QA with Anthony Hamburg

Very few players are selected each year in the NHL Entry Draft out of the midget ranks. In fact, since the NHL lockout, only five players have been so selected. One of those five is Anthony Hamburg, who currently plays for the USHL's Omaha Lancers. Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the seventh round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft from the Dallas Jr. Stars, Hamburg has been flashing some of the skill that prompted the Wild to take a flyer on him late in the draft, even though he's generally only played on the Lancers' third and fourth lines in 2009-10 and has been focusing more on shoring up defensive aspects of his game. Those who have seen Hamburg regularly will have no doubt noticed his offensive vision and playmaking abilities from the half boards, despite him not being a regular on the deep Lancers' powerplay. A glance at his stats to end February, 5 goals and 15 assists in 45 games, might seem underwhelming for an NHL draft pick in the USHL, but they're actually on par with those of 2007 second-round pick Nico Sacchetti, who put up 10 goals and 13 assists with the Lancers in 2007-08 after being selected out of the Minnesota high school ranks by the Dallas Stars and who has since made steady progress up the Minnesota Golden Gophers' depth chart, which gives Hamburg, Colgate, and the Wild all reason for optimism.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey had the opportunity to talk with Anthony Hamburg after a couple games in mid-February. Hamburg discussed his progress in the USHL, his future at Colgate, his experience at the Minnesota Wild's development camp, his well-traveled minor hockey career, the state of hockey in his hometown of Phoenix, and his favorite NHLers over the year, including a certain Senator center he looks up to.

McKeen's: We're over two-thirds of the way through your rookie season, and I think only USHL season, correct?

Hamburg: Yep.

McKeen's: I figured that's what the Wild would want otherwise some things with the CBA come into play. How do you feel 2009-10 has gone for you so far and how has it compared to your expectations coming into it?

Hamburg: Well, it's been a pretty interesting year. You learn different roles. You learn fourth-line roles compared to midgets last year, where I was a first-liner. But, it's just getting better overall during the year, getting better at every aspect of your game, not just come and scoring. I need to get better at my defensive play and grinding more. So, that's been good for me. You know? I didn't really know what to expect coming into the year, but it's definitely a fun process. I love the guys. Everyone here's great. It's a great group of guys. So, coming in here has definitely been interesting, but it's definitely been a success in my opinion.

McKeen's: As you mentioned, you came out of the midget AAA ranks, the Dallas Jr. Stars in your case. What were the biggest adjustments for you coming into the USHL and in what areas do you feel you've improved the most already so far?

Hamburg: Definitely speed, speed and strength. It's a lot faster and it's a lot tougher. But, this year, I feel like I've improved on skating, I've improved on personal attributes, such as my weight, and getting stronger. So, I'm happy with that. Just trying to get better every day defensively and grinding and trying to be a better team player and help this team win every day.

McKeen's: You mentioned improving defensively, but are there other areas of your game that you feel you need to focus on improving moving forward to take your game to the next level?

Hamburg: Oh, obviously I need to get better defensively and keep getting stronger and hopefully just being a team guy where, eventually, I need to be on the ice to get that game-winning goal for the team. So, whatever I have to do, I'll do to help the team win.

McKeen's: We've talked for a bit about improvements, but on the flipside, for those who have not seen you play, what would you say are the strengths of your game and the style that you play?

Hamburg: Just my vision on the ice, I like to make the open pass, move the puck up, get my teammates involved, good on assists, good goal-scorer, good offensive player. So, just keeping working hard offensively, but it's a team game and I'm glad to be a part of the team.

McKeen's: Are there ever times where you wish you were coming back for a second season so that you could be a top-six forward in the USHL?

Hamburg: Definitely. It'd be an interesting idea and I've thought about it. I still contemplate it on a daily basis. It's definitely been a learning year this year, and next year would only be an improvement. I'd have a bigger role, so no problem with that. But, it just depends, and see what the Wild want and see what Colgate wants.

