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Scoring star comes by offensive skills honestly

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LONDON — When it comes to his father, Brantford’s Christian Polillo can only go by the statistics.

The London Nationals forward knows his dad Paul was a Gretzky-like presence in the old minor-pro Colonial League, once scoring 64 goals and 186 points in 74 games with the Brantford Smoke in 1995-96.

“I wish I could have watched him play or seen video because I hear stories,” Christian, who turns 21 years old next week, said. “His numbers are crazy and from what I hear, he was quite a hockey player. It would’ve been so nice. He supported my brothers and I all throughout hockey and I’m here today because of him.”

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Not surprisingly, the chip off the old block has a share of the Nats’ playoff scoring lead with super-rookie George Diaco. Polillo buried his 13th goal in Thursday’s Sutherland Cup final-tying victory at Waterloo and now has 26 points in 24 games. Game 5 is Saturday at 7 p.m. at Western Fair and Game 6 is Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Waterloo Rec Complex.

“I try to chip in as much as I can, when I can,” he said. “This time of year, I don’t even care who scores, as long as we win hockey games. If it happens to be me, I’m just happy to win.”

That team-first approach was instilled in him early, of course, by his father, who still attends most of his games.

“And the ones he doesn’t, he’s always watching (on the computer),” Christian said. “I always call him after to hear what he has to say. He’s my biggest supporter. When I was younger, we had an unfinished basement (at home in Brantford) and we were always down there making plays and he was shooting pucks with us.”

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Christian may not have been around to see Paul play, but his London GM and coach certainly remembers.

Pat Powers grew up in St. Thomas when the city had a Colonial League entry with the Wildcats. He recognized the last name in a hurry when six-foot-five Christian, who is six inches taller than Paul, showed up last fall.

“His work ethic is second to none,” Powers said. “He’s tenacious and intelligent. A coach’s dream, really. He came pretty much unknown to us this year and came into training camp and forced me to put an ‘A’ on his jersey. He’s never been in a bad mood and doesn’t butt heads with anyone in the dressing room or the coaches. He just does his job and puts points up on the board. What more can you ask?”

Polillo previously played junior hockey at home in Brantford and spent a season with deep-pocketed Caledonia, falling one rung short of where he is right now.

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“It’s been my favourite year of hockey,” he said. “I love London and the team. All the guys are great and the coaches, too. It’s been an awesome experience and the franchise’s track record speaks for itself.

“We won four (conference) championships in a row. It’s too bad they never won a Sutherland Cup (in that span), but hopefully, we do it this year.”

They’re two wins away after re-gaining home-ice advantage. It’s a best-of-three series now.

Both sides will get some suspended bodies back.

Polillo won’t have to score at the same rate his dad did back in the day.

But if he chips in as usual, the Nationals should be just fine over this important final stretch.

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