May
You were drafted 3rd overall in your QMJHL draft year, did you feel a lot of pressure after being drafted so high?
I didn’t feel too much pressure right away. I juster wanted to come in and get my feet wet in the league and just work hard and figure out what my role was going to be with the team.
Describe your experience while playing at Shattuck St. Mary’s
That was a great experience, I really matured there. I was able to live away from home and get ready for Major Junior.
You finished the season last year a -31 on the +/-, and have drastically improved this year. How did you adjust your game to accomplish this?
We have a lot better of a team this year, but I think defensively I’ve been a lot better this year. Last year I was put in hard situations cause we just weren’t that deep on the team. I played against really good lines every night. At 16 it was tough, but I feel a lot more confident in my defensive game and my over all consistency.
What would be the biggest difference between your rookie season and this season
I think the biggest is my physicality. I feel a lot better on the ice and confident with the bigger guys.
Are you paying a lot of attention to where you’re ranked this year for the draft?
Right now we’re not paying any attention to the draft. We’re just focusing on the playoffs that are coming up.
You list your favourite player as Claude Giroux, what parts of his game do you admire?
I just like that he’s a skilled guy and he competes hard every night and just does all the little things right so I look up to that.
What do you think is the strongest part of your game?
I think the strongest part of my game is definitely my skating.
What has been the best lesson a coach has taught you?
Every coach gives you something different, but every coach has harped on me to be better at both ends of the ice and just competing hard all the time and Ross (Yates) has really helped me with that over the past 2 years. Offensive has always been there, its probably just the defensive side of the game. That all has helped me.
How was the CHL Top Prospect’s Game?
It was a great experience to see what’s out there and what I’m up against.
What single thing differentiates you from the other players in this draft class?
I think what differentiates me from the other players in the draft is my compete level. I just never want to lose. That’s always been a strength of mine. I’m not the most skilled player in the draft, but I’m definitely one of the most competitive.
Who are some players around the league that you really respect?
You can’t really respect anyone when you’re playing even if its your friend. There’s a lot of players, like Ehlers maybe, some guys like that you just watch and want to take things from because of how they’re so good in the league. Just like that, but you can’t have too much respect for guys in this league.