QA with Jason Zucker

Left-winger Jason Zucker may hail from Las Vegas, but he's certainly no gamble as prospects go. In fact, he's far closer to a sure thing. It's a certainty that any time Zucker is on the ice, he'll be wowing with his sensational speed, his exceptional skating, his powerful shooting, his two-way awareness, his relentless checking, and his fantastic effort. It's also been a certainty the past twelve months that if Team USA was calling upon an underage forward, it was Zucker. During his U-17 year with the U.S. National Team Development Program, Zucker was the forward who played the most games with the Under-18 team (16) and was called upon to skate at the World Under-18 Championships in Fargo and Moorhead. During his U-18 year with the USNTDP, Zucker was one of two Under-18 players (goaltender Jack Campbell being the other) Team USA called upon for the World Junior Championships (U-20) in Saskatoon, a strong testament to Zucker's abilities. Zucker can play the game any way you want to play it, and play it well, which means come draft day in Los Angeles, when an NHL team takes him, it won't be a roll of the dice.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey recently had the opportunity to interview Jason Zucker. The young forward discussed the USNTDP's jump to the USHL, his experiences with Team USA, his development the past two seasons, his commitment to Denver, the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, his minor hockey, and the NHLers he looks up to.

McKeen's: Well, seeing as how I'm talking to you after a USHL game, going back to last year, what was your reaction when you learned that the program was going to be playing in the USHL and how do you find the play here compares to what you play in the collegiate games?

Zucker: We were excited when we learned we were playing in the USHL. It's a tough league. The NA (North American Hockey League) last year was a tough league as well. We were excited to take the step up. The USHL is a great league. It's great competition every night. Comparing to the college games, they're not quite as fast, but all of these guys are going to be there next year, just like us. So, it's a good challenge for us.

McKeen's: With last season, with the U-17 team, as you mentioned, you guys played in the "NA," and you guys comprised 42 of the 58 games in that league, and you guys did pretty well against the NA teams. For this year's U-17 team, do you think it's helpful for them to be playing at this level so soon or might it be harmful in that they're losing a lot of games?

Zucker: Umm, you know? They haven't had the best year this year, but I think it's very helpful for them. They're a hard-working group of guys. They learn lessons every night, playing against all of these guys that are up to 20 years old. So, it's tough for them, but it would have been tough for us last year as well. So, it's good for them to get the experience this early, and they'll have a better year next year.

McKeen's: What do you find are the biggest differences between the USHL and the NAHL and, going back to last year, what were the biggest adjustments that you faced, personally, making that jump from midgets to, in essence, the North American League?

Zucker: The difference is just the speed. There's more skilled players in the USHL. It's the best of the best in the United States, and part of Canada. So, the speed of the game, and the guys are just as old and just as strong, if not stronger here. So, it's definitely a jump up. Going from midget hockey, it was a huge step for us going to the NA. We train all the year. Once we get to the USA program, we start weight training a lot, but the guys in the NA are really strong and big and fast, so we've got to try and catch up to them.

McKeen's: With last season, you played up with the U-18 team a reasonable amount, more than any other U-17 forward. Tell me about the circumstances behind some of those recalls, the role they used you in, and what it was like.

Zucker: How it works is before the Under-18 tournament, a couple months before, they try looking at 17's to possibly move up or to bring guys in from out of the program. It's unfortunate for the guys that are on the Under-18 team, that they worked two years for it. At the time, they just weren't performing at their best. They're still great players, they still go to college, but, at the time, they have to be performing their best in order to go to the Under-18 tournament. It's a hard tournament to win, and we were lucky enough to go there with the group of guys that we had and win. So, they can move guys up and down at any point in the season.

McKeen's: That goes perfectly into my next question. You were part of the team that went to the World Under-18 Championships in Fargo/Moorhead. When did you learn that you had for sure been named to the team and what was your reaction?

Zucker: Well, I was ecstatic about it. I thought I had a good year going in and just coming in with a good head of steam going into Under 18's. All of those guys are unbelievable players on the U-18 team, and the World (Under-18) Championships. So, I was excited to be able to go and get the experience to go, and we were lucky enough to win.

