He may be sporting a new number this season -- his third in as many years -- but Travis Oleksuk's knack for scoring clutch goals hasn't changed.
The University of Minnesota Duluth junior center and Thunder Bay, Ontario, product currently leads the nation in game-winners with five, two of which of come in overtime, and also has a penalty shot goal (the first by a Bulldog in six years) and a shorthander (his first as a collegian) to his 2010-11 credit. That's to go with a team-leading .250 shooting percentage. Oleksuk, the latest in growing line of father-son combinations who have worn the Bulldog -- his dad, Bill, was a standout UMD winger from 1978-82 -- has nine goals in all this winter, which is just one shy of his entire sophomore- year harvest.
HIS FAVORITES
Opponent: Minnesota
Opponent Arena: Ralph Englestad Arena (North Dakota)
Road Trip: Colorado Springs, Colo. (Colorado College)
Professional Athlete: Josh Hamilton (Texas Rangers)
Professional Team: Calgary Flames
College Course: Video Game Entertainment
Pastime: Xbox 360
Prized Possession: My 1959 New York Yankees autographed baseball
Book (Author): Beyond Belief (Josh Hamilton)
Television Show: Two and a Half Men
Actor/Actress: Mark Wahlberg/Alice Eve
Movie: The Town
Singer/Group: Eric Church
Food: Chinese
Restaurant: The Keg (Thunder Bay, Ontario)
Video Game: Call Of Duty Black Ops
Vacation Spot: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Web Site: www.youtube.com
PERSONALLY SPEAKING
Why I Chose UMD: For a chance to play college hockey close to home
First Played Competitive Hockey: Age 4
Hockey Strength/Weakness: My vision/My consistency
Game Day Ritual: I relax and watch TV
Most Memorable Hockey Moment: Winning the 2009 WCHA Final Five
Best Player I've Ever Played Against: (Current Chicago Blackhawks center) Jonathan Toews
Pet Peeve: Bad drivers
My First Job: Working at Thunder Bay Sprinklers (10 years old)
Person I'd Most Like to Meet: Jackie Robinson
Biggest Fear: Snakes
What Most People Don't Know About Me: I can play the recorder
If I Could Change One Thing About Myself: I'd have longer legs.
Advice to an Aspiring Young Athlete: Have fun
Influences on My Athletic Career: My parents
Sport I'd Like to Try But Never Have: Surfing
Something I Never Leave Home Without: My pants
Post-UMD Plans: Continue playing hockey for as long as I can
