QA with Cody Campbell

All signs pointed to Cody Campbell having a strong year entering 2009-10 season. The 17-year-old Campbell had a solid rookie season with the Fargo Force in 2008-09, he had been selected to attend Team USA's Warren Strelow National Team Goaltending Camp held in May, and he had been selected to play for Team USA's Under-18 Select Team at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament in August after a solid Select-17 Festival in July. Everything looked be on track for Campbell, but the 2009-10 season started to derail in November. Campbell's technical game broke down and he had visibly lost his confidence during a streak of games where he gave up five goals, five goals, and four goals in consecutive starts and then was pulled after giving up three goals in six shots against Sioux Falls Dec. 9. That would end up the final game Campbell would play with Fargo, as he had requested a trade and the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders pulled the trigger to acquire him Dec. 10, and it proved to be a turning point. Heading into the final weekend of the 2009-10 season, no USHL goaltender had been hotter than Campbell since the winter break. In 14 games following the break, Campbell had compiled a 10-3-1 record, 2 shutouts, a 1.48 goals-against average, and an amazing .947 save percentage. Even with his dismal stats with Fargo factored in, and two so-so relief appearances for Cedar Rapids in mid-December, Campbell was still tied for fourth in save percentage (.908) and tied for third in goals-against average (2.31) as each USHL team entered it's final games of the season.

While Campbell can't go back in time and project his stats since the winter break over the course of the entire 2009-10 season, which would give him the best goals-against average and save percentage in USHL history, he can move forward and maintain his phenomenal performance into the playoffs and maybe, translate that into selection in the late rounds of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. If he does, he'd be the first sub-six-foot goaltender selected out of the USHL since former RoughRider Bobby Goepfert was selected in the sixth round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey was able to talk with Cedar Rapids RoughRider goaltender Cody Campbell in March. Campbell discussed his tale of two seasons in 2009-10, his development in the USHL, representing his country, his commitment to the University of New Hampshire, his prospects for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, and the legends in net he looks up to.

McKeen's: Heading into this weekend, you were 6-0-1, and I think you're 7-0-1 with Cedar Rapids now, so things are rolling pretty well for you, and if the stats weren't enough, visibly, I was able to see you with Fargo earlier this year, you didn't look as good then as you do now. What's helped you, in essence, return to the Cody Campbell I think people were used to?

Campbell: I just think getting here and getting in a good situation that I felt comfortable in was really important for me. Things didn't quite work out this year in Fargo, and that happens sometimes. But, I'm in a situation now where coach has confidence in me, which gives me confidence, too. As a whole, we're just playing well. When you have a team playing well in front of you, it's easy to put up good numbers.

McKeen's: No doubt. I think this weekend's loss was the first loss Troy [Grosenick] has had in a while, and that you guys have had in a while. You guys have been on a heckuva streak. I remember watching you earlier with Fargo this year, and then last year, and I remember the first time I saw you, at the Fall Classic, I came away thinking, "I might like him better than Mike Lee." But, things slid with Fargo. So, what were the factors that led to you getting off your game?

Campbell: There were a lot of different goalie partners that I ran through in Fargo and stuff this year, and we had a coaching change, and that's not always easy. I had a good relationship with coach [Dean] Blais. Me and coach [Steve] Johnson didn't quite hit it off as well, and that happens in sports. It happens at every level. Those were kind of factors. I'm not going to point fingers or anything. I wasn't playing confident, I wasn't being aggressive, and, sometimes, here, that's been something I've been doing a good job with. You know? Fargo was great to me, I had a good year and a half there, but I'm definitely happy to be here, and having some success here right away is nice.

McKeen's: Last question on this topic, I promise. I read that you requested the trade. Is that the case and, if so, was Cedar Rapids the desired location or was that more up in the air?

Campbell: Yeah, I did request a trade. Kids that are in high school in this league, to be traded, have to request a trade. I did that. Cedar Rapids, from the get go, since the first game I played in here last year, was obviously a first-class organization, and for coach [Mark] Carlson to step up and make the move for me, I felt really honored to be here. It's a first-class organization with a first-class team. I've done a good job so far since I've been here and things couldn't have really gone better. It was a smooth transition and I'm having a lot of fun.

