09/12/2006

Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
Twin brothers Justin, left, and Tyler Donati do many physical tasks the exact opposite, including shooting.

Twins are mirror images of each other

But brothers shoot, write with opposite hands

BY JAMES COOK

jcook@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — They look almost exactly alike, and they both play hockey.

But the differences are almost as numerous as the similarities for the pair of twin brothers at the NHL prospects camp at Centre ICE.

"We're mirror twins," said Tyler Donati, an invitee by the Red Wings to the camp along with his brother, Jason. "We do everything the opposite."

The 19-year-old forwards and nearly-identical twins shoot, write, throw and catch with opposite hands. Tyler writes and throws right-handed and shoots and catches left-handed, while Justin is the opposite in each.

Justin was sixth in the Ontario Hockey League in scoring, one spot behind Red Wings prospect Evan McGrath and 19 points ahead of Red Wings' second-round draft pick Cory Emmerton in four fewer games. The brothers played together for Toronto last year and were traded there from Oshawa in mid-season a year before.

Tyler also had a solid season, putting up 72 points in 68 games. Justin racked up 109 points in 62 contests, three points in the OHL All-Star game and eight points in four playoff games.

Justin's output was a dramatic increase from his previous two OHL seasons in which he registered 30 and 39 points.

Last year with Toronto was the first time they didn't play on the same line, although they did log some time together on the power play unit.

Justin played on the Majors' third line, and was the team's leading scorer, while Tyler was the fourth-leading scorer on the second line.

And they won't be on the same line this year, either. Or even the same team.

"We've been playing together our whole lives," Justin said, "but Tyler just got traded to Belleville a little while ago.

"I kind of miss him at home, but he's doing what needs to be done."

Tyler was dealt in June to the Belleville Bulls for a forward and a second-round OHL draft pick. In Belleville, he will team up with one of the Red Wings' other second-round picks, center Shawn Matthias.

In the prospects camp, the pair were not on the same line, possibly in an attempt to more precisely analyze their individual talents, rather than how they play together.

"I thought it would be a lot easier coming here with a buddy, or in my case, a brother," Justin said. "It makes it easier. We always know each other are. And it's someone good to travel with, someone to talk to."

The two also offer each other constructive criticism off the ice.

"You're not going to get mad at your brother if he's telling you what to do," Tyler said.

However, there are some disadvantages.

"You kind of get sick of each other sometimes," Justin joked. "You live at home together and then travel on the road together, you kind of get sick of each other. Then you just scrap it out."