AHL: QA with Leland Irving

Quad City Flames goaltender Leland Irving got off to an inauspicious start to his AHL career when he gave up a goal on his first shot, and his statistics weren't looking too good two months into the season. However, the numbers eventually came around to the talent and technical ability, as the Calgary ace prospect finished the season with an AHL fourth-best 2.23 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage that was mired at .851 to start December. Indeed, to end 2008-09, Irving started nine of Quad City's final ten games and helped lead them to an 8-1-1-0 record down that stretch and that placed the team only one point behind Rockford for the final playoff spot in the West Division after looking down and out a month before.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey was able to talk with Calgary Flames' prospect Leland Irving in the midst of the Baby Flames' valiant stretch-drive effort. Irving discussed that effort, the likelihood that the team will not be in the Quad Cities in 2009-10, his rookie-pro year, his stand-out major junior career, his time with Team Canada and a notable exclusion, a couple people he looks up to, and how QC teammate David VanderGulik has earned his respect.

McKeen's: You guys are now one more above .500, kind of keeping it alive for the play-off picture. So, what are the feelings in the Flames locker room right now with the possibility of still being in the playoffs?

Irving: It feels like a playoff atmosphere, it really does. We're coming out and battling every game for a full 60 and the guys are showing a lot of character and doing everything they can to try and get as many wins as we can and give ourselves a chance here.

McKeen's: If you guys make the playoffs, it'll be nothing new for you guys, because you've been going through it for about 20 games. Hopefully this next question isn't a touchy subject, but to what degree are the guys maybe trying extra hard knowing that, probably, they're giving the Quad City area one last shot at playoff hockey, because it looks like things will be different next year?

Irving: You know? We're out there playing for each and every other guy in that room. You do it for the guy beside you. It's unfortunate for the fans there in Quad City that the team is moving, but we might as will give them a show while we're on our way out. But, when it comes down to it, it's just that guy beside you. That's who we play for.

McKeen's: It's been hinted by the Calgary Flames organization, as reported in the Calgary Herald, that Abbottsford, British Columbia, is the desired location. So, what are feelings about the possibility of maybe playing in Abbottsford next year?

Irving: Exciting. I mean, it's a Western Canadian team. From what I've heard, there's quite a bit of buzz and atmosphere about the team moving there. It's not completely gone through yet, so I don't want to get the hopes up too much, but, definitely, it would be a great town to play in.

McKeen's: I've heard the arena is fantastic, and you know there will be the fans, that won't be a problem, hopefully there's the corporate presence, too. There will be a little bit of travel, but we'll see what happens. Now, moving to you, you're having a pretty good rookie season, so what have been the biggest adjustments for you coming out of four years of major juniors?

Irving: The main thing is right off the bat I had to work on being a little more patient. The guys here have the poise with the puck and the ability to make that last-second play. I found that once I was able to work on that, it was a huge adjustment for me. I'm just continually working on that in practice, just trying to out-wait the shooter and give myself a chance on every shot.

McKeen's: That kind of goes with my next question a little bit, too. Tell me more about some of the aspects of your game that you've been focusing on improving, either that you yourself wanted to focus on or that Calgary said at training camp that they wanted you to "work on these things."

Irving: The main things would be, I guess, proving myself at this level is one of the things I've been trying to work on. I mean, I want, like everybody else, to play in the NHL. So, obviously I have quite a few things to work on. It's just a learning experience. One of the main aspects of my game has been puckhandling. It's come a long way, but there's still a long ways to go. It's a process, and I've been working here with the coaches and I've been working a lot with Jamie McLennan, too, as well as Dave Marcoux when I'm in camp with Calgary.

McKeen's: Speaking of the NHL, Calgary is having a pretty good year this year. I guess if things don't turn out for you guys here (pauses), has Calgary given you any impression what your odds are of being a "Black Ace"?

Irving: I haven't heard anything yet. Obviously, I'm hoping to be up with the big club, and to be around the atmosphere could be a real positive experience. You know? We've got our game down here that we've got to worry about and take care of first, and then when the season's done, we'll see what happens. [Irving was in fact recalled by Calgary April 13 for the first round of the playoffs.]

