| Coffee and Elevators
-Moore on the Moose Blog
Sean Couturier and the 5th ranked Drummondville Voltigeurs were 20 minutes late Sunday. I was nervously pacing at ice level, checking my watch when I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Hockey Canada Chief Scout Al Murray. I always enjoy talking with Murray, who was the LA Kings Director of Amateur Scouting for 12 years before joining our national program 3 years ago.
We exchanged greetings and walked over to the elevator on the ground floor. We touched on Team Canada’s Silver medal performance at the WJC. Colour man Chris Tremblay joined us just as the door was about to close.
“Where’s my coffee?” Chris blurted out with a smile.
“I’ll get you one, when I get off on the concourse. Al, can I get you one as well?”
“No thanks. I’ll get one upstairs.” He replied.
“No, you won’t. No coffee in the media area this season. I’ve got it. What do you want?”
“Cream and sugar – thanks.” He nodded.
I whipped around the concourse and nearly dropped the tray as I climbed the stairs to the Pat Connolly Press Box. Murray was filling out his lineup sheet when I made the delivery. We talked briefly about Brent Andrews’ performance at the World Under 17’s for Team Atlantic. He agreed to join me in the first intermission. Below is an excerpt of the interview.
Andrews was twice named Team MVP for Team Atlantic. How good was he in Timmons?
“He was arguably as good a centre ice man as any on the Canadians teams. He’s got an interesting combination because he is big and skilled and yet is committed defensively and plays a real solid defensive game as where a lot of the high end centres we have in the country haven’t found that defensive responsibility yet. He reminds me a lot of Sean Couturier who is in this game tonight.” (Couturier leads Q in scoring and just turned 17 years old).
Brent , a 16 year old 1st round pick has 3 goals and 9 points so far this season. Should we expect more?
“Not at his age. I think there are only a couple of players in the country that are at that age and are able to put up big numbers. Usually they are guys on a team where they are the focal point of the offence because the team has maybe one line and they load up that one line. Here…Brent gets powerplay time but is also on a line where there is energy and defensive responsibility. They’re (the Mooseheads) certainly not putting all their eggs in one basket here and I think they are making him into the more well rounded player that he is.”
Its been said, Brent will be a better pro than a junior. Would you agree?
“Some of the guys who don’t really see the ice that well can be outstanding juniors because they take the puck, take off and have tremendous individual skills, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into being a good pro because when you move up to that level, all the defenceman can skate, all the defenceman can play you 1 on 1. Your not going to get that opportunity to dance by people.
“Brent plays a well rounded game. He uses the other players on the ice well and he is a conscientious 2 way guy. I think that bodes very well for a pro career for him.”
As the interview came to a close, we shook hands. “You get the coffee next time.” Then I settled back in for the 2nd period call. I couldn’t help but think Brent Andrews is very much on Hockey Canada’s radar.
You may view part of this interview at sportsandmoore.com. See you this weekend for the final two games of the homestand. |
