QA with Ryan Haggerty

Sixteen-year-old Ryan Haggerty has joined the U.S. National Team Development Program at an advantageous time in history, as the USNTDP has moved from the Tier II junior A North American Hockey League to the Tier I junior A United States Hockey League. From the 1997-98 season through the 2008-09 season, the USNTDP's Under-17 team played the majority of the program's NAHL regular season games, and they'll do so in the USHL, too, playing 34 of the USNTDP's 60 regular season games in the USHL in 2009-10. It's not the vast majority that the Under-17 team played in the NAHL the previous 12 seasons, but it does mean that Haggerty and his 16-year-old teammates have the opportunity to play regularly against bigger, faster, stronger, and more talented opponents than they might have faced had they been born prior to 1993. For Haggerty, it means playing against the best junior A teams the United States has to offer, each with a number of 18-20-year-olds, in preparation to play other Under-17 teams in international tournaments throughout the season. Talk about an advantage.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey was able to talk to Ryan Haggerty after a USHL regular season game prior to the team's departure for the 2009 Four Nations Tournament in Slovakia. Haggerty discussed his leading the Under-17 in USHL scoring, the team's early struggles in USHL competition, his early development with the USNTDP, his exploits in Connecticut high school hockey and midget hockey, and a couple other topics of interest, as well as whether his future is in major juniors or college.

McKeen's: Well, after tonight's game and your goal tonight, you're still in the lead for team scoring. With that, there's a certain level of personal success coming to you. What have been the keys to that?

Haggerty: I don't know about personal success. I'm just happy getting the puck to the net. I'm just kind of in the right place at the right time right now. Everybody seems to be moving the puck fast. You just have to get in the right spot and it goes in.

McKeen's: That's how it was tonight. You were right there, top shelf and in.

Haggerty: Yeah, I got lucky on that one.

McKeen's: You're putting up some numbers, but it's definitely been a struggle for you guys so far. You guys are all 16, some haven't even turned 16 yet, and most USHL teams only have one or two guys on their team that young. What has it been like to have that situation?

Haggerty: It's been a lot of fun so far in the USHL. We're really enjoying it. Right now, it's been really tough. Last night, we were really hoping to pull out a victory there. Right now, everybody's sticking together with the situation we're in. We're just hoping that we can put the puck in the net a little bit better. We're coming together and making a lot of progress, and that's what everyone wants. Pretty soon, we've got to start pulling out victories here.

McKeen's: This is the Under-17 team's first season in the USHL, although back in the day the Under-18 team did previously. You guys will play 34 of the 60 regular season games for Team USA in the USHL this year, so what did you think when you learned that the Under-17 team would be playing in the USHL this season and what are your initial impressions of the league?

Haggerty: I know a lot of people. I know Max Pacioretty and Patrick Mullane, who came through the league, and I've played with them back home. They tell how exciting it is to go rink to rink. Stepping in as a 16-year-old, just one 16-year-old on the team is pretty exciting, but you have a whole team playing. We've taken a lot out of the games so far. So far, I think everyone's made huge steps and learned so much. Everyone's really excited and the whole team has matured.

McKeen's: What are the expectations that the coaches have for you guys in the USHL playing now and then also over the course of the season?

Haggerty: Right now, it's kind of been a battle. Us, as a team, we want to win, just like every other team. It's going to come, but we've just got to wait. We've struggled for a while, but it's going to turn around fast. Everyone's got that feeling.

McKeen's: And then there's going to be next year, which I think will go pretty well for you guys.

Haggerty: Oh, yeah. Next year's going to be huge. Playing DI and DIII college and then with the USHL, with nobody caught in the headlights with the whole experience, it's going to be good.

McKeen's: You guys started the season at the NAHL Showcase they had up there in Blaine, Minnesota. What were those first games like in terms of caliber of play and how does it compare to the USHL?

Haggerty: The NAHL Showcase went really well. I think it was a good step for us to go there before coming into the USHL, because of what the standards are. The teams are really strong in the NA, but, when we stepped in the USHL, every kid on the team could play top lines everywhere. I think that was the difference, the depth and the skill. Everyone's a little bigger, stronger, and faster in the USHL.

McKeen's: Coming up soon, you guys will be going over to Slovakia for the Four Nations Tournament. What are your expectations going into that tournament and how do you think playing in the USHL will have helped you guys?

Haggerty: In the USHL, there are kids that are 19 and 20 on every single team. Playing against 19 and 20-year-olds every night and then going to play 16-year-olds over in Slovakia is going to be a big change for us, because I think we're going to be a step ahead of everyone else. Hopefully, we come out with a gold medal out there. We're really confident. We have one more game against Omaha, then we head overseas. It's going to be good, but we still have to look to Omaha first.

McKeen's: The U.S. National Team Development Program is pretty well-known for its training regiment. So, what's a typical week like with the Under-17 team these days?

Haggerty: A typical week is school every day, everyone goes to school. It's not like the USHL. Everyone goes to school, gets to the rink right after school. You get to the rink and you either have video session or slide board, then have a good practice, usually for an hour or an hour and a half, depending what day it is. Then we lift two or three times a week.

McKeen's: Talking with some players who have skated in the program in the past, they've talked about how the team didn't really care whether and who you were playing that week, that unless a tournament was coming up, you're still putting in your hard leg workout Thursday.

Haggerty: Yeah. Every day is upper body and lower body. Thursday, everyone's like, "We want to go easy." But, then, if you don't, you're not going to get there. Come Friday or Saturday's game, there's a little soreness, but you can battle through it. It's not a big deal. But, everyone seems to be on board. Nobody's cutting any corners.

McKeen's: What are some of the changes you've made in the way that you train, personally, since learning you were going to be on the team and what are some new exercises that you've learned that you really like and why?

