By Samuel Dummer (@Dummer_Coleman)
PANO FIMIS
NIAGARA ICEDOGS, OHL
POSITION: C HAND: R
HEIGHT: 5’11” WEIGHT: 176 LBS
With a Spartan-like attitude, geological background, and a name that fits the bill. A large impact in a small package, Pano Fimis may be pulling from Ancient Greek descendants in order to make some noise with the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League this season.
The game is changing, on and off the ice. Hockey isn’t quite the rough and tough sport of decades past. It is still a contact sport, there is no doubt about that. But, with players like Nathan Gerbe, Mitch Marner, Brayden Point, and Cole Caulfield paving the way, smaller players like Fimis of the Niagara Ice Dogs are finding themselves on the radars of NHL scouts with much more consistency.
“The game has turned to a much more modern game where size and weight aren’t as much of a big thing anymore. It’s turned to more speed and skill.”
“Don’t get me wrong, contact, height, and weight are all still part of the game, but there’s a lot more smaller guys and faster guys so you just go out there and just, you know, your there for a reason. You’re just one of the players on the team, then no matter your size or weight, it doesn’t stop you from being one of the hardest working guys on the ice.” Fimis says about what his size means to the game he brings to the table, “No matter how tall or heavy I am, I’m still going to go out there and be able to do what everyone else is able to do.”
His attitude toward the game is one of dedication and a drive to battle every game. Fimis doesn’t seem to stand for anyone questioning his ability because of his smaller frame. With his Spartanic view of the game and quick feet on the ice, his Canadian-Greek background is more than fitting. Growing up in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Fimis quickly moved his way up the ranks of the local Toronto hockey leagues.
While Fimis likes to keep a clear mind and tries not to think about the points he gets too much, he’s been tearing those leagues up for a little while already.
“I grew up in Richmond Hill for the most part. I have a brother and sister; Canadian-Greek is my background and I started playing in Thornhill. I started playing competitive about four or five. I started a year earlier and played my first year as an under-ager.” Fimis recalls of his start in the game. He moved on to play for the Vaughan Rangers and Willowdale Blackhawks before getting his shot on the stage of the GTHL with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens.
While with the organization, Fimis would kick in the chest of his opposition with his production. He would put up an impressive 1.76 points per game (ppg) and another 19 points in only 11 playoff contests. Fimis has a proven track record of putting points on the board and better yet, has even developed a bit of a reputation for the grittiness he brings to the ice. This isn’t surprising when you dig a little deeper into who the player is as a person, and who he looks up to.
“I look a lot on like Jonathan Toews and Wendel Clark. I know he played a while ago, but he played for the Leafs which was great, he was the captain. He had that grittiness to him too, he wasn’t the biggest guy, but he was pretty cool to watch. Just the clips here and there that I’ve been fortunate to see…”
Fimis has not only been able to get some visual pointers by Clark, but maybe even some verbal ones too,
“And I’ve been fortunate enough to meet him and have a little chat with him.”
Hopefully Fimis can take whatever pieces of advice he got from Wendel and continue to rip up the ice in the OHL.
While Fimis has been a point machine wherever he’s been, he still doesn’t see it as something to focus on. He’s out there to help the team win hockey games and feels the rest will come as it will. Fimis tries to keep his mind clear while he’s on the ice and tries to only have the game in his thought processes.
“I don’t really try to think about how many goals or how many points I’m going to score each game, but like, I just try to play my game and the rest will come. Like numbers, numbers are just a little cherry on top for the rest of the other stuff, like grittiness or hard work on the ice. So, I don’t think about it too much, I just know that once we get going here and continue to get better, things like points and goals and assists will come.”
This sort of mentality is a strong one to have as a professional athlete. Like warriors in battle, everyone has a job to do, and no single person will win the war alone. Fimis seems to work with his teammates through the grind and even leads by example around some of the younger guys, even though he’s still technically a rookie himself.
“We kind of have two full batches of rookies coming into the league this season. Pano has already taken some of the new guys under his wing a little. He’s endeared himself to the older guys.”
