QA with Max Tardy

His last name may be Tardy, but you can rest assured that Tri-City Storm center Max Tardy won't be late on the forecheck or delinquent in creating offensive chances for himself and his teammates. Tardy was a seventh-round pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft after a solid senior year with Duluth East that earned him Duluth News Tribune Player of the Year honors and that made him one of 10 finalists for Minnesota's Mr. Hockey Award (Nick Leddy was awarded the honor). Tardy has been an impact player for the Storm offensively in 2009-10, scoring 9 goals and 11 assists in 25 games prior to the Christmas Break, and contributing defensively as a tenacious forechecker using his speed, even when the game is out of reach for his team.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey had the opportunity to talk with Tri-City Storm center Max Tardy just before the Christmas Break. Tardy discussed his adjustment to the USHL, his selection by the St. Louis Blues and attending their Pro Orientation Camp, his high school hockey career in Minnesota, his commitment to Minnesota-Duluth, and his favorite NHLers (think Tre Kronor).

McKeen's: Well, to start on a more positive note, heading into tonight you had nine points in your previous seven games. What were some of the things that were attributing to your success during that streak?

Tardy: Well, you know? We had been outworking teams. That's the main thing. We came in tonight, and we were just dead. No one worked. There wasn't anything positive like that happening tonight. We got absolutely schooled. It's like we let up, and in this league you can never do that. You can never let off the gas, you always have to keep getting better, and we took a definite step back tonight.

McKeen's: Omaha is doing that to people, this season. You're in your first, and what will be your only, USHL season. So, what are your impressions of the league, and what have been the easiest parts of your adjustment coming here from Minnesota high school, and then some of the hardest?

Tardy: Well, the hardest part is it's so fast, and players are a lot bigger and stronger. You've really got to think quick, you've got to act quick, and you've got to be quick out there. I work hard off the ice to get bigger and stronger. Those are the biggest things about this league, everything is happening so much faster.

McKeen's: Going back to June, you were selected by the St. Louis Blues in the seventh round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. How did you find out you'd been drafted, what was your reaction, and when did St. Louis first contact you and what did they say?

Tardy: They called me shortly after the draft. I was watching it at home with my family, so when I saw my name come up, I was pretty excited. But, yeah, I had all my family around. So, it was a pretty neat experience.

McKeen's: What did the Blues tell you when they called you?

Tardy: They just told me (pauses), a local scout called me, one of their farther-up scouts, Mike Antonovich, from Greenway. He just said he was really happy that they got the opportunity to draft me. He was excited to see me progress as a player.

McKeen's: As a Blues pick, you were invited to, what they call, Pro Orientation Camp. What did the Blues do with you guys and what was some of the off-ice stuff they did with you guys?

Tardy: It was really structured. There's guys like T.J. Oshie there, Erik Johnson there, it was a really great experience. The whole thing was about what you need to do to reach that level. So, it was a really good learning experience.

McKeen's: What are some of the things the Blues said that you guys need to do to reach that level?

Tardy: Well, just taking care of yourself, focusing on hockey and not having too much fun in your off time. Really working hard at everything you do. A lot of it is about being a professional, away from the game as well as with the game.

McKeen's: What are some of the on-ice tips that you learned with St. Louis that you feel have helped your game the most already and what are some of the tips that you think will help you the most long-term?

Tardy: One is (pauses), a lot of that camp was about preparing yourself. Preparing yourself to make it to the next level. That's one thing that I try to do every night. I try to prepare myself mentally, get myself ready. Obviously, tonight it didn't really happen too much. But, just making sure that you're always ready to play and always ready to be at your best.

McKeen's: What are some of those things that you do to prepare yourself mentally before every game?

Tardy: I visualize a lot. We have sheets that we go over, pre-game sheets about our opponents, and you read that over. You just visualize the game and what your job is and making sure you get your job done out there.

McKeen's: How did you feel you did at the camp and then also in the Blue-Gold Scrimmage?

Tardy: I was actually, I had a separated shoulder before it. So, I only skated in non-contact drills. I just watched the scrimmage. But, it looked pretty fun. I wish I would have been alright.

McKeen's: Well, that's a bummer. At what point did you separate the shoulder and how did that happen?

Tardy: I separated it at Tri-City's tryout camp, actually, in Vegas. It was a couple weeks before.

McKeen's: A fun place for a tryout, I guess.

Tardy: (Chuckles) Yeah.

McKeen's: The team picked up a few guys out there, and a couple of them stuck. One is the owner's son…

Tardy: Yeah.

McKeen's: but, Kenny [Brooks] isn't too bad, and Steve Bolton is from out there, too.

Tardy: Yeah.

McKeen's: Who were some of the Blues prospects at the Pro Orientation Camp that impressed you the most and why?

Tardy: Well, obviously you've got guys like Oshie and a couple guys that had played already, Alex Pietrangelo, he played a few games in the NHL, and then guys like Phil McRae, he's a great player. There were a lot of major junior players there that were really good and some European players. Everyone there was really skilled, really fast, really strong. It just kind of shows you the level you need to be at.

McKeen's: Looking at the rosters that they had for that, Lars Eller, Erik Johnson, Pietrangelo, all those guys like that, that's not a bad Pro Orientation Camp for some of you guys just coming in there, with some of that talent.

