Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid
Excerpts of an interview with incoming impact Catamount Connor Brickley.
March 14, 2010
Kevin Wey
McKeen's Hockey Prospects Staff
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Take it to the bank, Des Moines Buccaneer Connor Brickley will be the first American-born forward selected from the USHL at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. That may even be the case if one factors in the forwards from the USNTDP, as it's possible Brickley is selected ahead of Jason Zucker. (Any other USNTDP forward taken before Brickley and Zucker? To quote contemporary American philosopher Chad Ochocinco: "Child, please."). From the very first game of the preseason, Brickley's made his presence felt, be it by averaging nearly a point per game on offense (17 goals and 19 assists in 39 games to close February) or by crushing opposing defensemen on the forecheck night in and night out. The speedy Brickley has also left his mark on the international scene, as he's already represented his country three times in 2009-10. The first was at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August, the second was at the World Junior A Challenge in November, and the third was with the U.S. Under-18 team for the Six Nations Tournament in February. It also will be no surprise if there is a fourth, at World Under-18 Championships in Belarus with the U.S. Under-18 team. From start to finish this season, Brickley's been a flag-bearer for his country and the flag-bearer amongst his draft-eligible compatriots in the USHL.
McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey had the opportunity to talk with Connor Brickley after a game in mid-to-late February. Brickley discussed his recent experience at the Six Nations Tournament, his other experiences donning the USA jersey, his season in the USHL to date, his commitment to Vermont, his hockey pedigree, and the NHLers he models his game after.
McKeen's: With the USHL, how do you feel 2009-10 has gone for Connor Brickley?
Brickley: Yeah, so far so good. I've stuck to my game plan coming into the year, not knowing really what to expect. I wanted to try to get a point per game, and roughly I'm around there, like three points shy. That was my plan going into it, and that's going to remain my plan for the rest of the year. So, I feel like I've been right along, doing well.
McKeen's: What were the biggest adjustments for you coming into the USHL and also the areas that you feel you've improved the most this year?
Brickley: Well, I play wing here. Back home, I was a center. I play wing for coach [Mike] Guentzel, and he's shown me more defensive aspects of the game, getting pucks out, and focusing on my game North and South and being a power forward. Coach Guentzel has really guided me to be the player that I am. He critiques me if I try to go somewhere else. He puts me right back on track. The biggest adjustment would probably just be the quicker decisions, the more physical play. Everyone that's out here, they're big and they're also fast. So, that's the big difference.
McKeen's: Do you foresee yourself long term as a winger, or going back to center, or possibly playing all three?
Brickley: Well, yeah. I feel like I'm very versatile. I played right wing when I was in Belarus. I play left wing here, and I played center when I was back home. So, either way, I'm comfortable wherever, because I feel comfortable on my feet. So, wherever I can just skate around.
McKeen's: Moving forward, what areas of your game do you feel you need to improve on the most to take your game to the next level?
Brickley: Coach Guentzel, we really focus on my defense, getting pucks out, and my turnovers, my offensive-zone turnovers, just getting pucks out, flipping them out. I've been really working on that, and shot blocking, and throwing the puck down low.
McKeen's: You've touched on this a little bit, but for those who have not seen you play, what would you say are the strengths of your game and the style that you play?
Brickley: Strengths of my game? Getting the puck deep and using my speed. If a defenseman has a bad gap, I can go around him. If they don't, then I can use my speed and get it deep, and I like to play physical. That doesn't hurt, either.
McKeen's: (Chuckles). Yeah, every time I see you I take a few notes that go: "Brickley, space, crashes into the corner on the defenseman."
Brickley: (Chuckles) Yeah. I like to do that. It helps the crowd, helps the team.
McKeen's: The next stop for you is Vermont. At what point did colleges start contacting you, what programs were in the running toward the end, if I might ask, and what made you decide on Vermont in the end?
Brickley: Playing freshman year at Belmont Hill and then going to the 16 Festival. Out of 16 Festival, I was contacted by a couple teams, and then going into my sophomore year at Belmont Hill. So, I was talking to the Boston schools. In my running, it was mainly between (pauses), I talked to Harvard a lot, BU, and Vermont, and also UNH. For me, Vermont was the team that contacted me first. They were very open about what they wanted from me, and when they wanted me, and how much they wanted me. So, they were the team that offered me the first, and we put it on hold. It was really early, because my parents and I weren't really sure what I wanted to do. So, I went to my sophomore season, and halfway through the sophomore season, I decided Vermont would be the best spot. The coaches were great to me, and they know what kind of player I am. I feel it was the best fit for me.
McKeen's: Based on that response, what are Vermont's expectations for you?
Brickley: They really want me to be an impact player for them offensively, help on the powerplay, and also give the team energy. That's just the type of player I am, and that's why I look forward to it.
McKeen's: As you've touched upon, prior to playing for Des Moines, you played for Belmont Hill in the prep ranks. Who were some of the best players you played against there and why and what made each of those guys so good?
McKeen's: Going back to the beginning of your hockey career, when did you first start playing and how did you get that start?
