MAKING ALL THE DIFFERENCE HART HIGH WINGER SABO MAIN ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR TURNING INDIANS INTO CONFERENCE POWER.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Mitch Sabo is quiet by nature, and although he is not necessarily soft spoken, he'd rather let his play on the ice speak for itself.

And everyone in the High School Hockey League is listening to the Hart High winger.

``Mitch leads by example,'' Indians coach John Guagliardo said of his team captain, who ranks among the league leaders in goals (12) and points (19) and has been a key to the Indians' turnaround.

Without Sabo last season, Hart failed to win a game. This year, however, Sabo has helped turn Hart into one of the league's hottest teams, winning five consecutive games after dropping the opener.

The Indians are in second place in the National Conference, a game behind Valencia heading into Monday's game against two-time defending champion Saugus at the Valencia Ice Station.

``Right off the bat, I knew we had a good team,'' Sabo said. ``I didn't take the first loss (of this season) very hard. It was a fluke loss. We feel like we have a good chance against anybody.''

The beginning of Sabo's career was marked by controversy, as he almost didn't play for Hart.

He lives in the San Fernando Valley and attends Crespi High, a private school in Encino that doesn't field a team. Therefore, Sabo was a free agent as a sophomore and entered a leaguewide draft. He was selected by Hart and did well, ranking among the team leaders in points.

He planned to join the Indians the next year, but because of an ambiguous rule, he was forced back into the draft and ended up playing for Granada Hills last season as a junior.

``The rules have been massaged and tweaked as the seasons have gone on,'' said Larry Bruyere, director of hockey operations at the Valencia Ice Station. ``We're finally putting our teeth into the league's rules now. I'm sure as we get closer to the playoffs they'll be some kind of controversy. It's the nature of the beast.''

Sabo was such an impact player he led Granada Hills to last year's championship game, where the Highlanders lost 5-3 to Saugus.

And when he returned to Hart, he made the Indians instant winners.

``I don't think he even realized he was a leader until this year. His teammates have known it all along,'' Guagliardo said. ``He's got the speed. His stick handling is impeccable. He has a shot like nobody else. In a crunch situation, the best players should be out there.''

More often than not, that player is Sabo.

He's the Indians' second-line threat, often drawing the attention of opposing defensemen through the neutral zone and creating open space for his teammates. On the power play, he's the point man. And when the team is shorthanded, Sabo is the first player to log extra ice time on defense.

``Mitch is the real deal. He's the man,'' Valencia coach Steve Yarnall said. ``He's one of the top three players in the league. He's highly skilled, and his hockey experience shows every time he's out there. Any coach would like to have him on their team.''

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Hart winger Mitch Sabo has helped the Indians go from a winless season last year into a team that is batting with Valencia for the National Conference lead.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer