Stars' captain looking for scholarship

By JAMES COOK
jcook@record-eagle.com

February 25, 2009 10:25 am

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TRAVERSE CITY -- This year has included a lot of surprises for the Traverse City North Stars.

One of the biggest: Kyle Bonis does not have a scholarship offer from a Division 1 school.

"It's a little frustrating, to be honest," North Stars coach Anthony Palumbo said. "I really think it'll take care of itself. I'm surprised teams won't give a kid who has scored at every level he's played at a chance."

The high-scoring Bonis has the North Stars competing for their first playoff spot since the team's inaugural season.

"I don't want to say I'm super surprised," Bonis said. "Obviously, my goal is to play Division 1 hockey. But I think if our team can go deep in the playoffs, a Division 1 offer will come and my dreams will come true."

The Ontario farm boy has quickly turned into one of the North American Hockey League's top talents. He's 11th in the league in scoring and leads the league in game-winning and short-handed goals.

Bonis' father, Rob, played collegiately in Canada. His dad and older brother Greg were defensemen, so Kyle's desire to play forward was a departure for the family.

It was another defenseman, future Detroit Red Wings draft pick Bryan Rufenach, who convinced Bonis to forgo playing in the Ontario Hockey League after he was drafted by the Barrie Colts.

Rufenach, who was playing for Bonis' hometown team in Lindsay, Ontario, told Bonis of his experiences being recruited by Clarkston University. Bonis decided to skip the OHL and was a second-round pick by the Indiana Ice of the USHL.

That led him to Traverse City, where he hasn't gone more than two games without a point.

Of course, Canada's national sport is played a little different south of the border, something Bonis had to acclimate himself to with the Indiana Ice after two successful seasons in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League.

"It's a really big difference," Bonis said. "The style, coaching, pace of the game. (In Canada), it's more about puck control and being physical. Here, it's more about rushes, systems and speed. It was a big adjustment. The first couple months (in Indiana), I was learning that new style of the game."

Then the Ice acquired Stepan Novotny, a Czech forward. The USHL only allows two imports per team. Bonis was the odd man out.

He landed in Traverse City, quickly making an impression.

"He joined us down at Mahoning Valley," Palumbo said. "I remember looking over to (assistant coach) Chad Fournier and saying, 'This kid is good and can make an impact on our team.'"

Bonis started his North Stars career with nine points in his first eight games and closed with 17 points over the final 10 contests. He ended the season with 41 points in 39 games.

His performance led Palumbo to appoint Bonis as team captain this season.

"I never would've expected to be a captain," Bonis said. "I've never been one before and it was really humbling that coach gave me that responsibility."

Bonis said his game's improved in two areas this season -- defense and passing.

"I always had a shoot-first mentality," Bonis said. "But I've learned more this year that the more I try to set up other players, it ends up helping me. Once teams see you set up your teammates, you get a little more space."

Now, he's two goals shy of tying his own franchise record for goals in a season. His 48 career goals is tops in team history.

"We haven't really been a high-scoring team in my two years and we'd be even more offensively challenged if not for Kyle," Palumbo said. "He's one of the guys on our team who's a legit scoring threat."

Bonis, Kyle Jean and linemate Nate Urbaniak -- who is tied with Bonis for the season goal record -- are the sparkplugs of a North Stars team contending for the North Division title.

"Last year, we were fighting to be a .500 team and this year we're fighting to win the division," Bonis said. "It's a nice change."

Bonis time

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