One of the best hockey players ever, Wayne Gretzky, “The Great One,” came from the Canadian town of Brantford, Ontario. Why is this relevant to Toledo?

Three-time All-MAC honoree and four-year starter on the UT offensive line Nick Kaczur is also from Brantford.

“Everything’s named after [Gretzky],” Kaczur said. “We got the Gretzky Center, the Wayne Gretzky Parkway – you name it. His name is hanging off every streetlight. He is basically what our town becomes known for.”

Canada loves hockey much like the United States loves football. For that reason, Kaczur never really played in front of many large crowds during high school.

“Football’s not very big at all,” said Kaczur, who will lead Toledo against NIU at 6:35 p.m. today. “We had maybe 100 fans in the stands and that would be a good turnout.”

While football is not very big in Canada, Kaczur still racked up some awards while playing in high school.

Kaczur was voted the best high school offensive lineman in Canada during all four of his years playing. He was also named the offense’s most valuable player at his high school for his junior and senior years and was rated as the No. 1 offensive lineman in Ontario coming out of high school.

Not satisfied to leave all his accolades in high school, Kaczur is trying to be the first player from UT to ever receive All-MAC honors for all four years of college.

“That would be great,” Kaczur said. “It would just show how good our coaching staff and team are.”

“He’s excellent in run blocking and pass blocking,” coach Tom Amstutz said. “To have him be able to do both – he is really the foundation of our offense.”

Kaczur was the first true freshman to start on the Rockets offensive line since 1978. During his freshman year, he was part of an offensive line that gave up just 11 sacks. He also earned second team All-MAC honors that season.

In his sophomore season, Kaczur started all 14 games at left tackle and was part of a line that contributed to the fifth-ranked offense in the nation. He was named first team All-MAC.

Again last year, Kaczur was named first team All-MAC. The Rockets offensive line gave up just nine sacks and the offense ranked 11th in the nation.

As Kaczur continues his senior season at UT, he continues to attract attention, even from pro scouts.

“I think he’s 100 percent [to be drafted],” Amstutz said. “I think he’ll make a team and get drafted in the first day.”

Street & Smith rated Kaczur the second best player in the conference and Lindy’s named him the best NFL prospect in the MAC.

“It would feel great,” Kaczur said. “Everyone dreams of having their name called. If it actually happened, that would just be icing on the cake for all that hard work.”

Along with the possibility of another All-MAC nod, Kaczur is also up for the Outland Trophy (awarded to the nation’s best interior lineman) and All-America honors, which are given to the best players at each position.

Who knows, maybe before it’s all said and done, Kaczur will see his name in Brantford alongside the great Wayne Gretzky.