McKeen's: With college, to what degree does Colgate stay in touch with you during the season and what do they say?

Hamburg: Oh, I talk to Jason Lefevre, he's the assistant coach there, and I almost talk to him every two days. He's a great guy. Just catch up, see how everything is going, see how they're doing. They've been a very welcoming bunch, I guess, and very supportive. Whatever I want, they support.

McKeen's: Similarly, you probably have another team checking in on you every now and again, Minnesota.

Hamburg: Yeah.

McKeen's: To what degree do they keep in contact with you and what have they been saying?

Hamburg: They want to let me do my own thing. It's kind of limited. They'll talk to me more (pauses), they'll give me a couple calls, probably once a month. Just keep trying hard, keep getting better. It's not about the sprint, it's about the marathon. So, they're happy and they just want me to keep developing on a daily basis.

McKeen's: Who do the Wild have contacting you? Player development director?

Hamburg: It's random guys from the organization.

McKeen's: Probably not too random. Probably not the gameday operations manager. (chuckles)

Hamburg: (Smiles) No, exactly.

McKeen's: Last summer, you attended their development camp. What were the areas of focus at the camp?

Hamburg: It was more of a team-bonding, just getting to meet the guys there. That was awesome. You work hard, skated probably two hours a day, and we did a lot bonding together, and it was just an interesting time and we all had fun together.

McKeen's: Any particular skill tips that you picked up?

Hamburg: They had a tremendous skating coach there. I don't remember the name offhand, but he helped with us. We did about 45 minutes about individual work with him, so that was good. Then we did physical training and stuff like that, where we can improve on our squatting and our bench press and all of that.

McKeen's: In the 45 minutes working with the power skater, what was the breakdown he had with your skating, the things he thought you did well and the things he thought you needed to improve on.

Hamburg: He thought I needed to improve on my quick start and my stride, but he said just keep working hard. It'll get there eventually, it just depends on how long it takes.

McKeen's: What were the biggest things you took out of that camp?

Hamburg: Just getting to know the guys, getting to know the arena, the facility's amazing, and just trying to become a better person every day and a better hockey player every day.

McKeen's: How did you feel you compared to the other prospects there and who were some of your fellow Minnesota prospects who impressed you the most and why?

Hamburg: Oh, it was definitely a learning experience. I was the youngest guy there. So, a little bit down the totem pole. But, I thought I competed hard and gave my effort every day and just tried to fit in and be a part of the team, make new relationships, start young. So, that was good. Unfortunately, two of the kids I hung out with there got traded already. But, Erik's (Erik Haula) a great player. We hang out now and again. It was just a great opportunity. (Pauses) I don't know the name for sure, but Maxim (pauses)…

McKeen's: Noreau.

Hamburg: Unreal. He was a great player. I think he's going to be something in the show.

McKeen's: I got to see Maxim in the AHL last year, and, yeah, he was budding offensive defenseman then. I haven't been able to see him this year, but reading about him, he's putting up some points, and he might be up there next year.

Hamburg: Yeah. All the kids were nice. So, it was a great opportunity to get to know each other and hopefully start building relationships for the future in Houston, maybe, and on to Minnesota, one day, hopefully.

McKeen's: The two kids traded, I think I know who you're talking about, but to make sure, they are?

Hamburg: Alexander Fallstrom and Nick Leddy.

McKeen's: Okay, that's what I thought. Leddy was just the other day.

Hamburg: Like, yesterday.

McKeen's: Yep, that's right, or two days ago. I saw that.

Hamburg: I hung out with Fallstrom almost every day there. So, he was a good friend, and I knew him. I played against him last year.

McKeen's: Sure, with Shattuck. I normally have questions about a player's career prior to the USHL, but in your case, you have an older brother (Andrew) who has his own career, too. So, how did your family get into hockey?

