By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
For the past three years, Buchanan native Creighton Scarpone has been living the life of an NHL star. Professional training, hockey all day, playing in front of thousands of fans, long road trips, nice hotels, free meals.
And he's only 18 years old.
Scarpone isn't in the NHL yet, but if he continues down the path he's on, he hopes to be someday.
Currently, Scarpone plays for the Fargo-Moorehead (N.D.) Jets of the North American Hockey League. The NAHL is a junior league, which prospects play in for two to three years before going on to play NCAA hockey.
Although he's in the junior league, he has worked with both professional trainers and players via his experience at the International Management Group's training facility in Bradenton, Fla.
IMG is one of the largest sports agent groups in the world. The agency represents and works with athletes in all sports, including Serena Williams, Vince Carter and John LeClaire.
Scarpone started training at IMG the summer after his freshman year in high school. He knew the head hockey coach at Michigan Tech University, who recommended Scarpone to the academy.
While working out at in Florida, IMG asked Scarpone to go to school at the academy and play for IMG's hockey team year-round.
Scarpone stayed at IMG for his sophomore and junior years of high school. He was then drafted by the Jets of the junior league. As a 17-year-old senior in Fargo, he was the youngest member of the Jets.
His youth didn't stop him from contributing to the team, his coach with the Jets said.
Scarpone played in 40 of the team's 56 games, totaling two goals and four assists. He said Fargo is a huge hockey town, but it took some adjusting to.
Scarpone said the Jets' games had a professional atmosphere because 1,500 to 2,000 fans would routinely show up to watch.
With one season of junior league hockey under his belt, Scarpone is looking to step up his play this season and get signed by a Division I college.
Scarpone has already had contact with Quinipiac College, Air Force, Army and Notre Dame.
Kurulak said he expects Scarpone to take more of a leadership role this season and to show vast improvement. He said that will help him get into a good school.
While Scarpone looks forward to playing in college and someday the NHL, he said he's enjoying playing for the Jets right now.