QA with Hugo Carpentier

At the 2006 draft in Vancouver, a place that is a few miles south of where the "Iditarod" crowns dog sled champions, the Calgary Flames used their 4th round pick (118) to select one of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies' new "lead dogs" Hugo Carpentier.

In mushing, "lead dogs" steer the rest of the team and set the pace and that is exactly what Carpentier does for his team. He is a relentless forechecker who bites into every shift, he can go to net hard or crush an opponant of the opposing pack. And that is how he guides the young Huskies to success in many of the team's races.

As a sophomore last season, the Gatineau (Québec) native was third in points on a young Husky team as he ran straight toward a 31 goal and 70 point season.

In his penultimate season in the Q, Hugo Carpentier sat down with McKeen's to talk about the team, himself and some of his objectives.

McKeen's: Can you give us a little background information prior to joining the Huskies?

Hugo Carpentier: I played all my minor hockey at Gatineau in Outaouais and I played my midget AAA at Intrepide at Gatineau. After at 16 years old I come at Rouyn-Noranda for juniors.

McKeen's: How would you describe your play with and without the puck?

Hugo Carpentier: With the puck I think I have good vision on the ice and I can hit a guy. I'm a power forward and I have good tools in my offensive play and in my defensive play. I'm a center so I can go help my wingers and my defensemen too.

McKeen's: You seem to be a very coachable guy and you seem to respect the system a lot. Is that about right?

Hugo Carpentier: Ya sure! In Rouyn-Noranda we have a work hard team so we don't have long shifts, we keep the plays simple. We go on the ice and we give our 100% (every shift) and then we come back, maybe 30 seconds. If we don't do that we don't play. So, if we don't respect the rules of the coach we don't play. I'm a guy who respects the rules and I play good games with that.

McKeen's: You were part of Quebec's U17 team and Canada's U18 team? Do you think it's possible for you to be part of Team Canada in the next few seasons?

Hugo Carpentier: I don't know. If I have a good season this year maybe I can have an invitation to go but... it's not my personal thing. I want to have a good season with Rouyn-Noranda and after I'll see that.

McKeen's: The Huskies are a young team this year. What are the team's objectives ?

Hugo Carpentier: Right! For the team, well we had a good season last year and we had a young team too. We want a better season than last year, we don't want to finish first in the league but we want good series ... and we want to pass the first round and maybe a second too. Next year (07-08), we think it is a big season, so we want to start proving that (we will be great) this season.

McKeen's: You had a point a game last season, 70 points including 31 goals. What type of objectives have you set for your third junior season ?

Hugo Carpentier: I want a better season than last year, same as the team. But if not I want to prove myself on the ice all the time. But if I get 70 points I'm pretty happy.

McKeen's: Did you go to the draft and where you pleased with where you were chosen ?

Hugo Carpentier: Yes! I go to Vancouver. Calgary draft me in the fourth round. I am pretty nervous but I'm really happy to go to Calgary in the fourth round.

McKeen's: Did you expect to go before the fourth round ?

Hugo Carpentier: My agent and my coach they thinks I'd go in the third or fourth... or maybe five. So fourth is pretty good for me and I'm happy with that.

McKeen's: And what about the Flames, is it an organisation that you wanted to go to?

Hugo Carpentier: Ya! It's a good organisation I think. It's the same thing as Rouyn-Noranda. The rules are work hard and you give your all on the ice. And we have a system that's defensive. So, I think it's a good thing for me because it's the same in the juniors. It' s good for me next year and when I get to the AHL.

McKeen's: How does the new NHL change your game ?

Hugo Carpentier: For sure it's my speed. Calgary wants that I improve my skating and my acceleration. So I want to improve that for the next couple of years.

McKeen's: What type of conditioning did you do over the summer?

Hugo Carpentier: I had two weeks with my agent Gilles Lupien, we had power skating and little games too. And after, I have one week with the Calgary Flames, we had power skating and the practice with the coach for the system and all that.

McKeen's: You told us earlier you were from Gatineau. Is it always special for you to play against the Gatineau Olympics ?

Hugo Carpentier: For sure it's special for me, it's my hometown. So, when I go to Gatineau all my family is there and it's very special. It's always a little thing more when I play against Gatineau.

McKeen's: The first game of the season you lost to Gatineau and a few days ago you won against them. How has team progressed between those two games?

Hugo Carpentier: I think that Levasseur (goalie Jean-Philippe Levasseur) wasn't there and for sure it didn't help the team. Since he come back, we progress in our system. And now, I think we are a force in the league.

McKeen's: I want to talk a bit about the rivalry between Rouyn-Noranda and Val d'Or since the two cities are so close. How do you experience the rivalry ?

Hugo Carpentier: It's a good rivalry. For sure, it's the war; the war of Route 117. So, it's always a good match and the people like that. Val d'Or have a good team too. We have a good game when we play against them. And it's really important for the Huskies to win against the Foreurs.