USA Hockey: Keeping Up With the Daniels
McKeen's correspondent, Vincent Montalbano recently had the chance to catch up with twin brothers Justin and Drew Daniels who are both having impressive seasons at Kent – a New England Prep school. The brothers talk about their games, the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, future college commitments and their off-season schedules.
Scouting Notes
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Justin Daniels is a senior and Kent's top player. He is one of the top offensive threats in prep school this year (54 points on the season – 17 goals). He was ranked #102 on Central Scouting's Mid-Term Ranking. He is committed to Northeastern for 2009. He has good size (6-2, 160) and one can easily see why he has received attention for the upcoming NHL Draft. He has the combination of hands, speed, and offensive ability. He has a long stride and the ability to take the puck in the defensive zone and quickly turn up ice with it. He cycles the puck very well and showed good hands in tight and ability to play through traffic. When he has the puck, he really can control the play and the pace.
Q&A with Kent's Justin Daniels
McKeen's: How did you become interested in hockey? At what age did you start playing organized hockey?
Justin Daniels: I started playing organized hockey at about eight. I became interested in hockey after taking skating lessons at a public rink, and it was actually my mom's idea to get me started in hockey. After that, my dad decided to get me started in organized hockey.
McKeen's: Describe the type of game you play. What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
Justin Daniels: I play a very poised and relaxed game. I try to create time and space on the ice by slowing down the game. The weakness to my game would be my strength. I need to work on protecting the puck more and digging pucks out of the corner with more authority.
McKeen's: What would you say is the most underrated facet to your game?
Justin Daniels: I'd say the most underrated part of my game is my shot. I need to work on shooting the puck more, however I feel that when I shoot the puck it is more effective then some would think.
McKeen's: Which NHL player do you model your game after and why?
Justin Daniels: My favorite player is Brandon Dubinsky. I think he plays a very hardworking and smart game. He also has a tremendous amount of potential only being a rookie. If I had to pick a player that I try to model my game to it would be Paul Stastny. He is great at creating space and is a very accurate passer. He also plays a strong defensive game being a center.
McKeen's: Who are the five most talented players you have played against and what specifically do you admire about their styles?
Justin Daniels:
Patrick Kane- Unreal hands. Head for the game, and a shot that is second to none. Enough said for what he is accomplishing this year.
Angelo Esposito- played against him a few times growing up and he has the ability to take over a game.
Nick Bonino- great puck protector, great shot.
Kevin Shattenkirk- well-rounded defensemen, does everything pretty well.
Broc Little- accurate shot, good skater, good speed.
McKeen's: You both are from Suffern, NY. Where did you play before attending Kent? What made you decide to go to school in CT and specifically, Kent?
Justin Daniels: Before playing for Kent, we played for the Brewster Bulldogs. We decided to go to prep school to get a good education and to see if we could play college hockey. We looked at Shattuck's, Kent and Northwood, and Kent was the place for us. We liked the campus and the rink. Although Kent isn't known for its winning tradition, we believed the program was headed in the right direction once coach Herr stepped in.
McKeen's: Describe your decision process in committing to Northeastern and being able to play on the same team again with your brother. Any other schools in the mix?
Justin Daniels: It's awesome. We've been playing together since first lacing up the skates and it's a pleasure that we get to experience four more years side by side. We had been talking to a number of schools, but in the end, it really came down to Dartmouth or Northeastern and fortunately, we felt they were both great options.
McKeen's: Since you are not scheduled to play for Northeastern until 2009, what are the plans for next year?
Justin Daniels:: Drew and I are still both unsure what we will be doing. We could either be entering into Northeastern this fall or we'll most likely play a year of juniors either in the EJHL or the USHL.
McKeen's: What is it like to play on the same team as your brother?
Justin Daniels: It's great. We read each other better than anyone else. I know what he wants to do with the puck and he knows what I want to do with the puck. I mean for the most part we have played on the same line since mites. We both are able to push each other to work hard because we have such a competitive nature and sometimes it can turn into a heated argument but its all for the best.
McKeen's: Describe your summer. You play a lot of hockey or relax and workout? What do you focus on during off-season training?
Justin Daniels: Drew and I both do a camp in Stamford, CT every weekday for the entire summer. The camp runs for twelve weeks and is called Bluestreak. The hockey season is never over. It is a year round commitment. We basically focus our off-season training around our legs and core. Bluestreak has a skating treadmill so on Mondays and Fridays our workout is based around that. The other days of the week all have explosive legwork such as the ladder and plyo's.
McKeen's: The NHL Entry Draft will be coming up for you this year. Are you thinking about it at all?
Justin Daniels: I mean it has always been a dream to get drafted, but I haven't given it much thought. Whatever happens, happens.
McKeen's: Is their any NHL team that you follow closely?
Justin Daniels: I'm actually a die hard Ranger fan. I have season tickets and whenever I can make a game, I'm there.
McKeen's: What were your expectations coming into this season and how has your season been going so far?
Justin Daniels: Coming into this season we had two main goals as a team. The first was to win the Avon Classic, a tournament that Kent had never even made it to the 3rd place game in. We were able to string together four strong games in the Tournament and capture Kent's first Christmas Classic title. Our second goal was to reach New England's another goal that Kent had never accomplished. However, we fell just short of making the playoffs and took 5th in the west. We made a good run at it and fell just short but overall, I feel that we have had a very strong season, the only team that was on our schedule that we failed to beat was Taft.