McKeen's: How did you feel you did at the tournament, and then recall the role that you played and your linemates up in Fargo?

Zucker: I thought I had a good tournament. I think I had around seven or eight points in the seven games (1 goal and 5 assists in 7 games), so it was good. It was a great experience for me. I played with linemates Chris Brown and David Valek. Chris Brown's at the University of Michigan and David Valek is playing over at Harvard. They're both great players. I was on the fourth line, but I was excited to be there. We just went out and did our roles and tried to get points when we could, try to help the team win every day.

McKeen's: You kind of played up an age group, so to speak, in a way, for the World Junior Championships as well. Similar to the last series of questions, when did you learn you'd been named to that and what was your reaction to playing Under-20's?

Zucker: I was told three weeks before the training camp that we had. We went up to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and had a three-day training camp there, comprised of a game against North Dakota. I didn't learn I made the team until the day of the Czech Republic game that we played at a practice rink there. I learned that day, and I was happier then I've ever been in my life. It's the biggest stage of hockey that there is other than the Olympics and the NHL, so I was excited to be there, especially as an underager. I just wanted to go there and do everything I could to help my team win once again.

McKeen's: Recall for me your role on that team as well, your linemates, and how you feel you did.

Zucker: I was actually on the first line there with Jordan Schroeder and Ryan Bourque. Our role was to go out there and score goals. I didn't do too much of that, but Ryan Bourque and Jordan Schroeder did their part. I was there to try and help them out and help the team win and I thought I played a really good tournament, solid, and we got another gold medal there.

McKeen's: Tell me a bit about Tyler Johnson's game misconduct.

Zucker: Oh, (smiles) that was a little bit of a mess. I went in, it was actually the first shift of the tournament for me and for Tyler Johnson as well, and we're playing against Slovakia. The guy, Martin Stajnoch, came around the net, passed it, and I hit him, and unfortunately hit his face on the ice, which cut him. So the refs called it as a high-sticking penalty, and he got 10 (Johnson) and 16 (Zucker) mixed up by accident. So, he tossed him out of the game. I felt bad, because I was the one who hit the kid. The refing, it was the greatest tournament, they just made an unfortunate mistake that game and Tyler Johnson got thrown out.

McKeen's: How would you say 2009-10 has gone for Jason Zucker so far?

Zucker: I think it's been great for me. I've had a ton luck. I've had great teammates, a great coaching staff here. This team that we have here, it's full of great character guys in the locker room and everything. It's been a lot of fun. We're looking forward to going to the Under-18 tournament this year with this great team and hoping to win another medal there.

McKeen's: With the Under-18 tournament, since you played in it last year, this is your second go-round with it. So, what are your expectations going into it?

Zucker: We've just got to go and do everything we can to win. We're a great team here, and we have great guys, we have a great coaching staff, a great support staff. From Scott Monaghan, through Kurt Kleinendorst, to our intern coach Cole Bassett. We have everybody, trainers, equipment managers and all that supporting us with everything we need. We're just going to go there and do the best we can and hopefully come away with a gold medal.

McKeen's: In your time with the program, what do you feel are the areas of your game that have improved the most and how?

Zucker: I think everything aspect of my game has gotten better, from shooting, to skating to overall defensive zone and coverage, to offensive zone, everything. Every guy here develops each and every day. We practice, we lift, and we do all these games and everything, and we develop every day and become better players for it.

McKeen's: That's kind of the goal of the program, for you guys to improve at everything.

Zucker: Exactly.

McKeen's: Similarly, what are the areas of your game that you feel you need to improve on the most continuing forward to take your game to the next level?

Zucker: I think I need to work on quite a bit of things. Everybody can work on things to get better. I think I can work on my shooting, my passing, my skating, offensive zone, defensive coverage. Every bit of my game, I can work on. There's not one thing I can just point out, because in order to play at the level, you have to be a complete player, and I need to work on my complete game each and every day.

McKeen's: On the other hand, for someone who's never seen you play, which shouldn't be too many people around hockey, what would you say are the strengths of your game and the style that you play?

Zucker: I think I'm a gritty player. I can score goals, but I'm going to go into the corner and hit and can take a hit. I'm not going to back down to anything. I'm going to do anything for my team to win. I'm the guy that hates losing, just like most people, so I'll do anything in my power to make sure we win the game.