McKeen's: It turned out well for you, obviously, and, thankfully for Fargo, things have solidified in net, too. So, it's working out for both parties. Going back to last season, what were some of the biggest adjustments you faced coming to the USHL out of midgets with Pikes Peak?

Campbell: It was just (pauses), I was a 16-year-old moving away from home for the first time, it's obviously a big adjustment. As for on-ice stuff, plays just develop so much quicker. You don't have as much time to read the play and get to your spots. You've got to make sure you're pretty quick. Guys are bigger, faster, stronger, you're playing against 20-year-old men in this league. It's a men's league. That was the biggest difference. I came right out of Under-16 hockey, a 16-year-old here staring a 20-year-old in the face.

McKeen's: In your time, maybe it hasn't been entirely smooth, but what are the areas of your game that you feel you've improved in the most and how?

Campbell: Last year was a good year for me to get some experience and know I can play in this league, prove that to myself and to other people. Most important is to prove it to yourself, you have to have confidence in your abilities, and I do and I always have. I think, like I said before, the tough things to adjust to were speed and reading the plays, and I think that's a big part of the game. Being a second-year guy now, it's a little bit easier. It's still not easy by any means, it's a tough league no matter which way you cut it. Those are the two biggest things. I've gotten taller, gotten a little stronger, and those things help as well.

McKeen's: With the tall and strong thing, what height and weight is Cody Campbell cruising at these days?

Campbell: I'm about 5-11, 155.

McKeen's: I remember Martin Biron, when he came into the NHL years ago, , I think he was listed at 6-foot-2, 160, maybe even 150, and he was in the NHL.

Campbell: Yeah. Ryan Miller's like 160 pounds right now.

McKeen's: Yeah. He's another guy who's really lean, almost kind of wiry. But, boy oh boy, does he get across the net well still.

Campbell: Yep. You've got to find what works for you, and flexibility's a big key for a lot of goalies.

McKeen's: Moving forward, in what areas of your game do you feel you need to improve the most to take your game to the next level?

Campbell: You can always improve on small technical things, but at this level that's what makes the biggest difference. Some nights when you're on and you're in that zone, it's the really little things that gets you there. Other nights, it's a centimeter off your angle either way, and there's five behind you really quick. It's just really detailed, small things. I think everyone, to get to this level, has to be incredibly skilled. You've got to be quick, got to have good reflexes. But, when you break it down, it's really the details that matter the most, especially in my position.

McKeen's: With the technicalities, what are the specific technicalities for you?

Campbell: Maybe it's being out six inches further on top of my crease, maybe it's the right saves to make at the right times so I control the rebounds, reading the player's stick, trying to get a little bit ahead on where they're shooting. A lot of people don't realize, some people it's just like, "Oh you're back there, stop the puck." But, there's a lot of details that go into.

McKeen's: Absolutely. Even as shooters, I wasn't a goalie, they teach us to try to keep that puck and present shot, because if you have that stick in front of you, the goalie knows you're not going to shoot. On the flipside of improvements, what would you say are the strengths of your game and the style you play?

Campbell: I like to just go out there and be an athlete. I think that's one of my biggest attributes. Compete level is a big thing, like coach Carlson preaches. I'd like to think that's even gone up in my game. Don't ever want a puck behind you, you know that. I think just compete level, aggressiveness, and athleticism are some of my strengths. I can always work on those, too.

McKeen's: Talking with coaches, that's the things they talk about, track the puck, staying square, being assertive, and of course the technicalities of making the saves. Prior to this year's Fall Classic, you played for Team USA at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. When did you learn you'd been named to the team, who told you, and what was your reaction?

Campbell: It was kind of a tryout process, almost. Everyone goes to the Select-17 Camp, and they picked an All-Star Game, I made it to that, and they said, "We'll let you know within a day or two." I actually saw one of the assistant coaches at the airport while I was going home, and he came up to me and said, "Cody, just want to let you know you're on the list, not going to make you wait for a phone call when I see you right here." I was really excited. It's a great honor. The first thing I did was call my parents and tell them the good news (some of that original enthusiasm now coming through in Campbell's voice). It was obviously a goal I'd had at the start of the summer. For me to reach that, was important to me. It was a fun trip. I got to take it with a few guys on this team, like Michael Parks and Sam Warning. Knowing I was going to play against them at the start of the year was still fun. You still became good friends with everyone on the team over there. It was a really incredible thing to be able to represent your country.

