AHL: QA with Chris Stewart

Colorado Avalanche 2006 first-round draft pick Chris Stewart put up 25 goals and 19 assists in 77 games with Lake Erie in 2007-08 and was recalled for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, recognition of his solid rookie season as a 20-year-old. The young right-winger made a strong run in Colorado training camp earlier this season and lasted until early October before being re-assigned to the team's AHL affiliate in Cleveland, further proof he's one of the top prospects in the Avalanche organization.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey was recently able to talk with Stewart after an AHL game. The big forward discussed the areas of his game he's focusing on improving, his strengths, his rookie-pro season last year, his brother's impact on his career, looking up to Maple Leaf legends, and training like a sprinter.

McKeen's: You lasted until October 4 at Colorado's training camp this year and you're off to a decent start this season. How do you feel your preseason and season have gone so far?

Stewart: I did my best this summer to get in shape. I though I left Colorado with a good impression, they've got a good lineup up there. I'm still young, 20 years old, so hopefully come down here, work my bag off, and try and get up there as soon as possible.

McKeen's: That's right, in a few days you'll be turning 21. [Turned 21 Oct. 30]

Stewart: (Chuckles). That's right, the big 2-1.

McKeen's: When Colorado assigned you to Lake Erie, what were some of the areas of your game that they wanted you to continue to work at?

Stewart: I guess the biggest thing would be more consistency and a better d-zone game. My play away from the puck was definitely the big focus. You can't just be a one-way player in this league, there's great players, and if you want to play every night and get good icetime, you're going to have to compete in both ends of the ice.

McKeen's: It seemed like tonight that the defensive aspect of your game was your strong part. You intercepted a number of passes and had some big backchecks.

Stewart: Yeah, definitely. That's what the good players are doing in the NHL. They put back pressure on the puck and try and break up the plays. That's definitely what I'm trying to focus on.

McKeen's: On that note, similarly, what were some of the areas of your game that improved the most last season?

Stewart: Last season? I'd say, my work ethic. In junior hockey you can get off on talent and stuff like that. Definitely, as your work ethic improves, you become a better all-around player.

McKeen's: Any particular skills that you worked on last season?

Stewart: Umm, I'd just say the play up front, getting the puck off quick and definitely getting a quick shot off.

McKeen's: On the flipside, what would you say are the strengths of your game already?

Stewart: I'd say my speed, I'm pretty mobile for a big guy, and my in-tight hands. I'd say I have fairly good mitts around the net.

McKeen's: Certainly. A guy your size, it's always good to be the big man in front.

Stewart: Yeah, definitely, use your big body like, for instance, [Tomas] Holmstrom, and Ryan Smyth, and guys like that. Those are the guys you're kind of trying to look up to and follow.

McKeen's: Late last season you were recalled to Colorado for their playoffs. You didn't play, but you were still up there. What were some of the things you were able to learn from that stint?

Stewart: It's just a great atmosphere, a great opportunity there. There's a couple guys that got banged up, so you're kind of on edge there. You don't know if you're going to get in to play, and T.J. Hensick actually got in and got to experience playoff hockey. You grow up watching that kind of stuff and you got to experience it firsthand.

McKeen's: It's well documented the impact that your brother Anthony has had on your career, and the two of you played together in Kingston for a season before he moved on to the Panthers organization. How much do you keep in contact with Anthony, especially now that you're both pros, and has he been able to offer pointers to you from afar?

Stewart: You know, I'd say we catch up at least, if we're not talking, we're texting every day, and probably at least after every game. A couple times a week we have phone conversations, or MSN (Messenger) or something like that. He's been there, he's experienced it, he's a great player, and it's all about consistency. That's what he's said: the more consistent you are, that's what they want to see up in the NHL.

McKeen's: Going back to the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, tell me about the emotions about being selected only two years after having not played hockey, and also going higher than your brother went in the 2003 Draft?

Stewart: I think he has the upper hand. Everyone in that first round, and probably the ninth, is in the NHL by now. It was a very deep draft his year. It was a great experience. I was fortunate enough to have my mom, my dad, my three sisters, and my brother come out. It was good family time and a good life experience.

McKeen's: Now, back further to major juniors, what are some of your favorite memories and top accomplishments and what areas improved the most in juniors?

Stewart: Great accomplishments? Probably being a 30-goal scorer, making it to a couple OHL All-Star Games, and making the playoffs. My first year, we didn't make the playoffs, and my second and third year we made a pretty good run. Things that I worked on? Like I said, my d-zone and being a responsible player in both ends of the ice.

McKeen's: Even further back to your youth, when did you first start playing hockey and how did you get that start?

Stewart: I started when I was four. I was four, my brother was six, and my dad tried to put us in cricket, because he's from Jamaica, and that was his sport when he grew up. My brother was the first one to play, and then the next year I just wanted to be like my brother and joined from there.

McKeen's: Back in your youth, who were some of your favorite players back then and why?

Stewart: Well, I was a Maple Leafs super fan, so guys like Doug Gilmour and Wendel Clark. Growing up in the 90's, those were the guys you definitely looked up to.

McKeen's: Doug Gilmour is a legend.

Stewart: A huge legend in Toronto. He's an assistant coach of the Marlies. I think we play them like eight times so it's kind of star-struck with him.

McKeen's: It's one of those things where if a person is looking to establish consistency, they don't have to look any further than Doug Gilmour, even Wendel Clark for that matter.

Stewart: Definitely. He's tough as nails and he plays his heart out every night.

McKeen's: I've read that you've experienced a lot of pressure following in Anthony's foot steps.

Stewart: Mmmm, hmmm.

McKeen's: And that was what caused you to go away from hockey a bit. Tell me about that pressure and do you ever feel that pressure today to live up to Anthony's footsteps?

Stewart: Not at all. Back then, I was 13. I was young and not old enough to realize it was a good thing. I wouldn't say it's pressure, it's more of a competition. Last year he played in Rochester, I think we played against them eight times. So, kind of going head-to-head and stuff like that pushes us both to be better players.

McKeen's: Hard to know whether you'll face-off this year, depending on whether Anthony sticks up in Florida.

Stewart: He's stuck so far, and I don't think they play Colorado too much.

McKeen's: Yeah, not so much. For some time, you've been known as a physically strong athlete. If I might ask, how much do you bench and squat these days, if you do those exercises, and what's the typical Chris Stewart workout regiment like during the summer?

Stewart: I wouldn't really say I bench too much, it's not really that hockey-related. I'm finding more these days that hockey players train more toward anaerobics and track workouts and stuff like that, so in the summer I have a track coach. I'll spend a couple hours a day at the track doing sprint intervals and core and stuff like that. So, I'd say that's probably the biggest switch that I've made over the years.

McKeen's: All you have to do is look at the legs of some of those top sprinters; it's exactly what hockey players really want to have.

Stewart: Yeah, definitely. It's all about the first three steps in this game.

McKeen's: For fans that aren't familiar with the differences in training and body competition between football and hockey, both of which you've played, what are some of the biggest differences?

Stewart: I'd say in football you're training yourself for 10-to-15-second plays. It's quick, quick recovery, and then you're back out there. In hockey, it's more anaerobic, you've got 30-to-45-second shifts, and you've got to have a higher cardio endurance.

McKeen's: Lastly, between this year and last year, who are some of your Lake Erie teammates that have impressed you the most and why?

Stewart: T.J. Hensick, he's a helluva player. He's a good two-way player. He sees the ice well and he's just a water bug out there. For as small as he is, he doesn't get hit. I'd say Matt Hendricks, he's a great veteran in the room. He works his balls off out there and leaves it all on the ice.