USHL: Blood in High Demand

McKeen's recently had the opportunity to talk with Des Moines Buccaneers defenseman and Ottawa Senators prospect Ben Blood. Blood talks about his game, his time at Shattuck, his commitment to UND, his selection by the Senators, his initial assessment of the USHL and much more.

McKeen's: Obviously, you are well known from your time at Shattuck, but where did you play before your three years at Shattuck?

Blood: I played at Wayzata, in their youth program as a bantam, and a pee wee, and a squirt, growing up there. Then, I found out about Shattuck, so we went there.

McKeen's: I understand that in your first season at Shattuck you broke your leg. How difficult of a time was that?

Blood: It was an extremely difficult time. I couldn't even put weight on my leg for four months, longer than that I think. I couldn't even walk. You realize what you take for granted. Then, when I came back, I loved the game that much more.

McKeen's: How big of an adjustment was it going from the Wayzata youth program to a hockey factory such as Shattuck?

Blood: The work ethic, mainly, because at Wayzata you can sluff-off, take games off and practices off, but at Shattuck it's every day, as hard as you can.

McKeen's: What were some of the other things that coach [Tom] Ward, or coach [Murray] Eaves in the weight room, or J.P. Parise taught you that helped bring you along?

Blood: Just to keep it simple, mainly. Hockey's a simple game, just make the easy play, move the puck, and keep your feet moving.

McKeen's: How did it feel for you to be playing at Shattuck, a program that is so well respected?

Blood: It was unbelievable. I never realized what I had until I graduated last year. I miss it. I think about it every day.

McKeen's: Last November you committed to North Dakota and I understand that you were very impressed by their preparation. What were some of the things that coach Hakstol and his staff did that impressed you and convinced you that that was the place for you?

Blood: They gave me just the right amount of space. They were on me constantly, but at the right times. They left me with the players so I could talk with them and see how they liked it there, and obviously, a lot of guys from Shattuck have gone to North Dakota. So, I got a lot of different perspectives, and they all loved it. They just had my whole visit mapped out for me and ready. I was never just sitting around, they were so prepared.

McKeen's: As you mentioned, there has definitely been a pipeline from Shattuck to North Dakota with guys like Zach and Jordan Parise, Jonathan Toews has gone there…

Blood: [Drew] Stafford

McKeen's: Exactly, [Matt] Smaby...

Blood: [Ryan] Duncan

McKeen's: Yeah, all those guys. Did that play into your decision or did it play more to their decision that, "Hey, this guy's at Shattuck. We know what we're getting out of this place"?

Blood: It played a pretty big role in my decision. Because, when I sat down with my parents and looked at all of my options for college, I wanted to be a part of that tradition of the Shattuck guys going to North Dakota and excelling and then making it to the next level. I wanted to be one of those players.

McKeen's: North Dakota has produced some good defensemen in recent years such as Matt Greene, Matt Jones, Brian Lee, Matt Smaby, and more. Are you looking forward to going to a program that has developed so many good pro defensemen?

Blood: Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited, but I've got to get better out here first and play for Des Moines first before I get there. I can't get too ahead of myself.

McKeen's: Speaking of Des Moines, they took you in the Futures Draft last year, at what point did you decide, "I'm going to play in the USHL next year and not go to college so soon"?

Blood: After the season, after we won the national championship last year, everything just kind of worked out for itself. I didn't really need to make a decision, it just kind of happened. Over the summer their "d", some of them decided to say, one of them left, but they already had a bunch of "d" coming in. I didn't really make a decision. It just took its course (chuckles).

McKeen's: Later on, in a bigger draft, the Ottawa Senators took you in the NHL Entry Draft. How did you find out and what was your reaction?

Blood: They called me on the Saturday morning. It was an unbelievable feeling. It made my week, my month. It was really exciting and then I got to go out there for their development camp and that was even more fun. We got treated like professionals, and we're not (chuckles). So, it was really exciting.

McKeen's: Tell me about the developmental camp, because it was a quick turnaround for you from being drafted in late June and up to Ottawa early July.

Blood: Yeah, they called me and they were like, "Yeah, we're going to have you come out in a couple weeks." And I was like, "What?" It was their development camp. I didn't even know about these development camps until I went there. We had a three-on-three tournament, and that was the funnest part. There were two of them there, a preliminary one, and my team won that, and then you're playing with such good players there too, so it's easy to make plays I guess. Then the second tournament, though, I think we lost in the championship, in a shootout, too. It was just really fun playing with all the really good players.

McKeen's: Who were some of the Senators prospects that impressed you?

Blood: Josh Hennessy. Nick Foligno, he was really good, he just went out and dangled. And Ilya Zubov. He could wheel. He had some wheels on him. They were all great players, though.

McKeen's: Back to the present, now that you are in the USHL, what are some of your initial impressions of this league?

Blood: I like it a lot. It's a fast, high-tempo game, it's physical, it's great for developing players. I'm glad I get to take a year and come here and get ready for North Dakota.

McKeen's: How would you say it compares to the prep hockey that you were playing with Shattuck?

Blood: I'd say, the competition at nationals was pretty close to this, but this is every game, constant, not just a one-tournament deal at the end of the season. It's every game that you've got to show up.

McKeen's: Have you had major junior teams show any interest in you?

Blood: No, I've always wanted to go to college and I made that clear.

McKeen's: It is somewhat early in the season, but who are some of your teammates on the Buccaneers that have impressed you so far?

Blood: Definitely Derek Elliott. He's got wheels. He's a great skater. I like playing with him a lot. And then Taylor Matson, he always seems to find the lanes in the ice so I can make an easy breakout pass. I think we're an extremely underrated team. All of our guys are good.

McKeen's: Any opponents that you have faced between the Fall Classic or the early season that have really stood out to you?

Blood: Not that I distinctly remember. Every team has its wingding players, but not that I distinctly remember.

McKeen's: What do you feel the strengths of your game are?

Blood: I think I can move the puck. I need to work on my foot speed, I know that much. But I can move the puck and make plays and also, if the game gets gritty and I need to be a physical presence, I can do that.

McKeen's: You mentioned your foot speed, are there any other things you are working on the ice or off the ice?

Blood: Just quicker, quicker all around, not just my foot speed. Getting passes off quicker, shots off quicker, just everything happens so much faster as you move up in your hockey career.

McKeen's: With your training, have the Senators given you any guidance, or how does that compare to what they had you do at Shattuck or what you do here in Des Moines?

Blood: They just told me what I needed to work on after that development camp and I took that home for the rest of the summer and incorporated into my workout and I think I benefited a lot from it.

McKeen's: Did they incorporate functional training, plyometrics, and specifics?

Blood: A lot of plyos, a lot of explosive stuff, and also balance stuff. All core. Everything that we did in the development camp in the weight room involved balance and core.