Hamburg: It's a funny story, actually. My dad, not a winter athlete at all. Can't ski, can't skate, nothing. So, my mother went to DU, and she hung out with all the hockey guys, because she was in a sorority and, of course, they were in a fraternity. So, she just took us skating one day when I was two and a half and my brother was about four, and ever since then we've been in love with it. So, I skated all the time, moving around to play hockey, but we're having a great time. I'm blessed with a great family, a great situation with them. They've helped lead me every day and have instilled a great work ethic and views and morals and all of that. They're great people, and I love them to death, and I'll do everything for them, and that's what they've done for me so far. So, I'll appreciate that forever.

McKeen's: At what age did you start playing organized hockey, be it house or learn-to-skate, and what were the different organizations that you skated for through the ranks. I'm aware of a couple of them, but I don't know all of them.

Hamburg: Oh, there's a ton. I want to say I started playing house league around age four, and I always played up with my brother. I started out with the Phoenix Firebirds (pauses) back in squirts, and then I played in Littleton Colorado, for the Hawks, pee wee Double-A, before they went to Triple-A. Then I went back for a year, to Phoenix. Then I went to LA, Triple-A, and then ever since then I was with Dallas. So, midget minor there with the Alliance Bulldogs and then two years after that with the Dallas Stars Triple-A.

McKeen's: So you only played the one year with the Selects?

Hamburg: Just one, and we won nationals that year.

McKeen's: So, Phoenix, then to the Hawks, then back to the Firebirds, then the Selects…

Hamburg: All over the place.

McKeen's: How did you end up in Littleton?

Hamburg: My mom, well, both of my parents are from Denver, and now my brother is going to CC (Colorado College). But, we got in contact with a coach there, and he said come out and play for us. My mother made a decision where she was going to take me out there for the year. So, it was pretty interesting, but it was a great experience. It builds every day, my character today. So, I appreciate everything she's done for me.

McKeen's: Your brother played with the Junior Stars, and you did also. So, tell me about the decision for you guys to move to the Junior Stars organization, and in your case the Alliance that one year.

Hamburg: It started out with my brother. He went to try out for the Alliance. I mean, Phoenix hockey, it's grown every year, but back then, it was a little rough patch. But, it was still good hockey, but he got asked to come play for the midget minor Alliance team and he actually got moved up to the Dallas Stars team. It just grew a relationship with them. My dad became best friends with that guy, and there was no doubt in my mind that I'd end up playing there anyway. It was a great situation out there. All the kids went to high school together. It was just a blast to live there.

McKeen's: The Junior Stars are definitely an organization that is (pauses), you're starting to see a lot more players come out of there.

Hamburg: Oh yeah.

McKeen's: I remember when Matt Donovan came out of there.

Hamburg: Yeah, he played with my brother.

McKeen's: He's obviously not the first one.

Hamburg: No, no.

McKeen's: But he was …

Hamburg: He was a key guy.

McKeen's: …very good.

Hamburg: Oh, yeah.

McKeen's: He's developed into what I expected he would and maybe (pauses)… I'm happy to see that he got the recognition that Team USA took him for the World Junior Championships.

Hamburg: Yeah. C.J. Ludwig was on that team, my brother, Locke Jillson, who played in the USHL now at Cornell, Armand Deswardt, who has a scholarship to Cornell, and a ton of guys who've moved onto the NA (NAHL) or the USHL.

McKeen's: You're originally from the Phoenix area?

Hamburg: Well, I was born in Houston, but when I was around two we moved to Phoenix. So, yeah, from Phoenix.

McKeen's: Any living memory of Houston at all?

Hamburg: Nope.

McKeen's: I wouldn't expect such.

Hamburg: No. No, no, no.

McKeen's: During your youth, the Coyotes came, moving from Winnipeg down to your neck of the woods. To what degree do you feel the Coyotes boosted hockey in Arizona and what do you think would happen to it if they relocated?

