[Dion]

"If the Flames told him he had to play for nothing, he would do it," Guy Gaudreau said. "He's happiest when he's on the ice."

Gaudreau said he is motivated by skeptics who question his ability to play in the NHL because of his size.

"I've heard that my whole career, and it's always motivated me," Gaudreau said. "It still pushes me to prove people wrong."

When Gaudreau was a freshman, ESPN analyst Barry Melrose referred to the athlete's "three-dimensional vision" and compared him in that regard to Wayne Gretzky.

Green believes much of Gaudreau's sense of anticipation is an innate talent. But he also believes Guy Gaudreau brought out qualities in his son with those unusual three-on-three games at the end of every practice.

"Guy let him be that creative," Green said. "It was like they were playing in the schoolyard, just having fun and using their imaginations.

http://articles.philly.com/2014-04-0...ege-ice-hockey