The effort Fimis displays in his day-to-day training and interactions with the team just go to show more and more his connections to the Ancient Greeks of old. Like the warrior Spartans lived and breathed war, Fimis seems to live and breathe Hockey. Dedicated to getting better every day, and ready to bring his teammates up with him. Like King Leonidas in the movie 300, Fimis is willing to go to war with his men. He isn’t one to sit back and watch his line-mates work around him. It’s a team first mentality, and a desire to be in the middle of things, getting his hands dirty and leading by example.
“It’s very easy to forget that he’s only 17-years-old. He’s very focused, very meticulous the way he is always here early. He’s always stretching, rolling out, you know, really taking care of his body.”
“He’s a great personality, very respectful to everyone in the organization and always willing to help out no matter what it is. He’s the first guy loading, unloading the bus on exhibition games. Just a great head on his shoulders, you know it clearly comes from a great upbringing.” Billy Burke continued about Fimis.
“It’s crazy for a 17-year-old, he always wants to do video. His self accountability is outstanding. He’s not one of those guys who just wants to watch the roses, you know, he wants to get better. He’s always taking advantage of extra ice we have, whether its working on his face-offs or picking up pucks on the rim. He’s definitely a guy who’s not satisfied. You can definitely tell that desire to work hard, and understand how hard it is. How detailed you have to be, how hard you have to practice. Again, compared to a guy that sort of had his 16-year-old year here, Pano’s showing up here with a great mindset and you can really see his leadership qualities shining through already.”
The dedication shown by the player is even more impressive when it’s put up against the lifestyle they need to live in order to have a chance at making the big show. Hours at the gym, on the ice, or watching video are all things that players need to find time for. All of that on top of continuing their own high school education, which from what I remember, were a tough few years on their own.
“It’s harder on the high school guys. It’s a big adjustment. New School, new league, you know, going from being the big shooter to kind of the small fish. With COVID rules, high school is a little bit different this year. The guys are in the school for only a couple hours in the morning, for one class, and then the rest of it is online. So, Pano’s lucky that he’ll be up to the rink by about 11am. When he’s done school, he’ll get an opportunity to get any treatment that he wants or needs, an opportunity to stretch and then the high school guys workout starts at noon.”
Talking about the day’s routine a little more, Billy describes, in-depth, the kind of grind these kids see in a day and it begins to open your eyes to the development of Jr hockey over the years,
“It’s very structured, very monitored. It’s individually driven. So, when he gets done his workout, then he’ll usually grab some lunch. Then they’ll be back in here for video around 1:30, then hit the ice around 2:00 to practice from 2-3:00 or 3:15. Then the guys have open ice practice after that, another opportunity to stretch, and cool down in our gym. Then they’re usually out of here by about 4:30-5:00.
The guys that really want to make the most of, really want to try to be pro’s, this environment is certainly built for those guys.”
IceDogs General Manager Joey Burke seems to hold Fimis in the same high regards. Excited about his first-round pick in 2020 and looking forward to seeing what the young player can bring to the ice, Joey speaks highly of the young man making waves in the dressing room. His tenacious attitude on the ice and personality off it have more than rubbed off on the organizations management team.
“He holds himself very professionally. He shows great leadership qualities. He has a maturity beyond his years. He has elite abilities in everything; he can get points but he’s also a bulldog on the puck.” Joey started to say about Fimis before continuing, “His skating is elite, it may not be the north south speed of a guy like Philip Tomasino, who was just so much faster than everyone else, and he may not win every foot battle against guys like Ty Nelson, but his overall footwork is at an elite level.”
Fimis plays for his team, it’s that sort of “stronger together” mentality that further connects him to the might Spartans of old. He recognizes that no one player is bigger than the team and he will be right in the trenches with his linemates, breaking up the plays as much as he is starting them.
