From Prodigy to Prospect: The Toby Fitzgerald Story [1/2]

[JohnnyT_77 16]

 

From Prodigy to Prospect: The Toby Fitzgerald Story

 

Seeing the Potential

When blue-collared factory worker Tom Fitzgerald came home each night, there was nothing better than arriving to see his five children – with a 9 year gap from oldest to youngest - outside playing around in the yard. Actually playing. Getting along and avoid fighting for a few hours. Of course, they all played the usual kids games when they were outside, but nothing made Tom happier to see when his kids were playing sports when he’d get home. Baseball, football, basketball, golf – it didn’t matter. He was happy to see that his boys embraced sports as much as he did.

 

All the boys seemed to have picked up on sports pretty quickly no matter what it was they were playing. Part of this was due to their father’s love of sports, which translated over to them by watching professional games on TV or live with their dad, as well as them always asking questions pertaining to the rules of whatever sport it was they were watching. It was almost religious in the Fitzgerald house to watch sports. However, there was one day returning from work when old Tom noticed something different with his kids.

 

One evening when Tom was returning from work, as he pulled up in the driveway, the boys were all playing football with some of the neighborhood kids. The sun glaring in his eyes as he watched a play unfold. One of the kids was running to the outside with the ball, the defenders in pursuit of the ball carrier. A spin back towards the inside. A headfake right, quick juke left, another spin out of the grasp of another defender, and then outran the last two defenders for a touchdown. Tom giggled to himself as he liked the moves he saw. But as he walked towards the kid to give him some props, he soon realized who that kid was with all the quickness and great moves. It happened to be his youngest son, Toby. Even more unbelievable, was that this was all done by a 5 year old. Outperforming the other kids… twice his age.

 

It was at that moment Tom knew he had something special in Toby. It was time to get this kid in sports to see what he can do.

 

A Jack of All Trades

Toby began playing youth sports of all kinds shortly after that moment, starting with baseball. Right from day one, he was a natural. Could it be possible for him to be a 5 tool athlete so soon? Tom wasn’t sure, but it sure was looking that way. He could hit, showed pop, field, run well, and throw.  

 

In the fall, he played tackle football. And just like on that front lawn the year prior, Toby was a menace on the field against kids his own age. Quickness, speed, power and amazing vision for a runner of his age. He helped carry his team to an undefeated record in the region.

 

A similar thing happened when he played basketball in the winter. This kid dominated no matter where he played, or what he played. After his first year, it was clear to see this kid seemed light years ahead of other kids his age.

 

Advanced Skillset

At the age of 10, Toby seemed so advanced that things were becoming unfair for the other players in his age group. People began to notice this phenom developing right in front of them. Although, it was at this time, he started moving away from some of the other sports, and really began focusing on baseball.

 

He was soon approached by the provincial U14 baseball team. Once he joined, he was a star from the beginning, displaying some little league power, hitting a ton, and playing as one of the best young Shortstops many scouts haven’t seen since a young Derek Jeter. He wound up leading the U14 baseball team to three national championships in the three years he played.

 

At age 13, he moved up to the U16 provincial team displaying the same skills that he had used to dominate the age group below. He played two years with this team, once again leading them to two national championships. Unfortunately, the love he had for this game, began to drift. His heart wasn’t in it. He started looking for other challenges.

 

 

Desire for Physicality

It wasn’t until he was 16 that Toby decided he had enough of baseball. He wanted something new. He was looking for a different experience. He missed the physicality of football, but his local school didn’t have a team. He had to look for another outlet to showcase his talents. They did however, have another type of team that he didn’t even know existed.

 

After one of the high school rallys, there was a game being played on the field that he walked down to check out with a few of his friends. Surprisingly, this was a game he had never seen before.

It was quick. Fast. Aggressive. And of course, physical. He had come to find out that it was the old native game of Lacrosse. And he wanted to play it immediately.

 

Toby had joined the school team the following week and got right in there. His stick skills were a bit lacking at first, but in no time, he had picked it up like an old pro. They popped him in at defense which he loved from all the hitting down low that was needed. Toby simply fell in love with the game at this point. And he was a force to be reckoned with on that turf.

 

 

Hitting the Ice

Shortly after completing his first Lacrosse season, Toby was introduced to ice hockey by a fellow teammate. Knowing how much he loved Lacrosse, hockey was described to him as a much faster version of lacrosse – only it’s played on ice. This intrigued Toby to no end and he couldn’t wait to try it out.

 

Once on the ice, as with lacrosse, it took him some time to get used to skating, stickhandling, shooting and passing, but just as it was with everything else, he picked it up no problem. In a matter of months, Toby was excelling at hockey. He joined some local recreation leagues for his first year, got his bearings, worked on improving everything about his game and eventually decided he would give some competitive leagues a try.

 

He was a natural defenseman and leader from his playing days in lacrosse. Rarely out of position, he offered his team a solid player on the blue line. He had some grit too. He was simply a tough customer to deal with in front of the net for the forwards. It didn’t take much time for players in the league to recognize that this dude meant business.

 

Toby became an intimidating force and guys simply did not want to face him anymore. It gave him a bit more space too. When that started to happen, he began showing a bit more offensive prowess to his game by jumping up on the play some more. He also started to use that vision he had from the days of football to become a great passer too.

 

He wound up finishing his first season in a competitive setting putting up 3-21-24 with 150 PIM and sporting a respectable +23 in 70 games at defense. The following year he joined the QMJHL Quebec Remparts and posted a 21-68-89 in 67 games from the blue line and added 7-19-26 in 20 playoff games.

 

Scouts took notice from all over the globe. NHL, KHL and the growing VHL. It was the VHL that Toby decided to continue that path of dominance. He was eventually drafted and signed by the VHLM Halifax 21^st where he looks to begin and carve out a solid and respectable professional career.

 

It may not be what he decides to stick with, but whatever it is that he chooses, the sky is more certainly the limit for him.   

 

(1348 words)

[oilmandan 688]

Review 

Compelling story. Very easy to read and follow along. 

Only drawback could have been ending the story abruptly with joining the VHLM.  Could have added why the decision to join the vhl was made.

Otherwise great job!