Peterborough Petes’ Jonathan Ang aims to back up skill with strength: Making The Jump

Jonathan Ang might be uniquely suited to be a big cog with the smaller-market Peterborough Petes.

The OHL's oldest continually operating franchise's first-round pick distinguished himself as a savvy, skilled centre on a Markham Waxers midget team that struggled for much of last season. Ang took to relishing the challenge of upending expectations, which is something he'll bring with him as he joins a Petes team that might be on the cusp of Eastern Conference contention.

"I haven't always been on the strongest teams, but we competed and worked hard," says Ang, who was the No. 9 overall pick in April.

"It's going to be different," Ang adds of his jump to major junior. "The players are going to be a lot stronger, a lot bigger. It's going to be faster paced. I just have to get into the mindset that it's not going to be the same as last year and the competition's going to be a lot better."

Ang was at the head of a Petes draft class that was hailed as the OHL's best. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound Markham native has a chance to, in due time, add an offensive spark for the maroon and white, who won their playoff series in eight years last spring.

"I would say I have pretty good skating and puck protection and speed and, also, my vision is not bad," Ang adds. "I'm a playmaker."

The centre, like any 16-year-old rookie, has many miles ahead of him in his hockey path. Ang, a first-generation Canadian whose parents Michael and Mary Ann grew up in Malaysia, has graced a NHL rink. When he was 11, his mother won a contest, giving him the chance to stand on the blueline with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the anthems prior to a game at Air Canada Centre.

"All I know I was nervous, hoping not to fall," Jonathan Ang says. "It was neat. I've never been on any other NHL surface. Just the experience, standing there for the national anthem."

1. Minor midget is a pivotal season, yet your team struggled for much of it. How did you work through that and not let it throw you off your game?

"Even if you lose, you just have to keep playing. You can't say 'we lost' and not do anything about it. You just have to play your best and hope that everyone else plays well in that game. You still want to stick to the system and play the best you can."

2. What strides do you need to make in order to have an effective first OHL season?

"Just become stronger is one of my main things. Being able to compete that much harder against the other guys. That's probably the one thing I have to work on. I think I'm getting there."

3. Which NHL player do you look up to?

"Definitely Sidney Crosby. He's not the biggest guy physically but he always finds a way to protect the puck and find his teammates. He's a good playmaker and an all-around great player."

4. What other sports did you participate in during your formative years and how did that help with your growth?

"I used to play lacrosse in the summers. It definitely with my cardio and stamina, the ability to last longer on each shift."

5. What is your favourite movie or TV show?

"I'd say Unstoppable."

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.