Little Flyers' Alum Tops NHL Central Scouting's List of North American Defenseman
January 12, 2007
Breakaway! Magazine Newswire

T.J. Brennan has certainly made up for lost time.

Despite not playing competitive ice hockey for the first time until he was 10 years old, Brennan – now in his first year with the St. John's Fog Devils -- finds himself as one of the most talked about young defenseman in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, one of the primary feeder leagues into the NHL.

In fact, the 17-year-old Brennan, who hails from Willingboro, N.J., was the top-rated, draft-eligible defenseman in the QMJHL when the National Hockey League's Central Scouting Bureau released its preliminary rankings in November. In the Central Scouting Midterm ranking, Brennan ws once again the top-rated Q-League defenseman, landing in the second round at number 59.

The fact that Brennan finds himself playing in the remote outpost of Newfoundland, Canada is an amazing story in and of itself.

Last year, he was happy to find himself playing for the Philadelphia Little Flyers in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League, hoping to make an impression as he began his quest to play at the next level -- most likely some form of college hockey in another few years.

That was until former NHLer Stephane Charbonneau, a coach with the Little Flyers major midget team and the general manager of Aston IceWorks, opened Brennan's eyes to a whole new world.

Charbonneau, who enjoyed a two-game cup of coffee with the NHL's Quebec Nordiques during the 1991-92 season, saw something more in the 6-foot, 200-pound defenseman. Charbonneau convinced Brennan to join the all-star team he was coaching in a local summer junior hockey tournament and then he contacted a few scouts with QMJHL ties and convinced them to come down and take a look at the prospect he had uncovered.

"He's got something special, that kid," says Charbonneau, who played four years of junior hockey in the "Q" himself, winning three playoff championships. "I played pro hockey, I played in the NHL and I'll tell you not many people have a shot like him. He has a NHL wrist shot. The release is so quick and his shot is just unreal."

Obviously, the scouts in attendance agreed and St. John's snapped him up, inviting him to a tryout at this fall's training camp. Brennan admits he was somewhat shocked by the invite and at a loss about what to do as the deadline for his decision approached.

Brennan set down with his family and discussed all his options, which included returning for a second season of play in the AJHL, moving on to the United States Hockey League or taking up St. John's on its offer, which would close the door to a college scholarship.

"We were thinking take this chance because how many times in a lifetime to you get a chance like this to play in one of the best junior leagues in the world, so why not take it?" Brennan explained. "We made the decision to come up here because there was more publicity for what I wanted to do, which is go for the NHL. So far, it's going pretty good."

That is certainly an understatement. Brennan has played in 35 games with the Fog Devils and has more than held his own. He has flashed that major-league shot of his on a regular basis and has compiled three goals and 12 assists. His 15 points are the fourth-best total among the league's rookie defensemen.

"T.J. had it in his mind to play in that league and I explained to him that it's not suitable for all American players," said Charbonneau. "It's all offense up there, so I think it is a perfect fit for T.J.

"That kid is very focused. He just wants to play hockey. Because he played Double-A hockey most of his life, he isn't content. He just wants to get better every day."

Brennan admits this is true. He believes with the right combination and luck, he can make his NHL dream come true somewhere down the road. Brennan says he is willing to do the work.

"I'm a competitor," he says. " I love to compete. I guess some could say I'm never satisfied with myself. I'm always trying t o get better and work harder. I guess that's a good quality."

Plus, Brennan knows he has to get better, especially defensively, to avoid being shown up by the raft of offensive stars that populate the QMJHL circuit.

"I definitely have improved a lot on my defensive play, my angling and my skating, improving my stride and getting a lot stronger," Brennan allows, noting that the QMJHL is a two-step jump from his time with the Little Flyers. "I've become a lot better player in just the few months I've played here. You better make an improvement or you are going look silly out here. I haven't really gotten undressed out there yet -- knock on wood. I don't want it to happen. I know everyone has the capability and the skill to do it, so I better get better pretty quick."

Brennan has also quickly adapted to life on "The Rock," a popular nickname for the island of Newfoundland. Life in St. John's is a far different existence than the one he enjoyed growing up in the New Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia. Different, but not necessarily worse, he says.

"I love it here," Brennan says. "My billets are great. They make me feel right at home. St. John's is a lot bigger of a town. I'm living right downtown and it's real close to everything -- the rink and school. It's a little colder, but I'm getting used to it. There's tons of stuff to do around here and the fans have been great, supportive and everything. It's just been a great overall experience."

What's not to love, right? He is playing hockey at a higher level than he dared imagine even late last year and he has drawn favorable reviews from the scouts that will determine if he can continue to effectively chase his dream of playing in the National Hockey League. That's not too bad for a still young boy that laced on the skates for the first time less than eight short years ago. "I just love this game," Brennan concludes. "There's so much fun things that the game brings."

Brennan should know. He appears to be living proof of that very statement.