QA with Mathieu Brisson

The expectations for Omaha Lancers defenseman Mathieu Brisson were high entering the 2009-10 season. The Quebec native was one of the top-scoring defensemen in the Quebec midget AAA ranks in 2008-09, was the eighth overall pick of the 2008 USHL Futures Draft, a second-round pick in the 2008 QMJHL Draft (and was considered by many to be a top-ten pick for the 2008 QMJHL Draft prior to Brisson indicating he was considering the college route), and was listed as a "Player to Watch" by Hockey Canada prior to the 2009 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. However, he got off to a slow start in the USHL, appearing to struggle with the pace of the play at times. By December, though, it was apparent that Brisson had turned the corner and was successfully adjusting to the caliber of play in the USHL, as he was moving the puck much more reliably, making plays, displaying confidence with the puck, and also finding more success engaging opponents at the blueline. While it's unlikely Brisson will average a point per game the rest of the season, if he continues to build on a successful end to the first half of the regular season, he'll certainly re-establish himself as a solid mid-round pick for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey was able to talk with Omaha Lancers defenseman Mathieu Brisson in early January. The French-Canadian discussed his adjustment to the USHL, his decision to go the collegiate route, his prospects for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, and a couple NHLers he looks up to (think Pittsburgh Penguins).

McKeen's: Entering tonight, you had nine points in your previous eight games, and I've had the opportunity to watch you a few times during the course of the season and it seems like you're really coming into your own with the USHL caliber of play. What has helped you become, at least in my opinion, visibly more comfortable on the ice both offensively and defensively?

Brisson: Yeah, I would say adaptation to the style of play. It took me a little bit of time to get used to it, but as time goes by, things got better game by game. I'm just finding ways to contribute offensively and things are going well right now.

McKeen's: What are the biggest adjustments you've faced coming out of Quebec midget AAA into the USHL?

Brisson: Really, the style of play. It's really different. I don't know how and why, but it's really different. Obviously, it's a lot faster, but the style of play is just different.

McKeen's: How would you describe the style of play at the Quebec midget AAA ranks?

Brisson: Probably more offensive. That's probably the big difference. Here, it's more focused on defense, so I can't really give up points. So, it's an adaptation.

McKeen's: What areas of your game do you feel have improved the most so far and what areas are you continuing to focus on heading forward?

Brisson: Really work on my defensive game. At the beginning of the season, I really worked on being faster and being more focused in the defensive zone. Then, after that, I can focus more on the offensive zone.

McKeen's: Yeah. They generally want you to take care of the back end first, unless you're Paul Coffey, I suppose. On the other hand, what do you feel are the strengths of your game and the style that you play?

Brisson: I think I'm a good skater, good mobility, good creativity in the neutral with good passes, and good natural skills, if I can say it like that, and a good passer.

McKeen's: You were paired with Joseph Lavin before he transferred to Notre Dame. What was it like pairing with Joe and in what ways does his departure hurt you and in what ways does it help you?

Brisson: Lavin's a really good guy, who I really liked to play with. The way I see it, I have to take control of my game more. He's an older guy, so he was taking care of more. So, I need to take care of more of my play and step up a bit.

McKeen's: That's kind of the way I see it, too. It's an opportunity for yourself, and C.J. Ludwig, and Dennis Brown to step up that little bit, because you all move up the depth chart a bit. I noticed early on this season that even though you were making some mistakes, that coach Littler kept putting you out. I don't think I ever saw him bench you for anything. How much of a relief was it that he'd keep giving you that chance?

Brisson: Yeah, it was really helping me. I knew he had my back, if I can say it like that. He really believed in me, so it gave me a chance to prove myself a little bit more and step up my play a little bit more so I could really help the team.

McKeen's: There's not much worse, especially as a defenseman, having to second guess every decision you make wondering, "Am I going to get benched next shift?"

Brisson: Yeah.

McKeen's: You were and still are a highly rated prospect in terms of the QMJHL. You were selected, you're obviously not going that route, but you were selected by Prince Edward Island in the second round of the draft, but here you are, and committed to Cornell. When did you decide to go the college route and what made you make that decision?

Brisson: I think school's very important in life. Even if I have a good career in hockey, at 40 years old I don't want to be at my house and doing nothing. I think school's important, and getting an education is a good thing.

McKeen's: Definitely. You never know, unfortunately, when a career could end.

Brisson: Yeah.

McKeen's: So, it's always good to have a good backup. While we're on the topic of college, when did colleges start contacting you and what were some of the other colleges that were in the running, and what made you decide on Cornell in the end?