McKeen's: Who was the assistant coach that you ran into?

Campbell: Danton Cole…

McKeen's: Oh okay.

Campbell: … of Alabama-Huntsville.

McKeen's: Former NHLer.

Campbell: Yep, Winnipeg Jets.

McKeen's: Also related to (pauses)…, well I'll ask this first, how did you feel you did at that tournament and how did the play there compare to the USHL?

Campbell: I thought I played pretty strong. The play there (pauses), the European teams play tons different than a regular Indiana Ice play in this league. It was interesting to see. A lot of the European teams don't hit as much, they try to tic-tac-toe the puck a little bit more. With that, there's a lot more passing, you've got to try to read plays more. I'd say the skill level was probably the same, maybe made a few more passes than are made in this league, but there was no way the level of competition in that tournament, guys just didn't compete as hard as they do in this league. I mean, it's tough playing on a team with guys you hardly know, to play for the guy next to you. Obviously, every team tries to do those team-building things and you can do that, but there definitely wasn't the hitting and the competitiveness at that tournament. It was just a lot more skill showcased.

McKeen's: I remember Ohio, a couple years ago, they had a goalie, Pasquale Terrazzano.You could tell he was from Switzerland. Very used to the European style. He was very good at having his trailing pad down and was extremely quick, because he was so used to those passes across the crease to the back door, and he had it.

Campbell: Definitely, a lot of those European goalies are, because you have to be. Sometimes that's why they don't get the first shot, but they'll definitely make that spectacular backdoor save.

McKeen's: Related to USA Hockey, you were invited to the Warren Strelow program that they had last season, which was in (pauses to recollect)…

Campbell: In May.

McKeen's: Right, they announced it in April. Tell me about that, what they do there, and some of the things you learned.

Campbell: That was another thing, it was a nice honor to be invited to that. I think they coached four goalies from the 1992 age group. What it basically was, was five days of goalie instruction. There were different goalie coaches there from different colleges. John Vanbiesbrouck was there, and NHL player Mike Dunham was there. Joe Exter, who actually coached here for a few years, was the head coach of the camp. There's endless things that you can take away from a week like that with that much knowledge around you, the really small detailed things. When you make a t-push across, lift your back skate a little bit, it helps that push come a little bit quicker, getting that back leg up, where you can close your five hole down a little bit quicker. There were a ton of things I learned, definitely.

McKeen's: At this juncture, is the plan for Cody Campbell to go to college next year or are you coming back to the USHL?

Campbell: Nope, nope, I'm coming back here, head to UNH in 2011. I'm excited to come back here next year. Hopefully we'll just keep rolling like we are right now.

McKeen's: At what point was that the plan? Maybe that figured into their (Cedar Rapids') wanting to acquire you in a trade.

Campbell: It wasn't the plan when I first came here. I talked with the coaches at UNH over Christmas Break and stuff, and we kind of decided that one more year here would be best. Maybe if I was in Cedar Rapids all year, maybe I'd be going next year for sure. Who knows? I'm definitely excited to be coming back here. I love it here. It's a lot of fun.

McKeen's: With college, you're committed to UNH, as you mentioned, when did colleges start recruiting you, who else was in the running, if I might ask that, and what made you decide on UNH?

Campbell: Umm, first phone call I got from a college, I think it was 14 or 15. It was Colorado College. It was hometown, and I took a visit there. That was my first college visit, was Colorado College. I talked with them, visited Ohio State, Minnesota, Denver. Denver and Nebraska-Omaha were the two offers that I had. I obviously played for coach Blais the year before, grew up around Denver and took a visit there. When it came time, UNH was actually my first offer, so when it came time, I went on a visit out there right before I went overseas. Right when I got on campus, I felt like I fit in and just kind of had that gut feeling, "I could spend four years hear." They've got a great coaching staff, and assistant coach Dave Lassonde (who coaches' UNH's defensemen and goaltenders). Those were the main factors there. They've got the things that I want to major in, so…

McKeen's: That begs the question, what do you look to major in?

Campbell: I'd like to major in psychology and minor in education, hopefully set me up to start coaching a team after hockey is over.

