Getzlaf brothers hope to be busy for next few weeks

Rob Vanstone
Regina Leader-Post

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Chris Getzlaf would like to spend the next few weeks catching footballs and the Stanley Cup final.

The latter scenario isn't likely to be practical -- at least in terms of watching hockey in person -- but Getzlaf is not complaining.

The 24-year-old University of Regina Rams slotback is preparing to attend training camp with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger- Cats, who selected him in the fifth round of the Canadian college draft on May

While Getzlaf attempts to earn a spot with the Ti-Cats, younger brother Ryan will play for the Anaheim Ducks with NHL supremacy at stake.

Anaheim is to face the Ottawa Senators in the best-of-seven final, which is to begin Monday in southern California.

"I'm beyond proud of him for getting to where he's gotten,'' Chris Getzlaf said Wednesday. "I know he feels the same about where I've gotten thus far. I've just got to take it to the next level to make the team.'' Although the Tiger-Cats camp will be based in the same province as at least two Stanley Cup final games, Chris does not envision being able to make a side trip to Ottawa. Two-a-day workouts and meetings will take precedence, so Chris will have to settle for watching the hockey games on television.

However, proximity of the brothers will enable the Getzlafs' parents (Steve and Susan) to watch Stanley Cup games in Ottawa and attend Tiger-Cats workouts in Hamilton.

Chris has been able to see two Ducks games in person -- one in Vancouver and one in Anaheim -- during the 2007 playoffs.

"He has been playing really well during the playoffs,'' Chris said. "He hasn't really had a weak game yet. He's always in there and he's playing both ends of the rink -- good defence, good offence.'' Chris's game, by contrast, is predicated entirely upon offence.

He enters the Tiger-Cats' camp with strong credentials, having caught 49 passes for 923 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight Canada West regular-season games with the Rams last season. The 6-foot, 208-pounder was named a CIS all-star after finishing second in the country in TD catches and third nationally in receiving yards.

Ryan Getzlaf, 22, has also enjoyed a breakout year. After registering 25 goals and 33 assists in 82 regular-season games, he has produced five goals and eight assists in 16 playoff contests.

The younger Getzlaf was chosen in the first round of the 2003 NHL entry draft. Current Senators head coach Bryan Murray was Anaheim's general manager at the time.

"(Ryan) keeps your head on straight,'' Chris said. "He's gone through a draft and stuff like that. He was expected to go ninth overall in the NHL draft and fell to 19th -- and was, of course, excited when he went. He was getting pretty anxious at that time. I was there with him.

"He just said the same to me (on May 2).

I was expected to go around the second round and I dropped to fifth. He just said, 'You can't expect everything to go your way.' I said, 'I feel the exact same way.' It's a learning experience and all you've got to do is show up at camp. That's how you make the team, anyway.'' Although Chris is eligible to return to the Rams for the 2007 season, he would like to make an immediate imprint in the CFL "I think I have a very good chance of playing in Hamilton,'' he said.

In the meantime, Chris will be following the progress of the Ducks and his younger brother.

"It's awesome to see him there,'' Chris said. "Since he was young, I knew he had the potential to be playing in something like this. To be in the Stanley Cup already, in his young career, is something else. I figured eventually he would be there.''

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