McKeen's: You're committed to Denver. Going back to the beginning of that whole process, when did colleges first start contacting you and, if I may ask, who were you considering toward the end, and what made you pick DU?

Zucker: Well, they first started talking to me when I got to Compuware. I played for Detroit Compuware my midget year, and that's when they first started talking to me. So, you know? It was a long process. I had a bunch of great schools talking to me. It was probably one of the hardest decisions of my life. Denver's a great school, they have a great coaching staff and everything, and it was a little bit closer to home, which is good. They have a great hockey tradition with all the national championships they have, and I'm looking forward to getting started there next year.

McKeen's: You're going to go someplace reasonably early in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, and so there may be a little pressure for you to go the major junior route? Would you consider going the major junior route?

Zucker: I mean, I've considered it. A great organization, Seattle, has my rights. But, right now, I'm definitely going to Denver University. The NHL Draft is in the back of my head, but it's not something I need to worry about right now. I need to worry about Under-18's with this team and each and every game heading up to it. So, the draft is just a byproduct of how I play.

McKeen's: Absolutely. A player of your stature often has, in your case, a family advisor. So, do you have representation and, if so, may I ask whom?

Zucker: Yes, I do. Chris Lepkowski and Rich Evans with the Points West organization. They're a great supporter for me, and they're good friends with my family. So, they try to do everything can to help me get to the next level.

McKeen's: How often do they keep in contact with you and what have they been saying lately?

Zucker: They keep in contact weekly. They really just talk about the next game, focus on the next game and getting better each and every day, because, once again, how I play now is the byproduct of how the NHL Draft goes and how next year will work out and Under-18's as well.

McKeen's: I know my next question is not on your immediate radar, but I'm certain you will be one of the players invited to the Combine. Do you anticipate a point in the future after the Under-18's where you'll start training in particular for that and what are your expectations for the Combine?

Zucker: Umm, well, if I'm lucky enough to get invited to go, I think we here at the program are pretty well prepared with our great strength and conditioning coach, Darryl Nelson. There's not many things that he doesn't work on with us. So, we've got to go perform how we can and do our best there as well. We get great training working with Darryl there. I think we should be fine.

McKeen's: I know you said the draft is kind of on the back burner, but what are your expectations and is there a point, a range that you've set as a goal where you'd like to go?

Zucker: Well, I really have no expectations for the draft, because with the ratings that come out, they really don't mean anything, because they don't know what the NHL teams are thinking. So, every kid hopes to go in the first round, and, of course, that's been my dream. But, I really can't expect my self to go there. I can't expect myself to go at all. If I'm lucky enough to get drafted, then I'm lucky enough to get drafted.

McKeen's: I'm sure you'll be drafted somewhere, somewhere reasonably early. It'll be interesting to see where. Going back to the beginning of your hockey career, when did you first start playing and how did you get that start?

Zucker: I started playing when I was two and a half years old. My brother Evan got me started in roller hockey. So, I played roller hockey for quite a few years, and I still play. Every summer I play. So, that's where I got started, and I got started up in ice when I was five, and I've been going from there.

McKeen's: I'm aware of Compuware, but I don't know your entire history. So, what are the different organizations that you've skated for at the different levels?

Zucker: In the pee wee age groups, I played for the Los Angeles Hockey Club. I moved to LA when I was ten years old to play there. After that, I went back home for a few years to play for an organization there, then I went to go play for Compuware?

McKeen's: The name of the organization back home?

Zucker: Las Vegas Outlaws.

McKeen's: I must admit I haven't heard of the Outlaws, I don't remember hearing about them.

Zucker: It's a small organization, being from a town like Vegas, of course, but it's a great organization

McKeen's: Lastly, who were some of your favorite players growing up and why and then, also, players today who you feel you're similar to or that you'd like to be similar to?

Zucker: Growing up, everybody was always a fan of Wayne Gretzky, of course. He was a great player, probably the best player that's ever played hockey. Now, one of my favorite players is Pavel Datsyuk, as well as Jarome Iginla. They're both great players and they're role models, and that's how you have to play the game in order to play in the NHL.