McKeen's: There you go. Goaltenders taking psychology, that's not too far-fetched. Going back to the beginning of your hockey career, when did you first start skating, and playing, and how did you get that start?

Campbell: (Chuckles) Actually, my parents rented Mighty Ducks for me, the original one, when I was four years old. I watched that and right after the movie finished I went to the landing, and my parents were downstairs, and I said, "I think I really want to try hockey." Next day, we're at the sports shop, got my first pair of skates and everything, and started learn-to-skate. From there on, I've been playing ever since.

McKeen's: Quick turnaround. At what point did you become a full-time goaltender?

Campbell: I played, like, one full year of forward, my mini-mite year. Well, in mini-mites we rotated, just pass the pads around and stuff. Our last game of the year, we'd made it to the championship at some little dinky tournament in Pueblo, Colorado. The game went into a shootout, we won, and from there on I kind of figured, "I'm kind of good at this, want to keep trying, it's definitely fun." So, I think I've been playing goalie since I was five.

McKeen's: That's early for a lot of goaltenders. A prospect of your caliber, it's not uncommon to have a family advisor, since you're on the collegiate track. If I might ask, do you have an advisor and, if so, whom?

Campbell: Yep, I do. His name is Howard Hutton. He works with CMG Sports, he's out of St. Louis. He's awesome with the college thing, talking to schools, seeing if they're interested in me. Never pushed, "You've got to take this kid," or anything. He let me get there on my own, but he was definitely a good resource to have and to talk to about different things, different schools. He's an awesome guy. I talk to him about once a week on the phone. He's a great resource to have.

McKeen's: You answered the first part of my next question, how often you talk to him, but what's he been telling you lately?

Campbell: He talks to coach Carlson on occasion, just the way I've been playing lately. Just, don't really want to make any major changes right now. So, just pay attention to the little details, compete hard. I think that's the biggest thing for any goalie. You might be way out of position, but if you're competing and you really want to stop the puck more than the shooter wants to score, then maybe you have a chance at getting it.

McKeen's: That's kind of how Cab Morris played tonight in Indiana's net. I would say he was far from perfect technically tonight. This wasn't the best I've seen him play, but he still got the result in the end. Back to you, this your draft year. Earlier this year, that wasn't looking so promising. But, you're on top of your game now. Do you have any hopes for the draft? So far, it's been uncommon for a sub six-foot goalie to come out of the USHL, but any hopes for that?

Campbell: Umm, you know? It'd be awesome to get drafted. If it's going to happen, I have no idea, probably not. Even players drafted in the seventh round are incredibly skilled and stuff. If it happens, that's great. But, I just want to keep focusing on the year now and not looking any further than the next shot.

McKeen's: Not to take this too far off the present, but if I were a director of amateur scouting for an NHL team or a regional scout advising my director, who's advising my GM on draft day, what are some reasons I should consider taking Cody Campbell in, perhaps, the late rounds of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft?

Campbell: I think, like I said before, I compete really hard, I'm athletic, hopefully I'm still going to grow and put some more weight on. Hopefully there's some potential there. I'd like to think I'm a good team guy that guys like to be around in the locker room and stuff. The main thing is athleticism and competing hard.

McKeen's: Lastly, to end things on more of a soft ball, who were some of your favorite players and/or goalies growing up and why and who are some of the goaltenders today that you think you're similar to or would like to equate to?

Campbell: Favorite goalie when I was younger was Patrick Roy, for sure. He played in Colorado since, basically, ever since I started watching hockey and playing hockey. Then, after Roy retired, I kind of became a little bit more of a student of the game, as I got a little older. I really like to compare myself to Marty Brodeur. I think he's just an athlete and he competes. He might not be as technically sound, might not be a goalie coach's favorite student, but he stops the puck and gets the win, and obviously his record and everything speaks for itself. Him and Ryan Miller are my two favorite goalies right now. Easy to say, but Ryan Miller, he competes hard. He's kind of like me, similar build, kind of a wiry guy, and just real flexible and real quick in the net, uses his reactions, because he's definitely not going to stop any pucks because he's huge.

McKeen's: (Laughs) Ryan's probably one of the top goalies right now, and Marty's been a starter for what, 15, 16 years? That's something, not to mention he's got one of the best records of all time.

Campbell: Yep.