QA with Steven Hensley

The name Hensley may be best known in North America for the Phoenix-based, multi-million dollar beverage distribution company founded by Jim Hensley and currently owned by Cindy McCain (Hensley's daughter and the wife of U.S. Senator John McCain), but in the USHL it's beginning to be known for puck distribution. It did not show yet statistically as of mid-January, as Steven Hensley had a modest four assists in 28 games. However, the 17-year-old Cedar Rapids RoughRiders defenseman has made significant improvements in his game over the course of the season after coming out of the Michigan high school ranks and was displaying strong poise with the puck on the breakout and making crisp, accurate first pass after crisp, accurate first pass. Factor in that the 6-foot-1, 190-pound blueliner is also improving defensively and successfully playing a more physical game, Hensley could find himself as Cedar Rapids' most improved player at the end of the 2009-10 season and even a potential late-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. If not, he will at least put himself on track for consideration in his second year of eligibility after the 2010-11 season, when he'll likely become a regular on the powerplay with teammates Mac Bennett and Bryce Aneloski moving on to college.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey was able to talk with Steven Hensley in early January. The budding blueliner discussed his marked improvement, his adjustment to the USHL, his early hockey career in Michigan, his college hockey prospects, his prospects for the NHL Entry Draft, and the NHL defenseman he tries to pattern his game off of (think Swedish Red Wing).

McKeen's: Last time I saw you in December, I came away thinking how much you'd improved since the preseason. You were showing a lot more poise with the puck and I took a lot of positive notes on you. Those were my observations on your improvements, but what areas of your game have you been focusing on improving the most and what areas do you feel you have improved in the most so far this year?

Hensley: I think I've really improved at being poised and making a good pass and stuff like that, but I've been working on trying to play the body a little bit more. I think I'm starting to get better at it.

McKeen's: Sure. Even tonight, I saw you got a good shoulder on Connor Brickley, who's not too slow, and then you rubbed out J.P. Burkemper at the blueline pretty well. Not a lot of defensemen make the jump from Michigan high school hockey to the USHL, and a lot of those guys were All-State First Team, or guys like Will Weber, but you weren't named to one of those All-State Teams, so it might appear that your learning curve was a bit higher. At what point did you feel comfortable with the caliber of play here?

Hensley: I'd say the speed is way faster than Michigan. Everyone's a lot better. I had to get used to being ready to play every night, because every night's a grind. So you've got to get ready every night. I felt pretty comfortable after preseason, but probably a few games into the regular season, I started to become pretty comfortable.

McKeen's: Matt Wahl is another defenseman from Michigan high school hockey, and he's over in Omaha right now, and you were originally drafted by them in the 2009 USHL Draft. Were you aware that the Lancers had been scouting you and what was your reaction to being drafted?

Hensley: No, I was not really aware of that. It just kind of happened. I was a little shocked, but I was excited. It felt pretty good.

McKeen's: How was it you ended up with Cedar Rapids?

Hensley: Well, I went into the Omaha camp not in the greatest shape. So, they told me I needed to get in better shape. I got in better shape, and I came to the July camp for Cedar Rapids and made it, and from there…

McKeen's: … there we go. You played for Detroit Catholic Central last year, and you guys had a pretty good year, winning the Division 1 state championship. How did 2008-09 go for you personally, though?

Hensley: I thought it went pretty well. I learned to be a better leader, that's for sure. It was a pretty good year overall.

McKeen's: I'd be remiss if I didn't ask, but one of your teammates was Brent Darnell, who's in Sioux Falls. Tell me about Brent's game and the strengths he has.

Hensley: He's got really good poise with the puck and he sees the ice real well. He's a pretty good player. He's got a good future ahead of him.

McKeen's: He stepped up a lot for Sioux Falls in December. He's getting a lot more points. You were named to the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League's First All-Star Team, but the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association did not name you to the First or Second Team or as an Honorable Mention. Did that surprise you at all at that time, or bother you, or was that an error on their website?

Hensley: Yeah, it wasn't a big deal to me. It was, just, whatever. I didn't really follow that at all.

McKeen's: A lot of guys in the Detroit area end up playing midget major for Little Caesars, Honeybaked, Victory Honda, Compuware, Belle Tire, you know all of them, obviously. Did you ever consider that route and what made you decide to go the high school route?

Hensley: Well, I played Triple-A, I played for Compuware up until my freshman year in high school and then I decided to play high school because it was easier for school and I thought I could still improve the same way playing high school as Triple-A.

