Passed over in the draft twice, Kastelic still have big dreams
He was in school, Mark Kastelic remembers, the first time he slipped through the NHL Draft.
He didn’t really follow it the second time he slid through.
Now 19, and having been passed over in both the 2017 and 2018 NHL Drafts, Kastelic has long ago swapped disappointment for a new outlook on his hockey-playing future.
Thanks to some key advice.
“Like my Grandpa says, ‘It’s not how you start but how you finish,” says Kastelic, undrafted and a free agent in his fourth season with the Calgary Hitmen. “That’s been a big key for me, focusing on where I’m going and not the past.
“I didn’t really follow it and didn’t expect anything.”
Kastelic, originally selected by the Hitmen in the second round (No. 41) of the 2014 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, totaled 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists) in 67 games in 2016-17 — his first go-round with the draft process.
“HAVE TO BE MENTALLY TOUGH”
He was named to Central Scouting’s Futures List, and slotted at No. 133 among North American skaters at the midterm, before settling in at No. 182 in Central Scouting’s final ranking before the 2017 NHL Draft.
Kastelic’s name went uncalled.
“It’s just a matter of maybe a lucky bounce or playing a different type of minutes,” he says. “You don’t really know what the reason for that is. Looking back I did the best I could and it didn’t go the way I wanted to.
“You definitely have to be mentally tough,” he said. “Especially in your draft year you have to bump that up even more and not really listen to too much of the noise around it. You focus on yourself and your team.
“It’s a tough thing to do but it’s a skill you can learn.”
Kastelic set career-highs with 23 goals and 45 points in 2017-18.
Again, he went undrafted.
“That is an absolute truth that most kids do focus on (the draft),” says Joel Otto, an assistant coach with the Hitmen who has been with Kastelic throughout his major junior journey. “I really haven’t seen a lot of that from Mark.
“I don’t see the side that I see with other kids sometimes, the disappointment side of, ‘Oh I didn’t get drafted and my chance is done,’ instead of knowing you can work hard and create things when you get older like he’s doing now.
“I see that in him.”
It’s not hard to see.
“HIS WORK ETHIC IS UNDENIABLE”
Kastelic, anointed Calgary’s captain this season, is well on his way to his biggest totals to date.
Through 18 games, he’s hit the back of the net 14 times. He’s assisted on another 10 for 24 points — and a top-10 placement in WHL scoring.
“He’s embraced being captain of this team,” Otto says. “His work ethic is undeniably one of the best that I’ve seen in a long time. As a result of that he’s been successful. He’s working on the little things. He takes pride in every instance that’s out on the ice. He’s getting rewarded with goals and points because of his hard work. He’s not been gifted it. He earns everything that he gets out there. That’s a credit to him.”
Still, noticeable numbers doesn’t have Kastelic checking to see whose scouting.
There’s no stressing on who’s in the stands.
“My draft has passed,” he says, bluntly. “Looking back I did the best I could and it didn’t go the way I wanted to.
“Anything can happen, whether you be drafted or signed or whatever.
“The message for myself has been the same. This year, it’s the same message. You don’t read into too many things. You just contribute to the team and their success and help win hockey games for this club.
“For anybody that’s in their draft year or not, the biggest thing you want to do is help the team win. When the team is winning everybody shines brighter.”
Kastelic is shining.
He’s not stressing.
PLAYED 943 NHL GAMES AFTER NOT BEING DRAFTED
But Otto, who knows all too well, that’s there’s no sense is losing hope, either.
“All it takes is one person that likes your game or thinks that they see something in you that they can nurture and bring along and help,” says Otto, who himself went undrafted after playing with Bemidji State University before signing with the Calgary Flames in the mid-1980s.
Otto logged 943 games in the NHL with the Flames and Philadelphia Flyers, and retired with Stanley Cup and World Cup credits to his resume.
“I’m a perfect example of that being 23 years old by the time I was a pro,” continues Otto, a two-time runner up for the Frank J Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward.
“I know times are way different than they used to be and you see the pressures of being a 16, 17 year old and deciding if your future is in hockey or not.
“Mark, you know, all the things that he does and brings to our team and shows as a captain regardless of if he’s going to play pro hockey or not, in life…he’s going to be one of those leaders and guys that’s going to be successful.”
Kastelic is leading the Hitmen.
He’s helping guide draft eligibles through the journey that has, undoubtedly, disappointed him twice, too.
“I try myself to bring the same message and preach hard work,” he says. “It’s the biggest thing.
“It’s what you can control. Worry about the things you can control, which is your hard work and dedication and commitment. Block out the distractions.
“If you can control the controllable that’ll be the biggest thing that helps the guys and myself as well.”
He’s likely passing on his most important advice, too, that still pushes his hockey dream to date.
“It’s about where you finish and not where you start,” Kastelic says.
“And that’s what I focus on.”
