Joel Vienneau has heard all the Shawn Sirman stories.

Now, the current Kingston Kimco Voyageurs goalie wants to take this team and this city on another thrilling ride -- just like his predecessor, Sirman, did last season.

It's playoff time and the soft-spoken Vienneau wants to make it his time to shine.

"That's why I wanted to come here, to get an (NCAA Division I) scholarship and have a great playoff run," the six-foot-three Vienneau, 18, said yesterday as the Vees prepared for their Ontario Junior A Hockey League playoff opener tonight at 7:30 against the Vaughan Vipers at the Invista Centre.

Sirman, Vees fans may remember, was very good but not spectacular in the regular season for the most part last year. Vienneau, a native of far-off Hearst (near Kenora), has had a similar sort of season, notching slightly better numbers than Sirman.

It was Sirman, also a northern Ontario boy, who elevated his game in a big way come playoff time last year, starting every single post-season game during a gruelling three-month stretch. During that time, Sirman nailed down a Division I scholarship at the University of Maine.

Vienneau has his heart set on following in Sirman's footsteps. The Guelph Storm were interested in bringing him to the Ontario Hockey League this season, but Vienneau stayed with the Vees in hopes of landing an NCAA offer -- preferably from a hockey power like the University of Michigan or the University of Minnesota.

The scouts have been following Vienneau and he hasn't disappointed, posting a record of 27-4-1-2 with a 2.16 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. There's some talk he may be picked in the National Hockey League Entry Draft this year.

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