McKeen's: Which areas do you consider you have to improve to succeed in the next level in college and further?
Justin Daniels: I think the areas that I need the most improvement on in order to take my game to the next level would be strength, speed, shooting the puck more often and a quicker release.
McKeen's Five Fun Questions:
1. What has been your best hockey moment so far? (Goal, hit, etc.)
Justin Daniels: Winning the Avon Tournament was a pretty good moment for me. We weren't the most talented team but we won the tournament with heart and determination.
2. Best thing about your hometown Suffern, NY?
Justin Daniels: Their isn't to much going on it Suffern but the best thing about it has to be friends that I went to middle school and high school with.
3. Favorite actor/ actress?
Justin Daniels: Adam Sandler, Kate Beckinsale and Megan Fox.
4. If you had your own theme song, what would it be?
Justin Daniels: That's a tough one I don't think I could have just one theme song but I listen to Glycerine by Bush before I go on the ice.
5. Best arena you played in?
Justin Daniels: Madison Square Garden.
Scouting Notes
Drew Daniels is a senior at Kent and has put up good numbers on the season. He was ranked #113 on Central Scouting's Mid-Term Ranking and committed to Northeastern for 2009. Similar to twin brother Justin, he has good size (6-2, 160). A solid all-around player, who is more of a playmaker with his 36 assists on the season. He has a quick shot and showed good poise with the puck and should be a solid contributor at the college level.
Q&A with Kent's Drew Daniels
McKeen's: How did you become interested in hockey? At what age did you start playing organized hockey?
Drew Daniels: A lot of the credit for me starting to play hockey goes to my parents. They started the process and have been a continuing help. I started at the age of eight playing for Suffolk PAL.
McKeen's: Describe the type of game you play. What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
Drew Daniels: I think that my strengths are vision on the ice as well as my hands. My weaknesses would be my strength and speed.
McKeen's: What would you say is the most underrated facet to your game?
Drew Daniels: I think that the most underrated facet of my game would be my toughness. At only 160 pounds, people assume that I cannot take or give a hit. Although I don't throw the hardest or biggest hits, I'm always up for getting my nose dirty in the corners.
McKeen's: Which NHL player do you model your game after and why?
Drew Daniels: Probably Joe Thornton, he's just as good in the offensive zone as in the defensive zone and he is always looking to pass to set up one of his teammates.
McKeen's: Who are the five most talented players you've played against and what specifically do you admire about their styles?
Drew Daniels:
Patrick Kane- Great hands, moves well off the puck.
Kevin Shattenkirk- agile, smart, good hands
Nick Bonino- good hands, great around the net
Alexander Killorn- smart, protects the puck well
Cam Atkinson- quick shot, explosive skater
McKeen's: You both are from Suffern, NY. Where did you play before attending Kent? What made you decide to go to school in CT and specifically, Kent?
Drew Daniels: We played for the Brewster Bulldogs under John Tuohy. We made our decision to come to Kent because we had a great respect for coach Herr and knew that he could turn the program around.
McKeen's: Describe your decision process in committing to Northeastern and being able to play on the same team again with your brother. Any other schools in the mix?
Drew Daniels: The decision to commit to Northeastern was an easy one. Northeastern is a great school with a great hockey program and a coaching staff that can't be beat and what makes it even better is that I will continue to play with my brother. Dartmouth was another school that was greatly in the mix of things.
McKeen's: Since you are not scheduled to play for Northeastern until 2009, what are the plans for next year?
Drew Daniels: My plans for next year are still undecided. Northeastern is still a possibility but if not the USHL then the EJHL.
McKeen's: What is it like to play on the same team as your brother?
Drew Daniels: It's awesome since we have been little we have always played on the same line together and we work well together and we'll try to continue to bring this chemistry to Northeastern.
McKeen's: Describe your summer. You play a lot of hockey or relax and workout? What do you focus on during off-season training?
Drew Daniels: During the summer, we both will play in a few tournaments; in addition, we work out everyday at a gym called Bluestreak. A lot of what we do focuses on the legs and core.
McKeen's: The NHL Entry Draft will be coming up for you this year. Are you thinking about it at all?
Drew Daniels: No, not really, you just have to go out there and play your game.
McKeen's: Is their any NHL team that you follow closely?
Drew Daniels: Big New York Ranger fans.
McKeen's: What were your expectations coming into this season and how has your season been going so far?
Drew Daniels: Coming into this year, we greatly had our mind set on making New England's, but unfortunately we fell a game short and finished as the No. 5 seed in the West and did not qualify.
McKeen's: Which areas do you consider you have to improve to succeed in the next level in college and further?
Drew Daniels: Strength and speed are two aspects that I have to improve on that will help me succeed in college
McKeen's Five Fun Questions:
1. What has been your best hockey moment so far? (Goal, hit, etc.)
Drew Daniels: Winning the Avon Christmas tournament was one of the best.
2. Best thing about your hometown Suffern, NY?
Drew Daniels: Friends.
3. Favorite actor/ actress?
Drew Daniels: Denzel Washington, Mark Walhberg and Jessica Biel.
4. If you had your own theme song, what would it be?
Drew Daniels: The Rain- DMX.
5. Best arena you played in?
Drew Daniels: MSG (Madison Square Garden) was awesome.