically summed it up with a deferential "whatever he says'' agreement with Steve.
"It's exciting to see it all come together for him,'' Steve said. "He's still the younger brother. That's how that works.''
Former Vernon Vipers forward Chase McMurphy was named the AJHL Player of the Week.
