Some players announce themselves with goals and highlight reels.
Others reveal themselves in quieter ways.
In this Junior Hockey Giants Snapshot, longtime sports writerPaul Svoboda shares a draft-day moment that perfectly captures the essence of Matt Beleskey — long before the NHL, long before the results were obvious.
A trusted hockey voice leaned over and said something unforgettable:
Even when he’s not doing anything, you’ll love him.
That wasn’t about scoring touch or ice time.
It was about presence.
About trust.
About the kind of teammate everyone wants beside them.
As Svoboda explains, the prediction came true. Beleskey became a leader. A captain. One of the most respected figures of his era in Belleville. Not because he demanded attention — but because he earned it, shift after shift.
These are the moments that don’t always make the program notes or the stat summaries.
They’re the stories behind the game.