OHL: Ryan Parent QA

Our own Patrick King caught up with Guelph defenseman Ryan Parent and had an interesting conversation covering Parent's experiences playing for his country and the possibility of there being no draft this summer.

McKeen's Hockey: What was it like to play in the OHL vs. Russian Selects games?

Ryan Parent: It was a great experience being a younger guy to play with older guys like Anthony Stewart and Mike Richards. International competitions are always fun and it was quite an honour representing the OHL.

McKeen's Hockey: You scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the first game. How did it feel to score such a big goal?

Parent: I was thrilled. I don't normally score too many goals and I was just trying to throw the puck on net. Scoring the goal was a bonus and it was quite a big thrill.

McKeen's Hockey: For these two games you were in the same dressing room as players you normally play against each night. What was it like to play on a team with these players?

Parent: We play against each other throughout the year, but when we come together we have to gel as a team in the dressing room. All the guys are good guys and we came together pretty well and some guys actually made a lot of friends.

McKeen's Hockey: How were you able to gel so quickly?

Parent: Just knowing that we had to. We're all hockey players and we all just love hockey so it's not hard to find common interests between us. It was pretty easy.

McKeen's Hockey: Last summer you played on Canada's National Under-18 Summer team in Europe. Can you compare playing in the Canada vs. Russia series to the tournament you played in Europe?

Parent: For the most part it's pretty similar I guess. Obviously the guys are older in this one (Canada vs. Russia): they're under 20. It's a little faster but the style of play and the instant intensity is pretty much the same.

McKeen's Hockey: What did it mean to you to play in that tournament and win the gold medal?

Parent: Oh, just playing for Canada is always an honour. Just going over there knowing you're representing your country is quite an accomplishment in itself. It was quite an honour.

McKeen's Hockey: Has it helped you with your progress as a player?

Parent: Yeah, quite a bit. Not only do you recognize who else around the country you're competing with and against but it also helps a lot with confidence, especially when winning the gold. It helps when coming back to your club team and just having a lot more confidence.

McKeen's Hockey: Last year your team won the OHL Championship and went on to the Memorial Cup. What were you able to learn from the playoffs and the Memorial Cup tournament?

Parent: I think the biggest thing was experience – just going through it all and seeing how everything went. I was fortunate enough to be playing on an older team with a lot of older players and just watching them and learning from them in practice helped me out quite a bit.

McKeen's Hockey: Was there anyone on last year's team that helped you develop your game?

Parent: I'd say Kevin Klein. I liked the way he played and he was one of the top defenseman in the league. He taught me and told me a few things that could help me improve my game and it helped out quite a bit.

McKeen's Hockey: What did he help you with?

Parent: He helped me make smarter plays with breakouts and moving the puck in the neutral zone. A lot of little things that become valuable as you get older.

McKeen's Hockey: What memories do you have playing in the Memorial Cup?

Parent: For the most part it was upsetting for us in the Memorial Cup. So I'd say at the starting game when I had my name announced on the ice and just realizing you're actually there is amazing.

McKeen's Hockey: Being a first round pick in the OHL priority selection, has there been any added pressure on you this year?

Parent: Every second year player coming back has more pressure from when they were a rookie. You're expected to do more; you're not just a rookie anymore. Yeah there's some pressure, but it doesn't really affect you that much.

McKeen's Hockey: What have your coaches expected out of you now that you're in your second season?

Parent: Pretty much the same thing they expected from the first (season) - just a little better. They expect to be matched against the other team's top line and play against the best players against the other team and shut them down defensively.

McKeen's Hockey: Since you're a younger player in the OHL right now, how do you think you've done against other teams' top lines when some of these players are three years older than you?

Parent: I feel I've done pretty good so far. There have been a couple of occasions where I didn't do so well, but for the most part it's been going good and I just hope to continue it on.

McKeen's Hockey: What have you been able to improve?

Parent: I'd say more of my offensive game; I've been working on it quite a bit. Just trying to get the pucks on the net and reading the ice a little better, moving pucks through the neutral zone quicker and making smarter, more offensive plays rather than just chipping it off the glass or flipping it up into the neutral zone.

McKeen's Hockey: You were ranked fourth on Central Scouting's preliminary rankings; do you feel that that ranking was justified?

Parent: I'm not really sure how they rank guys whether it's on skill or attitude or whatever. But I know there are a lot of great guys out there, so to be ranked that high so it's just an honour.

McKeen's Hockey: How did it feel when you first found out?

Parent: I was just thrilled. You spend your whole year working to be in the top picks of the draft and to see it come out this early is pretty good. But you can't really let it get to your head at all because it is still just the start of the season and things can change a lot in the future here, so you just have to keep working.

McKeen's Hockey: Being fourth on that list, you're the top-ranked defenseman. What does it mean for you to be the top-ranked defenseman in the OHL right now for the draft?

Parent: It gives a lot of confidence but I'm trying not to think about it right now. The draft is quite a ways away and a lot of things can change, like I've said before. It's in the back of my mind but I'm not letting it get to myself right now or make me nervous on the ice or anything like that.

McKeen's Hockey: Have you felt any added pressure since it's your draft year and the scouts are keeping a close eye on you?

Parent: Yeah, it's always on the back of your mind. The odd time you see them out at practices and stuff like that. The best thing to do is keep it out of your head and focus on what you can do and play the best that you can.

McKeen's Hockey: There have been rumours that the current NHL lockout might cancel the 2005 draft entirely. What are your thoughts on possibly playing your draft year twice?

Parent: Well I haven't really thought about that too much. I don't really know what they're going to do with the draft and what not. It wouldn't matter too much. I guess another year wouldn't hurt; developing a little more and growing a little bit. In that case, it could benefit me a little bit.

McKeen's Hockey: You play a very physical style, yet you don't see the penalty box that often. How have you been able to play physically without racking up the penalty minutes?

Parent: There's a difference between playing physical and playing dirty I guess. I try not to retaliate or whatever but you still have to be physical. I've been just trying to keep out of the box and not taking slashing penalties and stuff like that. Playing cleaner, I guess.

McKeen's Hockey: Have you tried molding your game around anyone else's?

Parent: I took a lot of things from watching Kevin Klein and seeing how he played. I tried pretty much being more of a player like him, like taking his offensive attributes and trying to work those in with my game.

McKeen's Hockey: So what would you say are your strengths as a player?

Parent: Well right now I'd say a lot more defensively. I'm a pretty solid skater, I guess. I play a more defensive game, I'm not really too offensive.

McKeen's Hockey: What would you say your weaknesses are?

Parent: I'd say right now skating with the puck and the offensive side of the game. Reading from say a forward's point of view when you're in their end and getting the puck on net.

McKeen's Hockey: And finally, why should an NHL team draft you?

Parent: I think I'm a pretty solid defenseman, I guess. That's the strong side of my game, even though I'm working in trying to be more offensive now. I'm a solid stay-at-home defenseman who works hard and kills penalties. If that's what they're looking for then I can definitely bring that to the table.