QMJHL: Good Sheppard

Atlantic Canada is experiencing unprecedented depth when it comes to producing young hockey stars, and Cape Breton Screaming Eagles forward James Sheppard is certainly a key part of the trend.

The second of three straight Nova Scotians to be chosen first overall in the QMJHL Midget Draft (along with Sidney Crosby and Alex Grant), the Halifax native is part of what scouts hope is the beginning of a long and prosperous youth movement on the East Coast.

Sheppard drew plenty of attention during international play in both the Under-17 and Under-18 World Championships.

"Just to make the team was an unbelievable experience, to go over to Europe," Sheppard says about his first time representing Canada abroad at the U-18's this past summer. "Not only for the hockey, but for the society over there. So it was a great tournament. To come away with the gold was just an unbelievable experience."

Joined by fellow Atlantic Canadians Brad Marchand and Andrew Bodnarchuk, Sheppard helped defeat the Czech Republic to avenge Canada's silver-medal finish from the year before, and ended the tournament with a goal and three assists.

The international success spilled over into his sophomore QMJHL season with the Screaming Eagles, where the club continues to defy experts who pegged them to hover near the league basement. Cape Breton is currently in sixth place, trailing the league-leading Acadie-Bathurst Titan by just seven points.

"We had a lot of team chemistry last year and we have to extend that to this year, so me being the assistant captain and a lot of the other veterans want to make sure the rookies feel confident and part of the team," he says about the unexpected start. "It doesn't matter how old you are, it just matters for the hockey. So we just have to come together and we'll be good this year."

Dedicated Footspeed

Sheppard's own level of play has also elevated from '04-5 when he posted 45 points in 65 games. He is maintaining a point-per-game pace and is among the league's elite two-way power forwards with offensive upside. He credits the improvement to dedication and off-ice work with a personal trainer in Halifax.

"He showed me how hard you have to work to get to the next level, so we did a lot of lower-body things with legs just to get speed," he says. "I am already big as it is, so just getting those acceleration steps together - he helped me along with that. Just to get my speed up, it's helped a lot this year and hopefully I can bring that on the ice."

The left winger's speed is regarded as his one glaring flaw. With a quicker first step, there are those who believe he would be a candidate to go first overall in next summer's NHL Entry Draft.

"I have big feet that I can't help very much," he says. "So I just have to get that speed together and hopefully it will make me a better player."

Sheppard is aware that he is the scouting community's unanimous pick to be the first player chosen from the QMJHL next June. However, instead of feeling stress, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward uses his ranking as motivation.

"Well, it puts the pressure on, but my whole life has been this exciting. Everything just comes so fast," he says. "So, it puts the pressure on me but it also makes me want to play better. I know lots of people are watching, but that will make me perform better. So hopefully I can get to the draft and get a chance to play in the NHL."

Toews Friendly Competition

He will be evaluated alongside his Team Canada teammates, including close friend Jonathan Toews of the University of North Dakota, whom he maintains a friendly rivalry with.

"Me and Jonathan Toews from the team were rated close together. We always played against one another in the under-17s so it was good to play with him at the under-18s. He's a great hockey player, all the credit to him," Sheppard acknowledges.

"It's going to be a battle but we'll stay friends obviously, it doesn't matter where you go. We just want to play our best hockey and we both want to play for the World Juniors. We're looking forward to that. I can't try to compete with everyone else; I want to be the best out there."

Citing size and hockey smarts as his main attributes, Sheppard hopes to join other young players from his region playing in the NHL including Crosby, Brad Richards, and Michael Ryder. It appears that other Q clubs are taking notice as well, paying special attention to the 17-year-old whenever he is one the ice. In spite of the added abuse, he maintains a cool head.

"Its been like that for awhile. It's not really a bad thing, a few bumps and bruises," he says. "But it lets you know you're a good player and they're trying to keep you off the puck. I just do whatever I can do, and if I draw penalties it's better for the team."