Former York student realizes dream of being NHL goalie.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
Elmhurst native Garret Sparks’ ultimate dream was far from handed to him on a silver platter.
Sparks, who attended York High School his first three years, traveled a long road in his pursuit of reaching the National Hockey League.
That road ended earlier this season when Sparks was promoted to the Toronto Maple Leafs to be one of its goalies.
“It’s been pretty incredible,” the 22-year-old Sparks told the Independent from Toronto earlier in December. “It has been a long road from where I came from to where I have gotten to.”
After attending York his first three years while playing for Team Illinois and Chicago Mission AAA youth hockey clubs, Sparks moved to Canada where he attended high school his senior year and played for the OHL’s Guelph Storm.
After three years playing for Guelph, Sparks split the last two years between the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears and the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies (who play in the same league as the local Chicago Wolves). Playing for the Marlies is akin to a baseball player being one step away from the majors in Triple A. The ECHL is one step below the AHL.
“Everybody who plays at some point dreams about playing in the NHL,” said Sparks. “For me everything came together the last few years. There always has been a challenge where everything had to go right. I made the teams I had to make. It’s been a fun ride.”
Sparks said he was in Syracuse, N.Y., where the Marlies were playing the Crunch when he received word that he was heading to hockey’s mecca—Toronto—and the league’s most storied (and valuable) franchise.
“We were in Syracuse playing that night. I ended up not playing and ended up going up the next day,” he said.
And once he got to the big club, Sparks added, “things got out of control from there.”
Out of control in a very good way. Sparks made his NHL debut at home at the Air Canada Centre against the Edmonton Oilers.
“It was pretty exciting,” he said. “You wait your entire life to get to that moment that you’ve worked hard for since a young age. I had flashes of every memory I’ve ever had playing hockey. It all culminated in that moment.”
At the time he talked to the Independent, Sparks had played in four games for the Maple Leafs. He recorded a 3-0 shutout in that debut against the Oilers, becoming the first Maple Leafs’ goalie to shut out a team in his debut.
“That was a pretty big deal,” said Sparks. “People call the Maple Leafs the New York Yankees of hockey. In all their years nobody had done that before.”
Sparks, who was selected in the seventh round by the Maple Leafs in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft (199th selection overall), lost his second game 6-1 to the Winnipeg Jets and then rebounded nicely to record a 4-1 win over St.Louis and a 3-2 win in a shootout against New Jersey. Sparks stopped three of four Devils’ shots in the shootout to earn the win.
“I’ve been on a good ride,” said Sparks of his first four games. “I played well in that first game and it’s been a fun ride since. In the loss against Winnipeg I didn’t play as good as I usually do. I knew what I did wrong. I was nervous about repeating what I did at home on the road and got wrapped up in my head a little. It was a bit of second-game jitters.”
Sparks said the game in St. Louis against the Blues did wonders for him. “That was a big comeback,” he said. “A bunch of my family and friends came down and St. Louis isn’t a slouch. They are a good team. The New Jersey game was big because it was a shootout at home and our general manager was the New Jersey general manager for 27 years. It was his first time against his old team so it was a big game for him.”
In Toronto’s next game after the New Jersey triumph, Sparks suffered a lower body injury in the first period against the San Jose Sharks (5-4 loss in overtime on Dec. 17), and as of press time late last week had not played since. In five NHL games, Sparks is 3-1 with a 2.58 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.
According to a report of the Leafs-Sharks game by NHL.com correspondent Mike Brophy, “Toronto coach Mike Babcock said Sparks will be out long-term.”
Sparks, who was 8-2-1 with a 1.90 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage for the Toronto Marlies prior to his call-up, confirmed what has been said about Toronto hockey fans. “The fans here are incredible,” he said. “I’m on television more than I care to be. They care a lot. Hockey is something the fans here are extremely passionate about. You think people are passionate about the Blackhawks? You have no idea. I love Chicago and it’s probably my favorite city on earth, but Toronto is a great place to live. I couldn’t ask for anything more. The AHL team is in the same city as the NHL team. You get treated like a king here. It’s the best place to be if you are playing hockey.”
The Elmhurst product also has high praise for Babcock, who is in his first year in Toronto after a long and distinguished run with the Detroit Red Wings.
“He’s an incredible coach,” said Sparks. “He knows everything there is to know. He has the perfect game plan and when we follow it we win games. He makes you appreciate how much a coach impacts a hockey team.”
A promotion to the NHL has only sharpened Sparks’ focus and resolve. “As far as the first four games, I’ve learned a lot each game,” he said. “You learn a lot about playing at this level each game. It’s been pretty cool. I get to work on my game. It challenges me to work even harder to try to stay up here.”
Sparks got his start playing hockey at the age of seven first as a goalie on the Elmhurst YMCA ice before moving on to a house league at the Edge in Bensenville. His skills, hard work, determination and love for the game have allowed him to enjoy a journey few get to.
“It’s amazing that I’ve been given this opportunity,” he said.
And hopefully his recent injury will be only a minor roadblock on a road Sparks has earned the right to travel upon.
