From “Dart Guy” to Bench Boss

By Ryan Poirier, 2018 TEP Staff

Before “Dart Guy”, there was Jason Maslakow: the Junior hockey goalie chasing his dreams of playing in the NHL.
 

While his dreams of becoming an NHL goalie never came to fruition, Maslakow’s journey has come full circle as he finds himself back in the world of junior hockey. As he stares onto the ice as a bench boss at the TEP Showcase tournament, Maslakow doesn’t forget his roots of playing Junior A hockey as a kid. And to this day, he still believes in the skills he once had. “I honestly believe, no matter how wrong I am, that I’m still better than half of the goalies in the NHL,” Malakow says with a laugh.

    In 2017, Maslakow became the unofficial mascot of the Toronto Maple Leafs during their playoff run in the first round of the NHL playoffs in a series against the Washington Capitals.

    Sporting a painted blue face, a long blue beard and a Stanley Cup shaved into his head, Maslakow already stood out enough to warrant himself a10-second appearance on the Jumbo Tron at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. during game two in the first round of the playoffs. But once Maslakow stuck a cigarette in his mouth, his 10 seconds of fame ultimately set him on a new career path.

Though the frenzy of the playoffs in Toronto was cut short when the Leafs fell to the Capitals in game 6, the buzz around Maslakow’s new alter-ego never seemed to perish. The legend of Dart Guy lived on.

“I took the fame that I got from being ‘Dart Guy’ and I ran with it,” Maslakow said.

And ran with it he did, because even after the 2017 playoffs Maslakow appeared in even more television and radio shows to share his experience as Dart Guy and becoming the new symbol of the Maple Leafs’ fan base.

The experiences led him to new opportunities; first it was a weekly talk show on TSN radio and then it was a call from Jim Thomson, owner of the Junior A. hockey club, Aurora Tigers.

After meeting with Maslakow for the first time that summer, Thomson learned in just a couple hours how high his hockey knowledge was. He offered him an opportunity to become a scout that day and he never looked back.

“After that, he shows up to his second scouting meeting with binders of hours upon hours of notes on players. I’m looking at our GM [Dermot Anderson], going ‘this has to be our head scout’,” Thomson boasts. “He worked his way up in a real short period of time from scout to head scout of our hockey team.”

For Thomson, the success achieved by Maslakow has everything to do with his hard work.

“When you talk to Jason, this isn’t the ‘Dart Guy’ used as a publicity stunt. It’s the pure talent he has a scout,” Thomson says. “So, I gave him that opportunity because he’s so dedicated to the brand and to our team.”

The accolades and success achieved by Maslakow in that short duration got him noticed by Mark Seidel, chief scout of NA Central.

“[The success of Maslaklow] transpired to Seidel talking to Maslakow at the Telus Cup, and I believe Seidel is taking him on to do some NHL scouting.” Thomson explained.

Less than 6 months after becoming an overnight celebrity, Maslakow quit his day job at Toyota to chase his new career as a Junior hockey scout

“I’m lucky enough that I have a loving and supporting wife who let me quit my job and pursue my dreams,” Maslakow said of his newfound career path.

    Now, over a year removed from his stint as “Dart Guy”, Maslakow finds himself behind the bench coaching a group of Junior hockey hopefuls at the TEP showcase tournament in Toronto, On. Another opportunity given to him by Thomson. And for Thomson, the decision was easy.

    “He’s so dedicated to the brand and to the team.” Thomson said. “Besides, there’s no better way to scout than to sit and watch the guys playing right in front of you.”

    For Maslakow, it’s all about the opportunity to mentor a group of soon-to-be young men who share the same dreams that he once had as a goalie playing Junior A hockey.   

“It’s seeing the kids come to the rink and loving the game and pursuing their dreams,” Maslakow says. “I can remember being that same young hockey player hoping to make it into the NHL one day and this is where it all starts for those kids where they’re chasing after the dream.”