Brisson: When I was drafted, I told them that I was not sure if I would want to go skate out here. So I came back for a second year of midget AAA. With my advisor, he sent requests to colleges to let them know that I was thinking about going to college. So, Cornell, we contacted them and started talking and it went well.

McKeen's: Who is your representative, or family advisor I should say?

Brisson: It's Gille Lupien, a French Canadian, and Enrico Ciccone. They both played in the NHL a long time ago.

McKeen's: I remember when Enrico was on Tampa Bay, on one of their early teams, picking up a few penalty minutes.

Brisson: (Chuckles) Yeah.

McKeen's: The USHL is getting pretty familiar with Quebec midget AAA prospects, with Louis Leblanc, Yasin Cisse, yourself, Lino Chimienti up in Sioux Falls…

Brisson: And Peter Sakaris (Brisson's teammate at College Charles Lemoyne and current Cedar Rapids RoughRider).

McKeen's: … yep, yep. Is there anything particular (pauses), what's created this pipeline from Quebec midget AAA the USHL?

Brisson: I think it's (the USHL) maybe the best league, since they prepare you for college. So, we hear about it in Quebec. I think it's a good thing for us, college.

McKeen's: Going back to the beginning of your hockey career, when did you first start playing and how did you get that start?

Brisson: Probably about the age of six years old, and just kept going every summer and winter. I went to school, high school, and I played hockey, so I played hockey every morning, and then school in the afternoon.

McKeen's: For what organizations did you skate for coming up through the ranks, from mites, squirt, pee wee, bantam, etc?

Brisson: The organization of my city, Longueuil. We're a pretty good organization, but my school, when I played hockey, it's different than here. My school team was not with the school. So, I played with my school during the week, and I had another team, two different programs. So, I got a lot of time on the ice.

McKeen's: Sounds kind of like a regular high school team. I remember a few years ago Colin Greening was drafted from (pauses), it was "something College." But, the term "college" in Canada is sometimes used for an institute for secondary education, high school. Was it that level?

Brisson: Maybe. Was it college or high school?

McKeen's: It wasn't like a Canadian college or university, like Arcadia or St. Xavier, I think it was named Upper Canada College, which was actually high-school aged.

Brisson: The way it worked with me, I went there for my seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. After that, I went to midget AAA, so then I changed schools. At that point, you couldn't be there, you were too old. You had to move on.

McKeen's: Going back to things with Omaha, who are some of your teammates that impress you the most and why?

Brisson: Obviously "Whitey" (Matt White) is a pretty good player. He's pretty good, and Erik Haula is a very good player, too. It's probably Haula, because "Whitey," I knew he was good. Haula, he came from Finland and was drafted in the seventh round, and I think he was ranked higher than that. He's very impressive.

McKeen's: He's a very nice seventh-round pickup for the Minnesota Wild.

Brisson: Yeah, yeah.

McKeen's: Speaking of the draft, this is your draft year, and I suspect as you continue to get better in the USHL you're going to travel up the lists a little bit. So, do you ever think about the draft and what would it mean to you to be drafted?

Brisson: Yeah, sure. I think about it every day. It's just a thing, how would I say, I think about it and I work harder to get better and better every day. That's what I'm trying to do to get in a good place in the draft. I know I didn't have the start of the season that I wanted, but right now it's going better. So, I just want to keep going and have a good place in the draft.

McKeen's: A couple years ago the Lancers had Patrick Wiercioch, who was injured mid-season, but he was a little raw at the beginning of the season, too. But, boy, at the end, when he came back off his injury, he helped turn their powerplay around and was a second-round pick. So, you never know. Lastly, who were some of your favorite players growing up and why and some players today you feel you're similar to or would like to equate to?

Brisson: I'm not similar to him (smiles), but Sidney Crosby. I like him a lot, because he works very hard and even if he's good, probably the best player on the planet, he's probably the hardest working on the ice, too. So, I like his work ethic and how he approaches the game. Things aren't going to go easy and you just have to work harder.

McKeen's: Sidney's the All-Canadian boy in that regard. He's incredibly skilled but puts forth that great effort. Any favorite defenseman or defensemen you feel you're similar to?

Brisson: I really like Kristopher Letang, he's French-Canadian, too. He played in the league I played, midget AAA. I think he has little bit of the same (pauses), not the same, because I'm going to college, but he's really made his way through the NHL and I really like how he plays and he's really excelled.

McKeen's: Kris has indeed done well for himself.