INSIDE HOCKEY

At first, it may appear as though Taylor Ellington and Evan Oberg are polar opposites.

Ellington, the Victoria, B.C. product, was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the second round in 2007 and played five full seasons in the Western Hockey League. Oberg, the undrafted Forestburg, Alta. native, played two seasons in the NCAA with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs after playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League for two seasons before that.

Moreover, Ellington, the stay-at-home defenceman, says he’s been working on improving his offensive game - which is Oberg’s strong suit - and Oberg, the smooth skating puck moving defenceman, says he needs he needs to get bigger and stronger – at 6’2”, 209 Ibs, size is something that Ellington has on his side.

Although they come from different provinces, play the game differently, to say the least, and took completely different paths to land themselves at the Vancouver Canucks prospects development camp this week, Ellington and Oberg are very much the same.

The 1988-born defencemen both spent some time with the Manitoba Moose organization down the stretch this past season, and will likely find themselves manning the Moose blue line next fall. Ellington and Oberg even signed their first professional contracts less than a month apart. Ellington put pen to paper this past March, and Oberg did the same in April. But above all, Ellington and Oberg both say they’re on cloud nine representing the team they grew up cheering for.

“I really like it. I grew up being a Vancouver Canucks fan so I’m living the dream right now,” said Ellington.

“It’s great; it’s a dream come true. I’ve been a Canucks fan my whole life so I couldn’t be happier right now,” added Oberg.

Now back to the differences.

This is Ellington’s third go-around at the Canucks prospects conditioning camp, as opposed to Oberg’s first, and he says that it definitely feels that way.

“Every year’s getting easier. I feel more confident and I’m obviously in better shape now. Camp’s going really well. I’ve worked really hard this year,” said Ellington, who acknowledged that while the testing feels like it’s easier, he’s not so sure the Grouse Grind will be.

And more confidence and familiarity has allowed Ellington’s leadership qualities to materialize.

“There are about three of us who have been here for three years and a couple of us are really stepping it up this year,” he said. “Really just show them what we have, the leadership side and obviously the physical side.”

Even though this is Oberg’s first camp with the Canucks, both he and Ellington may have a leg up on the others prospects in attendance this week. Oberg and Ellington were quick to point out that the time they spent with the Manitoba Moose this past season was an invaluable learning experience.

“It was a huge part in my development. Just to see the guys, the work ethic, and just to see what pro life is like,” said Oberg, who is looking forward to following the Canucks more now that he’s back in Canada.

And Moose head coach Scott Arniel feels the same way.

“It was a great experience for both those guys to come in after their seasons were over, just to be around our group and get a feel for professional hockey,” said Arniel. “I think we all, myself included, think when we first come out of junior or college that, ‘I can play there, it’s a piece of cake,’ but we all get a little bit of a rude awakening. Taylor got to play for us in the last game of the year, and he’s already a goal a game guy. He scored a nice goal and he’s a guy that’s already been through a couple camps here and for Evan, everything’s new for him. For those guys, it’s an invaluable situation for them to come in and be a part of the meetings, to be around those guys to see how they react with both wins and losses.”

Ellington and Oberg understand that their time with the Moose and their work this week at Canucks prospects camp are essential steps to ultimately reach their goals of playing in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks.

“I want to show them that I’m ready to make the next step and I mean business this year,” said Ellington.

Oberg added: “It’s pretty tough but these are necessary steps that you have to take to make it to the next level and I’m going to do whatever it takes.”

Ellington and Oberg continually prove that they’re so different, yet so much alike.