Being a leader is not always about being the loudest guy in the room. That is especially true about Halton Hurricanes forward Christopher Soares. 

Despite being only 15 years old, he already understands what it takes to be a leader on and off the ice. 

“He’s not a big ‘rah-rah’ type, yelling, screaming, trying to get guys motivated, he’s more of a quiet leader that way,” said Hurricanes head coach Trevor Nkiwane, Soares’ coach the past three years. 

Rather, Nkiwane said Soares leads by example and in a season that positioned him well for the upcoming OHL draft, his leadership was critical to the Hurricanes finishing second in the SCTA U16 regular season with a 20-4-3 record.

“I just always try to keep my head up no matter what the circumstances are,” said Soares. 

It’s not just attitude, it is also commitment.

When COVID-19 shut things down back in 2020, the young hockey player continued to refine his skills by shooting every day in his garage, watching NHL highlights, and studying the game to increase his awareness. 

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His coach believes that all that hard work is paying off. 

“His trajectory the past two years has been exponential,” said Nkiwane. “I think he has the ability to be a real impactful player in the OHL.” 

Soares was featured as one of the players to watch in the OMHA website before the start of the playoffs and was ranked No. 31 by prospectpipeline.ca. 

Those in the know think that he could be even better than that. 

“I think Chris should be drafted in the first round of this coming OHL draft. There is no question about that in my mind,” said Nkiwane, who describes Soares' skating skills as among the best in the league. 

But what often stands out about Soares is the mental aspect of the game. 

“Chris is a very, very smart player,” said Nkiwane. “He uses his elusiveness, his hockey IQ to gain advantage on players that he plays against.”

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Because he is one of the best players on his team, Soares is often challenged with tough defence from opponents, but he never lets it throw him off his game, taking only three penalties all season. 

He doesn’t shy away from the physical aspect of the game. 

“I chose hockey because I like that high intense fast play,” said Soares, who also played baseball. 

Other sports helped him develop as a hockey player, he said, especially his hand-eye co-ordination and start-stop skills. 

When teams evaluate video of Soares before the draft, they will surely notice his great footwork, ability to change directions, his elusiveness in the offensive zone, and his superior skating skills.  

But what is going to make a team write his name on a draft card might be what is not on tape: his leadership and passion for the game. 

“When I step foot on the ice,” he said, “the game’s not over until it’s over.”