Haggerty: So far, I've lifted pretty well with a couple guys. Coming into here, it's kind of a little different having the whole team in the weight room at once. Then, when we have the big group, Darryl [Nelson, strength and conditioning coach] is absolutely unbelievable. Everything is kind of laid out for us in the summer time. We learned what we had to and you got ready before you got there.

McKeen's: What was the summer program like and how did it help prepare you for what you were going to step into?

Haggerty: It was a lot of little muscles, exercises that we had to do to start building muscles so that when we got in there, we weren't little guys. We'd built some of them up.

McKeen's: In making the Under-17 team, you were first invited to the development camp in April, which involved some practices and scrimmages, but it also involved interviews. What are those interviews like and what do they ask you?

Haggerty: It was kind of laid out and it was kind of basic. They really wanted to get to know our character and what we were for and why want to be in the program and what it means to you. It wasn't a shock to me, and I was really happy with the way I interviewed there with coach [Chadd] Cassidy and Peter Ward. Everything seemed to be flowing with that interview and I was really happy with the way it went. It ended up working out pretty well for me, I think.

McKeen's: Obviously. To make the USNTDP, you have to be pretty good. So, that begs the question, what do you feel are some of the strengths of your game?

Haggerty: I feel like I see the play well, and I think, overall, since I've been here, I think I've gotten stronger in every area of my game. Before, I wasn't that good in the defensive zone, but now I'm getting a lot better with the d-zone. I feel a lot stronger on the ice. I'm used to going into the d-zone quick in, quick out, transition. For me, it's kind of built me up to be a complete player, and that's what I want to be, and now I'm kind of at it. But, there's still a lot of stuff to build up on.

McKeen's: That goes well into my next question. A player wants to improve at everything he can all the time, but what are some of the particulars that you're really focusing on improving to help take your game to that next level.

Haggerty: I used to be a center before I came here. Changing to wing wasn't too big of a change, but just watching video and watching myself and learning new things, the details of what I can do better. It's been good, a really good experience.

McKeen's: Last year you played Connecticut high school hockey for Trinity Catholic, and I could list off the awards (and they are Division 1 All-State Team member, First Team All-Conference, and First Team All-City for Stamford, Connecticut), but you did pretty well. However, in your neck of the woods, it's more common for guys of your caliber to play prep hockey. What made you decide to stick with high school hockey and was prep hockey ever an option?

Haggerty: Oh yeah, prep school was definitely an option. But, me, my dad, and my family thought that we were there yet. I didn't think we were at that stage where I needed to be, and then I didn't want to spend four years at a school, like PG (post-graduate). When this came along, I felt like it was a no-brainer and I accepted and I'm here now and really enjoying myself and playing hockey.

McKeen's: It probably costs less than to play at prep school, unless you have some sort of scholarship.

Haggerty: Yeah, a lot cheaper. Coming here, everything's free. It's nice.

McKeen's: It's worked out well. Free hockey. Not bad.

Haggerty: Yeah.

McKeen's: You also played for a local midget AA team, the Seacoast Kings. I don't know a lot about that team, so from where do they draw most of their players and what's there season like, and who all did you skate for coming up?

Haggerty: Coming up, I started with Stamford Sharks. Then, I went to the Mid-Fairfield Blues. Seacoast is a midget major team with all PG prep school kids. I was the youngest kid on the team by two years. It was a split season. It was, basically, we played junior B teams and up in the EJHL and then other midget major teams, too. That was a really good experience for me. I thought I got a lot stronger going into the high school season, that was my sophomore year. That was another good choice.

McKeen's: That's kind of the pattern now, players playing fall hockey, like how in Minnesota they play in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, or guys playing split seasons with local midget teams out East. With the U.S. National Team Development Program, a lot go straight to college, some go to the USHL, but others go to major juniors. Would you consider playing major juniors and why or why not?

Haggerty: That's a tough question. Honestly, I don't know. I'd like to go to college and get a good education, where if I went to major junior hockey (pauses to think)… I mean, major junior hockey is really good hockey, but for me, as of today, it's not for me. College hockey, to me, is just as good as major junior hockey, just everyone wears a half shield in major juniors. That's the difference to me, and they don't have to go to school. I think, in this day and age, having an education is really going to help.

McKeen's: Again, free hockey and free education as well, or at least a significant portion free. With college, what are some of the things you're looking for in a college program?

Haggerty: Me, it's kind of getting to the next level, being an AHL or NHL player right out of college. I want to get there and get a good education and play really good hockey. For me, to go anywhere, it really wouldn't be a big deal to go off to Colorado or Denver or South Bend or Michigan (all areas a ways from Connecticut). When I grew up, BC, Northeastern, and BU were there and I always got to watch them with my dad. As of right now, it doesn't matter where I have to go. It'd be great to go anywhere.

McKeen's: Any particular area of study that you're looking for?

Haggerty: Probably sports marketing. I think I have to stay in sports.

McKeen's: I'd be remiss not to ask this question, considering the team you are on. Who are some of your teammates that have impressed you the most and why?

Haggerty: Everyone has things that impress me. I mean, I can go down the list. Everyone has their talents and impresses me a lot.

McKeen's: How old were you when you started playing and how did you get that start?

Haggerty: I started playing when I was, like, two. My dad played at Providence and we had clinics back home with this guy, and I got on the ice, watched my dad, and really enjoyed it.

McKeen's: Lastly, who were some of your favorite players growing up and why and who are some players today who you also like or would like to equate to?

Haggerty: I used to be a really big Rangers fan, so I liked watching Adam Graves, and Joe Thornton (with Boston). Today, it's kind of more like Pacioretty, since he's from my area and I know him really well.