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Rather, as the ‘Canes get set to host the Western Hockey League champion Kelowna Rockets during WHL regular season action tonight at 7 p.m. at the Enmax Centre, the six-foot-one, 175-pound forward who hails from Calgary continues to hone every aspect of his game.
And while the spotlight may not follow Tot around, the 16-year-old’s progress has not gone unnoticed from the Hurricanes coaching staff.
“That’s the thing about Phil, you don’t really notice him in a game,” said Hurricanes associate coach Matt Kabayama. “I go back to training camp and you think ‘Geez, what is Phil Tot doing?’ He does everything OK, but he’s improved in every aspect of his game. His compete level has been stepped up and he’s worked on his shot and his quick release. He doesn’t have a cannon, but he gets it away quick.
“I think every aspect of his game has improved. The biggest thing is he’s gotten used to playing in this league and he can handle the tough-going along the boards.”
In 47 games with the Hurricanes this season, Tot has two goals — his first career WHL tally coming Oct. 3 against the Prince George Cougars — and eight points to go along with 24 minutes in penalties and a minus-17 rating.
But as he continues his development, Tot isn’t sweating the stats.
“Overall I haven’t really been worrying about points,” he said. “Being my first year in the league I just want to make sure I do the little things right, finishing checks, blocking shots, shooting. Just doing the little things and the points will come later.”
And as the 17-39-4-3 Hurricanes — now out of post season contention — head into their last eight games and start looking to next year, Tot’s development continues.
“Phil is our youngest forward, but he’s come a long way as far as handling the physical aspect of the game,” said Kabayama. “He’s not really big, but he doesn’t shy away from the corners and more often than not when he goes into the corner he comes out with the puck.
“It’s not just about playing for jobs (next year), it’s how you establish yourself in the league against your opponents and gaining respect from your teammates and from the guys you’re playing with. Are you a hard guy to play against or are you as soft as butter?”
Plying his minor hockey trade in Bow Valley and his hometown of Calgary, Tot brings some impressive credentials to the rink.
The Hurricanes first pick of the 2008 WHL bantam draft, Tot helped the Calgary Buffs in becoming the first Calgary team to capture the Mac’s Midget Tournament championship in the past 10 years, a feat he accomplished playing alongside fellow ‘Canes rookie and teammate Ryon Moser. Tot then went on to post 12 points in 15 games in the Alberta Midget Hockey League playoffs as the Buffs went on to lose in the final of the Telus Cup.
Last year Tot was the only 1993-born player to join the 2008-2009 Hurricanes for the preseason.
At the beginning of this season, Tot cracked a roster spot with the Hurricanes.
“I think it’s mostly the quickness,” he said of the adjustment of jumping from the AMHL to the WHL. “You really don’t have much time to make a play on the wall or on two-on-one and one-on-ones. You don’t have as much time as you think.”
The Hurricanes head into tonight’s game fresh off a 6-4 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings, a game in which Lethbridge coughed up a 3-1 lead and surrendered five unanswered goals.
“We have to just put it behind us,” said Tot. “We lost to Kelowna and Kamloops two weeks ago, so we just have to look forward to that and battle for spots next year.”