“We’ve seen it already; he sacrifices often for the benefit of the team, for the benefit of defensive zone play. He’s not out there just sniffing for goals and all that stuff, he’s very responsible down low.” Head Coach Billy Burke has to say about Fimis’ display in training camp, “You can see him on the back check, pointing and talking. He’s a very smart player, he’s a great guy that I’m sure if he keeps working hard and keeps his focus and the internal drive, then, you know, the ceiling is very high for him.”
Matt Morrison, DraftPro Scout, was at the IceDogs season opener and while he liked what he saw and knows there is a star waiting to break out, he also pegs out what it is he would love to see more of from the player.
“I love his two-way presence as he is so reliable in his own end as well as the back check. He grinds shifts out and rushes back to help the defense every play. He has good vision with the puck and finds his open man with ease. I would like to see him generate more offense in the middle of the ice, especially in transition.”
“He is great net-front and below the goal line. He has leadership qualities galore and already seems like a leader on the team as they look for him to create and play in both ends against the top lines. Fimis plays on the top power play unit, net-front, and mainly on his strong side where he looks to thread the needle cross seem. He is mainly trying to cause screens and bang in rebounds but does have the skill to back out to open ice and fire it home. He needs to work on his shot so he can be a threat from outside as well inside.”
The draft class of 2020 have a bit of an uphill battle ahead of them. The months of Covid restrictions and habit changes made it much more difficult for players to train and really get the most out of being a part of their teams. Despite all the guidelines and rules involved with doing much of anything in Ontario, Pano did what he could to make the most of his time and get whatever training in he could.
“We weren’t able to go in person with a trainer and be with a bunch of other guys that are able to push you. But, at the same time, I was very fortunate that my dad and my brother and I were able to build a gym in the basement, just a mini one and were able to continue to train there. But I also take full advantage of all the resources around me. We got the road we can run on; we got a backyard where we can just do hurdles and stuff like that. I was lucky enough that my brother was able to push me through it, and I was able to push him. During the winter, my dad, brother, grandfather and I, we built a backyard rink, so I was able to go on that quite a bit with the weather we had.”
Coach Billy Burke couldn’t help but agree with the work he’s seen from Pano during Covid, “It’s a whole year without playing so your expectations tend to grow and grow and grow which can be unfair to some of these guys. But (Pano) absolutely exceeded that.”
“Guys like Pano and the higher-end draft picks from the 2004 draft class, certainly, you know, are in a tougher position than a normal 15 or 16-year-old rookie that was kind of drafted in the spring, goes through the summer, and now is entering their first year. Pano should have already had a year in the league under his belt. So, to come in, as a kind of top prospect guy that didn’t get to play a 16-year-old year, is a hurdle for all these guys, there’s do doubt about that. But Pano handled it incredibly.”
The expectations can be tough on a player. The high draft pick and year “off” could seem like a lot, but Fimis seems to be handling it all with a certain calmness and manner around him that isn’t seen often in such a young man.
Fimis looks to take on the expectations head on and just play his game. While the management and coaching staff can evaluate what it is they think they have in the player, Pano is just looking to get on the ice and get the show on the road this season.
“We were looking for a franchise type center for the team. I think we found that with Pano” is how Joey described what he thought Fimis could potentially turn into. As a coach, Billy describes how he handles the elite playing ability of a player like Pano, “It’s definitely a give and take. His IQ is very high so he has no problem picking up a system and things like that. So, obviously he understands the importance of details away from the puck and details in the defensive zone. Stops and starts, communication, and all those things allow him to get the puck back and play offense. But yeah, I mean, you want to treat everyone fairly, but you don’t necessarily treat everybody the same. You know guys like Pano, they’re going to have to try to make moves and try to beat guys, and you know maybe at times it’s a turnover; it doesn’t work. But the biggest thing for us, is not necessarily the mistake, its what you do after and the second effort to get the puck back and clean things up.”
Fimis has been a star since a young age, yet Niagara didn’t get a good look at him until his draft year. By the sounds of my chat with Joey Burke, this might be more by design than a missed opportunity. It seems that the IceDogs have a strategy in their scouting system that keeps it efficient and smooth without much wasted time too early in a player’s development.