McKeen's: High school, I remember talking with Greg Pateryn a couple years ago, and he mentioned it costs a little bit less.

Hensley: Yes, that's true.

McKeen's: And it's turned out well for him, too. I've seen your answer to this question on the RoughRiders' website, they have the videos with the different players, but for print's sake, when did you first start playing hockey and how did you get that start?

Hensley: I was about three years old, I'd say. My dad just tried it out, to see if I wanted to play hockey or not, and just threw some skates on me. From there, I loved it.

McKeen's: Did your dad play hockey back in the day?

Hensley: Nope. Dad didn't play hockey, nope. I'm the first.

McKeen's: It's not every parent with no history in hockey that decides, "I think I'll have my son try one of the most expensive sports on the face of the planet," behind auto racing and maybe a couple others.

Hensley: (Chuckles) Yeah.

McKeen's: I've seen you listed at 6-foot-2, and 6-foot-1, and 6- foot, so what is your height and weight right now?

Hensley: I'm about 6-foot-1, 190.

McKeen's: Alright.

Hensley: Yeah, it's been all over.

McKeen's: I'd believe that, 6-foot-1. What style of game did you play in the Michigan high school and what style would you consider yourself as playing in the USHL or that you'd like to play here?

Hensley: Well, last year I was pretty offensive, but I wasn't the ideal offensive defenseman. I was still a pretty laid back defenseman. But, yeah, I've played back and played solid defensively this year. Yeah, I'd like to be the ideal offensive defenseman, but I think my best way to go is to play solid defensively.

McKeen's: I remember Paul Phillips his first year here, who did pretty well here last year, he was an offensive defenseman in midgets, but he came here and his first year all he was a hard-nosed, physical, defensive defenseman. Then, the next year, he brought his offensive game back in. Maybe you're on a similar track.

Hensley: Maybe.

McKeen's: You're currently, to my knowledge, not committed to any college program at this point. I think I saw you talking with someone last time I was here, actually. Are colleges showing interest in you and what colleges are you considering right now?

Hensley: Yeah, a few have shown interest in me. Clarkson, Colorado College, and Lake Superior State, but I would like to go to Michigan State because it's close to home and I know a lot of people that are going to be going there. It'd be nice to play there.

McKeen's: If not Michigan State, what are some of the things you're looking for in a school and also in a hockey program?

Hensley: Just a solid program with good coaches. I want to go somewhere where I know I can improve. I want to find coaches that will help me improve and get the best out of me.

McKeen's: Any academic area that you're already thinking about?

Hensley: Well, something like physical therapy, of some sort.

McKeen's: That's handy to know even if you're a hockey player, treat yourself a bit. With the USHL, not only are college scouts in the stands, but NHL scouts are in the stands. I would say that if they're paying attention to more than a few guys that are on a pre-determined list made at the beginning of the season, I think they'd have to be noticing your improvement. So, to your knowledge, have NHL teams been showing interest in you, done the questionnaires, and stuff like that?

Hensley: Not to my knowledge. I'm not worried about any of that.

McKeen's: Do you have a family advisor?

Hensley: Yeah. I just got one this year, Brian Bartlett.

McKeen's: With the draft, do you ever think about that, whether it's this year or the year after that, and what would it mean to you to be drafted?

Hensley: I don't really think about it. I'm not too worried about it, because I know you don't have to be drafted to make it there. But, yeah, it'd be awesome to get drafted, but if it doesn't happen, then I'm not going to be disappointed about it.

McKeen's: That's the point of the college route, to buy yourself some time, and all sorts of guys sign as free agents out of college, including guys that were playing here four or five years ago. If I were a director of amateur scouting for an NHL team and advising my general manager on draft day, what are some reasons I should consider drafting Steven Hensley in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft or maybe in the 2011 Draft?

Hensley: I'm a real hard worker and I know I'm strong defensively. I base my play on not getting beat defensively. So, I can be pretty reliable defensively and I'm always able to make the first pass to get the play going the other way. So, a safe defenseman.

McKeen's: Coaches want that, get that part taken care of first and then beyond that, offensively, bonus. Lastly, who were some of your favorite players earlier in your youth, since you're not very old yet, and some players today who you feel you're similar to or that you'd like to equate to?

Hensley: Like, in the NHL?

McKeen's: Any level, I guess.

Hensley: (Pauses) I try to base my play off of Niklas Kronwall from the Red Wings. I try to.

McKeen's: (Chuckles)

Hensley: That's probably about it.