Some hockey players might get upset if they were given a nickname like "The Rat" by their coach.

Not so Guelph Storm rookie forward Connor Tresham.

In fact, hearing the moniker used by Storm coach and general manager Jason Brooks was enough to bring a smile to his face.

"I love it," the cherubic-looking 18-year-old from Toronto said with a wide grin. "It doesn't bother me at all. I've always kind of been one of the guys who gets under (the opposition players') skin. I've got a big mouth, I like to talk a lot. If I can get someone from the first or second line off their game from the bench, I'm doing my job.

"I'm fiesty when I'm out there. It's fun."

Hey, the nickname didn't hurt former NHLer Ken Linseman, who racked up 807 points in 860 games over 14 seasons with four teams. Like Tresham, a 5-foot-11, 152-pounder who led the North York Rangers of the OJPHL with 139 penalty minutes in 2008-09, Linseman had a knack for frustrating the opposition with constant patter and the occasional whack that might be considered borderline legal.

"He knows when he's effective he's agitating the opposition," Brooks said of Tresham, a fourth-round draft pick in 2007. "If he's under somebody's skin, he's being effective. And when he's on his game, he's a very effective player for us.

"I give him credit, he's a gamer. I give him credit for doing that when he's so small. His teammates really get behind him and support him. Guys like him because of how he is and how he played."

Tresham won't just chirp and run, though. He will back up his words by dropping the gloves even though he gives up at least 20 pounds to most of the other players in the league. He's had a handful of scraps this season, including entertaining tilts with Belleville's Brett Catto and Owen Sound's Brendan Childerley.

"I have no problem (fighting) whatsoever," Tresham said. "(Teammate Tim) Campbell keeps telling me not to do it. I'll keep doing it until I get hurt. But there have been a couple of times this year where it wasn't the right time."

Tresham, naturally, has other skills. He had 29 goals and 41 assists, both team highs, last season with North York. But as a first-year OHL player he hasn't been able to display those skills on a regular basis.

Despite joining the Storm as an 18-year-old, Tresham has found it difficult to get much ice time and that's reflected in his offensive statistics -- he's managed just three goals and three assists in 53 games.
"To begin with, I knew it was going to be tough coming in," Tresham admitted. "I've definitely improved as a player. I've just tried to contribute to the team when I can. I haven't really got the bounces this year. You have to deal with it. It's a good learning experience for me. I've always been that kid who gets the ice time but here it's been a bit different. I've had to earn my ice. If you mess up, them you lose (ice time). It's been a big eye-opener how the hockey is at this level. I've paid my dues this year."

That's how it works with most rookie players. The transition from minor hockey or Tier II is significant for all but the very best and it's taken some time for Tresham to learn the ins and outs of being a contributor with the Storm.

"The thing for me with him is being a 1991 birth (year), sometimes you think he'll be able to step in easier than a 16-year-old," Brooks said. "The truth is, no matter the age, it's the same for every player. He's made some plays this year that excite you. He's going to be a piece of the puzzle for us going forward. I just think the game is different. He was the go-to guy last year in Tier II. You can see the skill but the pace of play is faster and in the second half (of the season), the pace has risen again. What Tresh understands is what he could do before isn't as easy. He's trying to adapt to a different situation. You need guys like that, guys who can step in and play in any situation."

No matter how limited his role has been this season, Tresham has kept a positive attitude, according to Brooks.

"Tresh doesn't complain about ice time," he said. "He is very professional about it. It's refreshing. He understands he's going to have an impact on the game in some way, whether he gets three shifts or 23 shifts."

If Tresham works hard to add some weight and strength during the coming off-season, there's a good chance his ice time won't be limited to three shifts a game during the 2010-11 campaign. He was limited to how much he could work out last summer due to a torn tendon in his foot but, barring injury, this time around he knows how hard he'll need to work in the gym and on the ice if he hopes to increase his role with the Storm.

"I've always been a goal scorer," Tresham said. "It would be nice to get around 30 goals. Hopefully with more ice time I'll get more points. The past two summers I didn't really work as hard as I could have. I'm one of the smallest guys and one of the weakest. It's made me realize I've got to get bigger, bottom line."

The good news is Tresham doesn't take the snarly, mouthy attitude opponents see on the ice outside of the arena. He's talkative, yes, but he comes across as a likeable teenager who is nothing like his on-ice persona.

"Everyone has found out you can be a rat on the ice and a nice guy off the ice," Tresham said. "I got off to a bit of a rough start here but then I realized I wasn't just representing the team, I was representing the community, too. That was part of the learning experience."