“Here in Niagara, we don’t usually start scouting guys until after the start of their draft year. But then we go all out. It’s funny actually, the first time I saw Pano in September I thought, “who is this kid? We need to keep eyes on him.”
So far, Fimis is proving every thought by Joey right. He didn’t get a chance to hit the ice for the IceDogs last season and still as a rookie himself, he is showing that he didn’t miss much of a step in how he works with the team. His attitude shines through and it shouldn’t be long before he’s seen as a true leader by his teammates and team staff.
Speaking with one of our DraftPro Contributors, Nick Malmstrom – who just recently saw Fimis play in the opener – and he was just as ecstatic about the player as the IceDogs’ management team. “Fimis is extremely poised while carrying the puck. He’s a very smooth skater and has a nasty release on his shot with some laser precision. The thing that impressed me the most was his ability to create space off of defenders.”
It really is a little extraordinary to see such high praises for a player who has yet to seriously crack top 10 discussions for the Draft this year. Malmstrom isn’t afraid to get close though and say his piece.
“Currently I have Fimis as a first round pick at the 2022 NHL Draft and the number two OHL prospect behind Shane Wright.”
Fimis can seamlessly transition from the offensive to defensive zones. Like the mythological Hermes of Ancient Greek lore could run between worlds, Fimis can jump from an offensive threat in the oppositions zone to a superior defensive stalwart in his own; all in the blink of an eye. While I missed asking Pano where his Greek roots originate, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was somewhere in the Mt. Olympus region. His light and seemingly “winged” feet, elite ability to transition between zones, and deceivingly strong stick strength make a connection to Hermes, son of Zeus, almost believable.
Coincidentally, Hermes was also believed to have had a son, named Pan… (were just going to pretend like that’s not more than a coincidence).
Malmstrom was amazed at the kind of patience and play shown by the young rookie. It was without question that he was holding something more than the average kid playing on the ice these days.
“He’s great at skating full speed into the offensive zone, then slowing it down by pulling up and cutting to the middle of the ice, giving himself all of the time in the world to shoot or pass the puck. It’s very Barzal/Marner like. The patience he shows with the puck is pretty absurd given his age.”
Regardless of whether his roots have ancient origins or not, Fimis is more than aware as to where he needs to give the most respect for the way he is. Both his mentality and love for the game had earth dwelling beginnings. It wasn’t in the hands of the coaches or expensive management teams. It wasn’t a teacher or professional player that Fimis truly admired the most. No, it was a couple much closer to home for the ripe young forward. A couple that could be thought to have given Fimis everything he has in life, in a way, and one that asks for next to nothing but love in return.
“A big one is definitely my dad, he got me on skates when I was really little, around two and a half I think. When I was around 3/4/5 we built a backyard rink and he’d get me on there every day he could. He would be the one maintaining it and doing all the dirty work for me, which was great. Then, he’s the one that drove me around everywhere, he spent all the money on me and my brothers and sisters to get us into sports. He made sure we were always doing something and keeping us busy. But I also have to give it to my mom, she’s the chef of the house, cooking meals constantly. She’s also my Uber driver. She’s been driving me around like crazy for the last 16 years. So yeah, my parents have definitely been a huge influence on me playing hockey and without them I definitely wouldn’t be able to continue to play.”
With the season now underway, it didn’t take long for Fimis to show his appreciation to the team and to his parents through his opening night performance. His first OHL goal in his first season game and an assist to go along with it. Fimis looked lethal through the night and seems to be everything that Joey and Billy Burke were looking for when they selected him with the Niagara IceDogs highest ever draft pick.
Like a gift from Mt. Olympus in Ancient Greece, Fimis seems to be paying off dividends in abundance and we can only hope it doesn’t slow down.
With his constant progression and style of play, even with his smaller stature, Fimis should battle for a first round pick position in the upcoming 2022 NHL draft.
Photo Credit: Vivid Eye Photography