Brickley: I believe my dad would tell me that I started playing at three, and it was my dad who got me into hockey, Craig Brickley. He played hockey as well. He played at the University of Pennsylvania, when they had a Division 1 team for coach [Robert] Crocker. He was drafted by the LA Kings. Hockey was a passion for him, and he used it for high school and through college. So, he taught my brother and I hockey, and stuck with it ever since.
McKeen's: How old is your brother?
Brickley: My brother (Brendan) is 20 years old and he plays at the University of New England.
McKeen's: Okay, DIII.
Brickley: Yeah.
McKeen's: It's your draft year, and short of something terribly tragic, you will be drafted. With a player of your caliber, you guys usually have a family advisor. So, do you have representation?
Brickley: I do have a family advisor, Jim Troy, Empire Sports. I was contacted by Jim last year, and that's when I hooked up with Jim.
McKeen's: With the draft, do you have any goals or expectations regarding that?
Brickley: You know? I'm just trying to play really hard. I don't want to jinx anything, all the superstitions. I just want to be the best player that I can be, and obviously if a team picks me up high, it'd be incredible. Obviously, just like any hockey player, you want to go the highest you possibly can, and whatever team wants you the most. Just going in with an open heart right now.
McKeen's: Given your status as a prospect, I'd say it's possible to see you go in the second round or at least the early third round, based off of Josh Birkholz from last year. So, it's possible an NHL team might pressure you a little bit to go the major junior route. Would you ever entertain that, and why or why not?
Brickley: I was drafted by the Lewiston MAINEiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. That (pauses), it's been an option. It's been there, but the big decision was coming out here, when I came out here this year. Obviously, I was contacted a lot over the summer by Lewiston, and they wanted me to go out, according to my projections for the draft and all of that. So, I came out here because my family's always gone college, and my parents' expectations for me to go to college, and I always wanted to play college hockey and win that national championship.
McKeen's: Given your pedigree, I can understand that. That kind of goes into my next question fairly well. You're (pauses), uncle, Andy Brickley?
Brickley: Second cousin.
McKeen's: Oh, second cousin?
Brickley: My dad's cousin, yeah.
McKeen's: Oh, okay. I sometimes lose track of what qualifies someone as a second cousin and what not. Obviously your dad gave you a lot of advice, but what degree did Andy offer you advice over the course of your career and what did he tell you?
Brickley: Yeah. I have a big hockey family. Also, my cousin Quintin, also played at UNH, and Andy played at UNH. I haven't really spoke with Andy through my hockey, any advice. So, I wouldn't really know what to say.
Excerpts of an interview with incoming impact Catamount Connor Brickley.
March 14, 2010
Kevin Wey
McKeen's Hockey Prospects Staff
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Take it to the bank, Des Moines Buccaneer Connor Brickley will be the first American-born forward selected from the USHL at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. That may even be the case if one factors in the forwards from the USNTDP, as it's possible Brickley is selected ahead of Jason Zucker. (Any other USNTDP forward taken before Brickley and Zucker? To quote contemporary American philosopher Chad Ochocinco: "Child, please."). From the very first game of the preseason, Brickley's made his presence felt, be it by averaging nearly a point per game on offense (17 goals and 19 assists in 39 games to close February) or by crushing opposing defensemen on the forecheck night in and night out. The speedy Brickley has also left his mark on the international scene, as he's already represented his country three times in 2009-10. The first was at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August, the second was at the World Junior A Challenge in November, and the third was with the U.S. Under-18 team for the Six Nations Tournament in February. It also will be no surprise if there is a fourth, at World Under-18 Championships in Belarus with the U.S. Under-18 team. From start to finish this season, Brickley's been a flag-bearer for his country and the flag-bearer amongst his draft-eligible compatriots in the USHL.
McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey had the opportunity to talk with Connor Brickley after a game in mid-to-late February. Brickley discussed his recent experience at the Six Nations Tournament, his other experiences donning the USA jersey, his season in the USHL to date, his commitment to Vermont, his hockey pedigree, and the NHLers he models his game after.
McKeen's: With the USHL, how do you feel 2009-10 has gone for Connor Brickley?
Brickley: Yeah, so far so good. I've stuck to my game plan coming into the year, not knowing really what to expect. I wanted to try to get a point per game, and roughly I'm around there, like three points shy. That was my plan going into it, and that's going to remain my plan for the rest of the year. So, I feel like I've been right along, doing well.
McKeen's: What were the biggest adjustments for you coming into the USHL and also the areas that you feel you've improved the most this year?
Brickley: Well, I play wing here. Back home, I was a center. I play wing for coach [Mike] Guentzel, and he's shown me more defensive aspects of the game, getting pucks out, and focusing on my game North and South and being a power forward. Coach Guentzel has really guided me to be the player that I am. He critiques me if I try to go somewhere else. He puts me right back on track. The biggest adjustment would probably just be the quicker decisions, the more physical play. Everyone that's out here, they're big and they're also fast. So, that's the big difference.
McKeen's: Do you foresee yourself long term as a winger, or going back to center, or possibly playing all three?