Tardy: No.

McKeen's: At the conclusion of that camp, what did the Blues tell you?

Tardy: Well, obviously, (chuckles) they're not going to sign me or anything out of high school but, just to make sure that you keep working hard. Everything you do (pauses), you can control your own destiny. So, just keep working hard all the way up to get better.

McKeen's: For those who haven't seen you play, what would you say is the style of your play and the strengths of your game?

Tardy: Umm, I'd like to think I'm a tenacious player. I like to create time and space for myself. I like to create opportunities, create scoring chances. I'm more of an offensive forward, but I try to work and compete in the game a little bit more defensively. I just try to go out there and make things happen.

McKeen's: Yeah. Tonight, taking some notes on you, even when the game was out of reach, you were putting in a pretty good effort on the forecheck, so that goes with what you're saying. Unfortunately, it didn't show up on the scoreboard, but you can only do what you can do.

Tardy: Yeah.

McKeen's: On the other hand, what are some of the areas of your game that you're focusing on improving the most this year?

Tardy: Definitely my quickness, my speed, and my strength. Those are all things that you can control, you know? A lot of that comes (pauses), it doesn't show on the weekends all the time, but you've got to do it when no one's looking, away from the ice. You've got to work hard in the weight room to get bigger and stronger, and that'll really help with your play.

McKeen's: With the Storm, there are not a lot of guys returning from last year, but, for the most part, the difference between this year and last year is immense. What are some of the guys that were here last year, like Radoslav Illo, Anthony DeCenzo, or Rick Pinkston, what have they said have been the main differences, if they talk about, between this year and last year?

Tardy: One thing that's huge is that we've got a coaching staff and ownership that are here to win. They give you the best opportunity to play and we're all confident that we can get that done. I mean, obviously, games like tonight it doesn't look that so much, but there's a lot more confidence out there and we play with a lot more confidence knowing that we can win every game.

McKeen's: You were drafted in the Futures Draft of 2008. Did you follow things at all with what was happening in Tri-City? Were you concerned at all?

Tardy: No, not really. Because, junior teams can change so much from year to year. So, with Anthony DeCenzo being from Minnesota, he's one of my good buddies, I was following it a little bit. It had to be tough for those guys, but I was just mainly focusing on things last year, my own high school team.

McKeen's: You did pretty well for yourself in Duluth.

Tardy: Mmm, hmm.

McKeen's: After playing in the USHL, you're going to play for UMD. At what point did colleges start contacting you, what other schools were in the running, and why UMD?

Tardy: After my sophomore year of high school, I think, I work out in the summers at UMD, so I just got to know the coaches. The coaches were always down there, the hockey team was always down there, and that's when they really started talking to me, after my sophomore year of high school. I was pretty young, and that was really the only team that had really contacted me. I mean, I had some letters and stuff, but they were the only ones to really push like they wanted me. I'm happy and I'm happy to go there.

McKeen's: You'll know it a little bit, obviously. You played in the Upper Midwest Elite League in Minnesota, too. What was playing in the Elite League like for you and in what ways do you feel it helped you and were there any ways that you felt it hindered you?

Tardy: I loved playing in the High School Elite League. It was a really offensive league, a lot of fun, a lot of really skilled players. Yeah, it's an extra 23 games or so that add to your short high school season. So, it's awesome being a high school player and getting that opportunity.

McKeen's: In what ways did that help prepare you for this level (the USHL)?

Tardy: You get more used to more games, lengthen your schedule a little bit. It's not that bad, it's really only weekends, but that's the main thing. You know? It's faster than high school hockey and you have a lot more higher-level guys. It's kind of the cream of the crop, I guess you could say, of the high school hockey. So, it's faster-paced, it's almost like a stepping stone.

McKeen's: Who were some of the people you played against in Minnesota, and played with, that impressed you the most and why?

Tardy: There were a lot of good players. I played with guys like Derek Forbort, Keegan Flaherty, growing up, Cade Fairchild. You'll get in Minnesota high school hockey, there'll be a few really, really good players on every team you play against. At Duluth East, we had a tough schedule, so I was playing against good players every night.

McKeen's: Derek [Forbort] is making a splash now.

Tardy: Yeah (smiles).

McKeen's: For what organizations did you skate for coming up through the youth ranks, and perhaps that was the same all the way up?

Tardy: Yeah, I was always with Duluth East, they have their East-end hockey program.

McKeen's: I guess, lastly, who were some of your favorite players growing up and why and maybe some players today who you feel you equate to or that you'd like to equate to?

Tardy: Tough question. Growing up, I always liked Peter Forsberg, some of the Swedish skilled guys, like [Daniel] Alfredsson. But, then I always liked T.J. Oshie. He was in high school hockey when I was growing up, and watching him play, that was awesome. He was awesome. I still really idolize him, what he's doing in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues. But, I don't know. I don't try to think about who my style is after or try to model my style after someone in particular. I just go out there and play hard and try to do what I think I can do best.

McKeen's: You mentioned Swedes, any reason why Swedes in particular?

Tardy: I don't know. I just liked a lot of those guys, Forsberg, Mats Sundin, the Sedin twins, Lidstrom, Zetterberg, there's so many.

McKeen's: Sweden has definitely offered a lot of good players to like, I just didn't know if there was any reason in particular.