Future Fridays - Interview with Justin Sefton

Labor Day is upon us. Along with a three day weekend and the end of summer, it also signifies the return of hockey.  Junior teams throughout Canada - and a few northwest U.S. cities - began opening their training camps over the last few days.

As the Sudbury Wolves took to the ice for the first time yesterday, many eyes were on defenseman Justin Sefton. The fifth overall selection from the 2009 OHL Draft is one of the top prospects for next summer's NHL Draft.

For the past few years he says he's kept himself away from "going to parties and hanging out in bad places. It was the rink, home, homework, working out, eating well - all the little things it takes to reach my dream."

Before joining the Wolves, he had moved away from his Thunder Bay home to attend Notre Dame prep school, located in a small town outside of Regina. The highly regarded institution - with an alumni of players such as Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards and Rod Brind’Amour - had been carefully chosen after exhausting research.

Like most young players, he consults with his parents on such major decisions.  However, he doesn't hide the fact that his agent plays a major role as well.  And why shouldn't he, he's represented by Kyle Dubas of Uptown Sports - a firm with a client list featuring some of the best young talent in hockey - including Kings prospects Jonathan Bernier, Kyle Clifford and Andrew Campbell.

DRAFT2010: Interview with agent Kyle Dubas

Question: What do Kings prospects Jonathan Bernier, Kyle Clifford and Andrew Campbell all have in common?

Besides being drafted by Dean Lombardi!

Answer: They're all represented by Uptown Sports Management, Inc...and one of their primary points of contact is agent Kyle Dubas.

There is so much more to the draft than just the players being selected. Sure, you have the stories about the scouts that have followed them. You also have GM's trying to forecast the short and long term needs of their teams. However, often one of the untold stories is that of that guy that is privately linked to the draftee...his agent.

And it's not just contract negotiations that a player uses his agent for anymore. For example, Uptown also has the ability to assist their players with individual marketing, financial planning, professional development, tax preparation...all the way up to post-career counseling.

Not exactly what you get when watching Jerry Maguire, huh?

In the interview below, The Mayor talks with Kyle about his background, a few of the players he has in this year's draft, dealing with kids wanting to play pro hockey, their parents, Kings prospects, junior hockey vs. college hockey, former Ducks coach Craig Hartsburg and some other stuff you'll like.