McKeen's: You actually had a little bit of time with Calgary's previous AHL affiliate, the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. Tell me a bit about that small time there, and how does Omaha compare to the Quad City area?

Irving: Well, to be honest, I didn't spend a whole lot of time in Omaha. I was there for the first round of playoffs. I spent just about as much time here in Des Moines as I did in Omaha. It was a real eye-opener to see that level of hockey and to be around those guys, to see the atmosphere that goes on in the locker room, little things like that, how the pros conduct themselves and prepare themselves.

McKeen's: You have two gold medals with Team Canada, the 2006 U-18's and the 2007 World Junior Championship. Does one gold mean more than the other and, if so, why or why not?

Irving: I guess the World Juniors would have to be a little bigger, just because it was home. It's a real big tournament, and all of Canada is watching. That was real special. Even though Carey Price was the go-to guy, it was something I'll never forget.

McKeen's: You also played in the Super Series between Canada and Russia. Tell me a bit about that tournament or series I guess I should say, and how did that compare to World Juniors?

Irving: I'd say it's a similar sort of situation. Obviously different because we're playing Russia the whole time, and I think the guys get a little more agitated. There's a little bit of feistiness between individual players out there. I think you get to really hate a team more and more when you play them over and over again, just like a playoff series. Not quite as good of hockey, but still very competitive.

McKeen's: What was the impression amongst Team Canada of the talent that Russia sent for that series compared to what they'd been sending for the ADT Challenge Series in previous years?

Irving: Yeah, that team was a whole step above the teams they sent over for the ADT games. They've got a good hockey program out there. They've produced some great hockey talent.

McKeen's: Hopefully this isn't a real touchy subject, but when it came time to name the World Junior Championship team last year, you were left off the roster. What did they tell you and what was your reaction to that?

Irving: Ummm, they just went with the guys they were comfortable with. You've got, obviously, a coach from the "O" and another guy, [Clement] Jodoin, who's worked with [Jonathan] Bernier a lot. I don't think I played myself off the team in that situation. I had as good or a better camp, but I kind of felt I was playing in the wrong league at that time. But, not a big deal. It's kind of, I think, a good thing for me. I went back to junior and had a great second half of the season, and unfortunately ran into Spokane in the first round, and everybody knows how that goes.

McKeen's: Spokane did okay last year, right.

Irving: Yeah (big smile).

McKeen's: In terms of 2007-08, how did you feel that went for you personally?

Irving: I was a little disappointed, to be honest. I got off to a real slow start, and obviously getting cut from the World Junior team in Canada was a real big disappointment. But, I just pulled it together and got things rolling for the second half of the season. I thought we had one of the best stretches I've ever put together in my junior career for the last, probably, 30, 40 games there. Playoffs, obviously wasn't as strong as I wanted to be, but a few bounces here and there, you know how the refereeing goes in playoffs once in a while, a couple coaching decisions (pauses and smiles) I wasn't too happy about. But, it was nice to end my career in Everett. The organization has been so great to me and I'm really thankful for even being given the opportunity that they gave me. I don't think I'd be here today without them.

McKeen's: As you touched upon, you had a pretty standout career in your time with Everett. Although Tyson Sexsmith took it down, you had the shutout record in the WHL, and you had a save percentage that was phenomenal for the fours years. So, with that, what were the areas of your game that improved the most during your time in Everett?

Irving: Mostly my technical game. I got there by just athletic ability, I guess you could say, and I was able to work with a goalie coach, Shane Clifford, and he helped me out a lot. He really pulled my technical game together. There's just more of a percentages game. You've got to play big, and you're not going to see every puck, but you always have a chance to stop it, so as long as you're getting the right body parts in the right spots, you give yourself a better chance.

McKeen's: Right, playing the odds, so to speak.

Irving: Yep.

McKeen's: In your time in the WHL, who were some of the opposing players that impressed you the most and maybe the ones who challenged you the most as a goaltender?

