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+---- Thread: Popovics Drafted by Maine (/showthread.php?tid=138304)
Popovics Drafted by Maine - BloomeyGB - 08-04-2024
As the picks in the Season 78 SMJHL Draft kept rolling in, I had my eyes peeled for one in particular. Staying under most people's radars, Zsigmond Popovics (pronounced Popovich for presenter's future reference) did his job quietly and with minimal fuss, keeping his head down. Signed as a DFA by the Highlanders, he appeared in 6 regular season games, collecting 3 wins with some very healthy stat lines. Although watching the playoffs from the bench, he can proudly call himself a conference champion, with the Highlanders eventually succumbing in the cup finals to Vancouver in six games.
Following his stint in the Canadian capital, Popovics travelled to the World Junior Championship with Team Rhine, qualifying through some geographical loophole that nobody bothered to close. He is however still looking for his first international cap, warming the bench behind rock solid starting goaltender Walter Scheibli.
Although many expected Ottawa to retain Popovics at the draft, it was no surprise that he was eventually taken by the Maine Timber, albeit quite late at 51st overall. Popovics' elusive and now largely forgotten mentor, the S55 SMJHL Playoffs MVP "Bloomey" Bloomfield, still maintains good relationships with the Timber management, despite last wearing their jersey about twenty seasons ago. He declined to comment for our paper, however we understand from Popovics that his mentor is very pleased at the outcome of the draft. Popovics is expected to maintain his status within the league as a dependable backup, working with the Timber's starting goaltender, Kris.
James Lacey
Toronto Daily Star