Hamburg: You know? It's a growing process in Arizona. Younger kids are starting play more, which brings more attendance. The only problem with the Phoenix Coyotes organization, I suppose, is it's in Glendale, which is a good hike from Phoenix. So, that's the only problem. But, I hope they stay there, and it's great for the community. They're having a great year this year, so I think that'll be a boost. But, (pauses), I would hate to see them leave. They're a great team, great players. So, hopefully younger kids can learn from them and keep getting better and they keep the Coyotes in Phoenix.

McKeen's: This may not be a fair question to ask of you. As you mentioned, Phoenix hockey wasn't (pauses), it's coming along, and part of that is the P.F. Chang's organization. Did you ever consider going back to play for P.F. Chang's?

Hamburg: Well, my year coming out of LA, I went to the P.F. Chang's tryouts, and I went to the Alliance tryouts, and it was a tough decision. I was a little homesick, so I was thinking about staying home, but I'd already committed to the guy the year before. So, I ended up going to the Alliance. But, I mean, I was pretty close to staying, being with my family and my friends back home. But, you make decisions and hopefully they pay off, and in my opinion they have.

McKeen's: I don't think it's hurt you any. The next step from there is here or from Dallas is here (the USHL).

Hamburg: Yeah, exactly.

McKeen's: So, here you are. How much do you think, though, having an organization like P.F. Chang's helps the Phoenix youth hockey?

Hamburg: It's great, especially with them moving into the new U18 Tier 1 league. So, I think that's beneficial. But, P.F. Chang's, they're a great organization. They play in a nice rink, bring fans in, and bring in more hockey players. So, I think that's great for the Phoenix community and the hockey community of Phoenix.

McKeen's: Now players from Phoenix will not necessarily have to…

Hamburg: Move away. Yeah.

McKeen's: Yeah, leave the Phoenix area. You're in the same league, the same scouts, for the most part.

Hamburg: Exactly.

McKeen's: For a little compare and contrast, in what ways are you similar to your brother, in terms of as a hockey player, and in what ways are you guys different?

Hamburg: My brother's a great player. I want to say that to start with. He's a bigger kid. He's six-three. I mean, I'm a big kid, but he's six-three. He's a little more of a power forward. (Pauses) I want to say we're almost the same player. He's a great passer, he scores a little bit. This year, he's having a great year at CC scoring, but he's more of a playmaker, he likes to pass the puck around, he likes to get his teammates involved. I kind of play like that, too. But, I'd probably say I'm a little more physical than him. I haven't seen him play this year, but from what my dad told me, he's been physical this year. So, that's great for him.

McKeen's: To round things out, who were some of your favorite players in your youth and who are some players today that you feel you're similar to or that you'd like to equate to?

Hamburg: In the NHL?

McKeen's: Well, other than your brother I suppose, but if there's some guy in the AHL or the ECHL or somewhere that you think you're really similar to, sure. It's open.

Hamburg: Well, growing up, when I was in LA, I loved watching highlights of Kyle Beach, because he's phenomenal. It's great to see Mario [Lemieux] play, and [Jaromir] Jagr, he was probably my favorite player. I remember getting his autograph in Phoenix. But, [Shane] Doan has always been good to the Phoenix Coyotes. But, modern day, I'd probably go with (pauses), I love watching Jason Spezza play. He's a great player. There's so many players. The whole Detroit Red Wings are great.

McKeen's: For the most part. This year, it's been a little shaky for Detroit. They'll make the playoffs somehow, I'm sure.

Hamburg: I'm sure they will, too.

McKeen's: Any particular players you feel you're similar to in the NHL or that you'd like to be similar to?

Hamburg: I'd probably say the closest, in my opinion, I don't know about the new guys coming in every week but Spezza. I want to say kind of like him. He's not the most physical, but he likes to move the puck around and get his teammates involved and he has great hands and great vision.

McKeen's: That he does.