Irving: First off, like when I first came into the league, Gilbert Brule in Vancouver was a real force, just a great hockey player. I've played alongside Peter Mueller, I'm lucky I was on the right end of that match-up. He's a great player as well. Three years ago in the playoffs, we ran into Prince George and Devin Setoguchi…

McKeen's: He's doing alright.

Irving: … and he kind of took that series away from us single-handedly. He's another guy that's a real stand-out player.

McKeen's: There's still hockey to play in 2008-09, but what are your goals for 2009-10, and do you have any specific training plans for the summer, and what do you feel are your chances of playing in Calgary next year?

Irving: Ummm, I'm not looking that far ahead. I mean, that call is out of my control. Obviously I'm going to go and work as hard as I can this summer. It's kind of standard as a goaltender to build up your flexibility and leg strength, and the whole works, and get ready to go for next season.

McKeen's: Yeah, as far as Calgary goes, I guess at some point someone will have to take the throne or mantle from [Miikka] Kiprusoff, but for now it's kind of a battle for backup, and the backup doesn't play much. Now, I've read you look up to Marc-Andre Fleury. When did that start and why?

Irving: Well, I was a Kirk McLean fan growing up, actually.

McKeen's: That makes sense geographically.

Irving: Fleury happens to be one of the goalies that I've watched growing up. Him, I idolized Cam Ward, and Cristobal Huet as well. Robert Luongo is another great goaltender. If I had to idolize one in particular, it'd have to say Cristobal Huet, just because he's a little smaller but still plays that real technical style and just battles like he does. We're similar in size, so if I can take anything out of his game, I'll definitely try to apply to my home.

McKeen's: That's the amazing thing now. I remember watching the Draft last year, and Dustin Tokarski is a 6-foot goalie, and everyone's like, "Maybe he's too small." That's kind of where goaltending's at now. You have guys like Jason Missiaen who's, like, 6-foot-7 or 6-foot-8. It's amazing that (pauses), even sub-six-foot for goalies now is a big deal. I also saw on the Flames website that you look up to Lance Armstrong, as I think most any athlete would, but tell me why you in particular look up to Lance Armstrong.

Irving: He's a warrior. He fought through his cancer and overcame it and is a champion. He's a real inspiration for other fellow cancer survivors and just people with cancer in general. He's a perfect example of going through adversity and coming out on top.

McKeen's: Did you like Lance (pauses), it is my understanding that you yourself as an eight-year-old went through cancer, did your respect for Lance begin at that point?

Irving: Probably after that. I didn't really know a whole lot about Lance Armstrong. I didn't know a whole lot about him until I started reading (pauses), started reading probably five years ago, picked up a couple of his books, and just got to read his story and see what he went through and the determination and the work ethic that he has to put in to be the Tour de France champion.

McKeen's: Unfortunately, it's looking like the Tour de Spain, which isn't the technical name, may have gotten the best of him, with the collarbone, although I guess that'll make the story all the more sweeter if he pulls it off again this year. Back to you, going back to the beginning of your hockey journey, when did you first start playing hockey, how did you get that start, and when did you first start playing goaltender?

Irving: First started playing hockey when I was probably about six.

McKeen's: That's almost late for a Canadian (said in jest).

Irving: Oh, I don't know. I wasn't a full-time goaltender until second-year bantam, when I probably would have been 14. So, I've just stuck with it. I just was better at it.

McKeen's: Well, that turned out well.

Irving: Yeah.

McKeen's: I guess lastly, who are the Quad City teammates that have impressed you the most and why, and who's perhaps the most unsung or underrated Quad City player and why?

Irving: Lots of guys, lots of talent here. Probably an unsung guy (pauses), I don't know if he's really unsung, but a guy that I really like, his all-around game, would be David VanderGulik. He plays at both ends of the ice just as hard. He's a great penalty killer, always helping out blocking shots and doing whatever it takes. He's incredibly quick and has good hands. A guy that has impressed me, I guess you've got to go with Jamie Lundmark. Obviously he's up in Calgary and he's there for a reason. He's got an unbelievable set of skills, that's for sure.