QA Toews and Sheppard

Jonathan Toews and James Sheppard will become household names to Canadian hockey fans within years and perhaps even months. Contributing to Canada's record ninth gold at the Under-18 World Junior Cup, Toews and Sheppard are packages of size and skill. McKeen's caught up to the dynamic duo shortly after the team's gold medal win over the hometown Czechs.

Jonathan Toews (pronounced 'Taves') and James Sheppard are the top Canadian prospects for the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Both have enjoyed early success in their young hockey careers, even though geographically they are far apart.

Toews is a product of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Sheppard hails from Sackville, Nova Scotia. Both were selected first overall in their respective Major Junior A leagues, Toews taken by the Tri-City Americans of the WHL and Sheppard going to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL.

Toews is coming off a dominating campaign in Shattuck St. Mary's Prep School, amassing 101 points in 58 matches, contributing to the squad's victorious National Midget Championship run. The team Canada captain has opted to play in college, agreeing in principle to attend the University of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

Sheppard was a member of the Dartmouth Subways Minor Midget system before joining the Screaming Eagles. He chipped in with 45 points in 65 games, good for fourth in team scoring.

Expectations were high for the pair to dominate on their way to another championship after convincing performances at the Under-17 tournament earlier this year in Lethbridge, where Toews led the tournament in scoring with eight goals and 12 points, while Sheppard was not far behind with six goals and 10 points. Their high-octane ways continued at the Junior Cup, where Toews led the offensive attack with four goals and two assists, with Sheppard chiming in with two goals and two assists.

GOLDEN BOYS

McKeen's: Tell me what it is like to represent Canada, especially at a tournament like this.

James Sheppard: Well, it all started at training camp and it was an amazing experience. There only being 22 guys taken… and I just wanted to be a part of it and it was a dream come true.

Jonathan Toews: I said it before - to make camp with the top forty, then to actually make the team itself and to come this far it is so unreal. It was an amazing team effort - we really came together in a short period of time and what a feeling it was to bring home gold.

McKeen's: What was it like to play for coach Shawn Camp? What does he expect from his players and what is his overall style?

James Sheppard: It was my first time working with coach Camp and it was a great experience working with the whole coaching staff. The key with him was to work hard and if you did, you were rewarded with ice time.

Jonathan Toews: I think Shawn is a great coach; he has a real presence in the room. He put forth a lot of trust in me by naming me the captain. Everyone respected him as a coach and a person as well. It is exactly what we needed as a team, a great coach like that; he did his job the way it should be done.

McKeen's: Can you briefly describe your playing styles and explain the roles you played on this team?

James Sheppard: I have been a big kid my whole life and I have used my physical play as a necessity. I have used my size to my advantage and couple that with my hockey smarts. I am always trying to improve my game and get a little faster. I am a big forward so (I) play physical, set up down low, look to feed my line mates and work hard every shift.

Jonathan Toews: I am an offensive player. I like to score goals. I am a team player as well and will do what the coach asks of me. I was asked in this tournament to be a leader (and) I believe I have the leadership skills (proving) that I can step up and be a captain.

McKeen's: Who were your primary linemates? How did they complement your game?

James Sheppard: I played with Justin McCrae and James McGinn in the first game and then it became McCrae and Brad Marchand after that. I played minor midget with Marchand so I had already established chemistry with him. He's a great player, really quick and McCrae worked hard and threw the puck in front.

Jonathan Toews: I played with Ben Maxwell and Zach Hamill. They are both really skilled, quick hockey players who can put the puck home. At the beginning, we had a little bit of a trouble, but for the rest of the tournament we played well as a line and if something was going wrong we had such great communication (so it) didn't take too long for us to figure out (the problem). Overall we had a great tournament together.

McKeen's: What kind of responsibility comes with wearing a "C" on your chest?

Jonathan Toews: First and foremost, there is so much responsibility to be a player on a Canadian team representing Canada. I had to set an example on and off the ice, (be) very disciplined, not goofing around. I firmly believe that it's what I did in this tournament - I led by example.

McKeen's: What was it like playing on the larger surface with no red line? What type of adjustments did you have to make as a team and as individual players?

James Sheppard: Well, we knew that we would have to adjust because all the Europeans skate on this surface and I thought we did an admirable job at that. We utilized our size, speed and forechecked aggressively. I really like it (the larger ice surface) because it opens the game up and gives you more opportunities to score.

Jonathan Toews: It didn't really matter. We had a lot of quick guys on our team who were physical as well. Regardless of the ice surface we really took it to them and competed in every game.

McKeen's: What was your best efforts in your opinion?

James Sheppard: I would have to say the semi-finals in which I registered a goal and an assist and was named the First Star of the Game. Getting that first goal really helped me and I carried that confidence into the finals.

Jonathan Toews: I played well in every game. I did a lot of great things against Finland and in the final against the Czechs I played a great game as well, even though I didn't contribute on the score sheet. I killed penalties and overcame adversity.

McKeen's: Who were your toughest opponents in this tournament?

James Sheppard: Playing the Czechs with the crowd behind them was an unreal experience but every team was competitive. I mean, the Czechs beat us in our first game. There were a few scares but we just settled down, re-grouped and played great hockey.

Jonathan Toews: The Czechs were our toughest. We played them three times and they were harder and harder to beat each time. Finland played a strong game as well but, as you know, everyone plays their best game against Canada so you have to be prepared for each game and be ready to work.

McKeen's: What have you taken from this experience? Do you think it has helped you guys mature as players?

James Sheppard: It was a great experience. We all came together real quick and had a lot of team chemistry. We all wanted to win because we are proud to be Canadian.

Jonathan Toews: There is a lot of pressure to play for Canada and everyone is always gunning for you. In a tournament like this you don't get a second chance and have to take advantage of the opportunity and leave it all on the ice.

McKeen's: This being your draft year, is there any added pressure to improve on your totals? What are some of the things you have addressed in the off season?

James Sheppard: Last year was my first year (in major junior) so I kind of got used to everything. I understand the game a lot more now, so it is a lot of excitement just to get back and see what I can do. I worked on my skating a lot, being a big guy having big feet. I worked on my speed and if I can continue to make big physical plays I think my game is headed in the right direction.