Thomas Harley thrives as two-way blueliner with OHL Mississauga

Thomas Harley (Syracuse, N.Y.) has 51 points (10-41-51) with the Mississauga Steelheads in the Ontario Hockey League. (Getty Images)

The last position in hockey that Thomas Harley wanted to play was defense.

First, the Syracuse, N.Y., native wanted to be a goaltender like his father, Brian, who was a netminder at the University of Alberta. Brian wouldn’t let him.Harley decided the next best option was forward.

Again, dad didn’t allow it.

That meant one thing: If Harley wanted to play hockey, he would have to be a defenseman. There was no other choice, especially since his pops was his coach throughout his eight years playing youth hockey, all of which were spent with the Syracuse Stars and Nationals organizations.