Brickley: Well, yeah. I feel like I'm very versatile. I played right wing when I was in Belarus. I play left wing here, and I played center when I was back home. So, either way, I'm comfortable wherever, because I feel comfortable on my feet. So, wherever I can just skate around.
McKeen's: Moving forward, what areas of your game do you feel you need to improve on the most to take your game to the next level?
Brickley: Coach Guentzel, we really focus on my defense, getting pucks out, and my turnovers, my offensive-zone turnovers, just getting pucks out, flipping them out. I've been really working on that, and shot blocking, and throwing the puck down low.
McKeen's: You've touched on this a little bit, but for those who have not seen you play, what would you say are the strengths of your game and the style that you play?
Brickley: Strengths of my game? Getting the puck deep and using my speed. If a defenseman has a bad gap, I can go around him. If they don't, then I can use my speed and get it deep, and I like to play physical. That doesn't hurt, either.
McKeen's: (Chuckles). Yeah, every time I see you I take a few notes that go: "Brickley, space, crashes into the corner on the defenseman."
Brickley: (Chuckles) Yeah. I like to do that. It helps the crowd, helps the team.
McKeen's: The next stop for you is Vermont. At what point did colleges start contacting you, what programs were in the running toward the end, if I might ask, and what made you decide on Vermont in the end?
Brickley: Playing freshman year at Belmont Hill and then going to the 16 Festival. Out of 16 Festival, I was contacted by a couple teams, and then going into my sophomore year at Belmont Hill. So, I was talking to the Boston schools. In my running, it was mainly between (pauses), I talked to Harvard a lot, BU, and Vermont, and also UNH. For me, Vermont was the team that contacted me first. They were very open about what they wanted from me, and when they wanted me, and how much they wanted me. So, they were the team that offered me the first, and we put it on hold. It was really early, because my parents and I weren't really sure what I wanted to do. So, I went to my sophomore season, and halfway through the sophomore season, I decided Vermont would be the best spot. The coaches were great to me, and they know what kind of player I am. I feel it was the best fit for me.
McKeen's: Based on that response, what are Vermont's expectations for you?
Brickley: They really want me to be an impact player for them offensively, help on the powerplay, and also give the team energy. That's just the type of player I am, and that's why I look forward to it.
McKeen's: As you've touched upon, prior to playing for Des Moines, you played for Belmont Hill in the prep ranks. Who were some of the best players you played against there and why and what made each of those guys so good?
McKeen's: Going back to the beginning of your hockey career, when did you first start playing and how did you get that start?
Brickley: I believe my dad would tell me that I started playing at three, and it was my dad who got me into hockey, Craig Brickley. He played hockey as well. He played at the University of Pennsylvania, when they had a Division 1 team for coach [Robert] Crocker. He was drafted by the LA Kings. Hockey was a passion for him, and he used it for high school and through college. So, he taught my brother and I hockey, and stuck with it ever since.
McKeen's: How old is your brother?
Brickley: My brother (Brendan) is 20 years old and he plays at the University of New England.
McKeen's: Okay, DIII.
Brickley: Yeah.
McKeen's: It's your draft year, and short of something terribly tragic, you will be drafted. With a player of your caliber, you guys usually have a family advisor. So, do you have representation?
Brickley: I do have a family advisor, Jim Troy, Empire Sports. I was contacted by Jim last year, and that's when I hooked up with Jim.
McKeen's: With the draft, do you have any goals or expectations regarding that?
Brickley: You know? I'm just trying to play really hard. I don't want to jinx anything, all the superstitions. I just want to be the best player that I can be, and obviously if a team picks me up high, it'd be incredible. Obviously, just like any hockey player, you want to go the highest you possibly can, and whatever team wants you the most. Just going in with an open heart right now.
McKeen's: Given your status as a prospect, I'd say it's possible to see you go in the second round or at least the early third round, based off of Josh Birkholz from last year. So, it's possible an NHL team might pressure you a little bit to go the major junior route. Would you ever entertain that, and why or why not?
Brickley: I was drafted by the Lewiston MAINEiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. That (pauses), it's been an option. It's been there, but the big decision was coming out here, when I came out here this year. Obviously, I was contacted a lot over the summer by Lewiston, and they wanted me to go out, according to my projections for the draft and all of that. So, I came out here because my family's always gone college, and my parents' expectations for me to go to college, and I always wanted to play college hockey and win that national championship.
McKeen's: Given your pedigree, I can understand that. That kind of goes into my next question fairly well. You're (pauses), uncle, Andy Brickley?
Brickley: Second cousin.
McKeen's: Oh, second cousin?
Brickley: My dad's cousin, yeah.
McKeen's: Oh, okay. I sometimes lose track of what qualifies someone as a second cousin and what not. Obviously your dad gave you a lot of advice, but what degree did Andy offer you advice over the course of your career and what did he tell you?
Brickley: Yeah. I have a big hockey family. Also, my cousin Quintin, also played at UNH, and Andy played at UNH. I haven't really spoke with Andy through my hockey, any advice. So, I wouldn't really know what to say.
