USHL: Nick Kemp QA

McKeen's: Coming into the Dec 3rd (Lincoln) and December 4th (Green Bay) games you had 12 PIM's -- after the game against Lincoln you had 32 PIM's (Two five-minute fighting majors and one game ejection after the second fight). There were a number of fights, so what happened during that game?

Nick Kemp: Well, during the first period they came at us, hitting us and they had their sticks up. In the locker room, coach told us not to let them intimidate us and that we needed to do something about it. I'm a part of the team and I thought when everyone else was fighting, I might as well drop them too. That was my first fight.

McKeen's: How was it?

Kemp: Actually I liked it — it was fun.

McKeen's: What happened the second time?

Kemp: I got jumped. It was from the faceoff. When the ref dropped the puck the guy just grabbed my head and threw two uppercuts and hit me in the nose. Before I could get my gloves off, he hit me twice. But I got my gloves off and we were on the ice . . .

McKeen's: Last year, you scored 72 points in 29 games for Hermantown High School. What's the main difference in the style of the game between Hermantown and Sioux City? How have you needed to adjust your game in order to help yourself and the team succeed?

Kemp: There's a big difference. In high school there's not as much hitting and the talent's not quite as good. Back home I could try and skate the puck up, try and go coast to coast, but you can't here. I Have to work now on moving the puck quick, play the body every second. It's a lot different, a lot harder.

VISORS VS. SHIELDS

McKeen's: Do you have any expectations for next year? One technical change you'll make is going from the visor to the full cage in college. There's so much from the NHL about this issue and how some players feel it affects their game to go from no visor to visor.

Kemp: I've worn a cage all my life until this year. If I went back, I don't know how the transition would be, but I don't think it would be that bad.

McKeen's: What do you think of mandatory visors in the NHL? There's been a good deal of discussion about that in the last few years, especially with some of the eye injuries that have occurred. Should the NHL or the insurance companies require all players to wear visors?

Kemp: If I were in the NHL, I'd probably wear a visor. But it's really up to the player, I think. It's his eyes and his face. It's their body and if the visor affects their game, they shouldn't have to wear them.

McKeen's: You played center in high school and went to right wing for a bit in Sioux City. What was the difference like?

Kemp: I play center now. I played right wing with my summer league, so the transition wasn't that hard. Center is more difficult. I like the added responsibility.

McKeen's: I noticed you had a good face-off percentage. What helps you win faceoffs: technique (Perrault), brute force (Primeau) or versatility (Yzerman)?

Kemp: I really try to tie my opponent up, not let him win it clean. In the defensive zone, I try to tie him up, use my body. In the offensive zone I try to win it clean, give my teammate a shot.

WAITING FOR 2005

McKeen's: You had a chance to opt in for the draft last year, but you chose not to. What made you decide to put it off a year?

Kemp: I talked to my family advisor and others and they believed I could go earlier in the draft if I came here and played a year. There are a lot more scouts here and people watching here than there would have been playing high school hockey up north.

McKeen's: Your uncle was an assistant coach and a goalie for the University of Minnesota-Duluth .

Kemp: Yeah, he was a goalie coach and used to play goal there.

McKeen's: How has your uncle influenced your career, your college choice and your game?

Kemp: He's always been so supportive. I've wanted to go to UMD my whole life. It's been my first choice from the get-go. All my life, I've wanted to play there. He's helped me by being supportive and talking to the coaches at UMD and letting them know I wanted to go there.

McKeen's: How does being a role model affect you? All the kids wearing team jerseys and asking for autographs: how does that impact the choices you make?

Kemp: I never thought about it before, but the first time I came here, it's really cool — doing autographs for little kids. I'm only 18 years old. You know, the professionals do that. It's pretty cool. I like it. You have to watch what you do, you know, and set a good example.

LOCKOUT EFFECT

McKeen's: You guys really have some devoted and dedicated fans. Have you sensed, based your experience this year as a rookie, any impact on fan attitude towards hockey due to the lockout? Has it helped draw more people in, because there is no NHL?

Kemp: The attendance has been low, compared to last year. Like the second lowest in the league. I'm not sure what's going on with that. I think the dedicated hockey fans will come, NHL or not. But, I think that some people just don't care. It seems like all around the U.S., people don't even realize the NHL's in a lockout. Things seem to be going downhill for hockey and I think the lockout has been terrible for the sport.

McKeen's: How does that affect you, as an up and coming player to hear speculation that the NHL is over or that teams may be folding?

Kemp: It's terrible. You want to play in the NHL your whole life. And you get so close. With the draft coming up. You know, I might get drafted. For what?

McKeen's: If you could choose your ideal career path, what would it be?

Kemp: I'd like to play all four years at UMD, because I think it's be fun to get my degree and get my education. Just in case the NHL does fold, or something. But if I'm ready to leave early from college, then that's what I'll do. It all depends on whether I'm ready or not.

McKeen's: Have you thought about a major or a plan of study for next year?

Kemp: I'm planning to be a business major. I'm not totally sure, but that's what I'm thinking now, business.

NHL TALENT

McKeen's: Say you got to draft instead of being drafted? Which team would you choose and why?

Kemp: That is a tough question. Maybe the Dallas Stars. I've liked them for a long time, even before they moved to Dallas, back when they were the North Stars. The Wild, too—they're the home team.

McKeen's: What NHL players do you especially admire? Is there anyone you've modeled yourself after? Anyone whose style or game you really respect?

Kemp: I really respect Peter Forsberg's game. I think everyone does. He can do everything. Same with Jerome Iginla—he can skate, he can fight, he'll hit you, he can score. That's the game I try to model myself after, I want to be like those players who can do everything. I want to be like Sergei Fedorov and be strong offensively and still be good defensively.

McKeen's: Are your jersey numbers assigned, or do you get to select them?

Kemp: We get to select them. My favorite is #9, but I'm the rookie this year and Turnbull got #9 because he's the vet.

McKeen's: What significance does #9 have?

Kemp: Modano is my favorite player. I really respect his game. I watched him when I was growing up.

SHOOTOUTS HAVE MERIT

McKeen's: Shootouts: The AHL is piloting a number of changes in the game this year. Among those changes are shootouts to decide the game in the event of a tie after overtime. Shootouts are used in the USHL in the same way (though not for a trial period). I know the Musketeers lost a game recently in a shootout. What do you think of shootouts as a way to decide the game and do you think shootouts have a place in the NHL?

Kemp: For the fans, sure. For the players and the goalies, I'm not so sure. Anyone can win a shootout. It's not necessarily about who has the better team — shootouts can be a little weird. The fans seem to love it, but the players... As for the NHL, I think it's a good idea and could help bring in the fans because it's exciting. I think they should also get rid of the two-line pass. I think if they want to make save the game and make it more exciting for the fans, that's definitely something they could do.

McKeen's: What do you think about some of the other changes in the AHL: limiting the area in which the goalie can play the puck, expanding the red line and the blue lines from 12 to 24 inches, no touch icing...

Kemp: Recently we played Cedar Rapids and their goalie has like the best goalie shot in the league and plays the puck really well, like Turco. He (Cedar Rapids goalie) can just take the puck and fire it down the ice. Jimmy (Spratt) doesn't go out that much, but he handles it well and it could hurt us, especially in killing penalties if he really can't go behind the net as much. I can't really say how it helps the team at all, but I'm also not a goalie, so I can't say for sure.

McKeen's: There have been lots of suggestions floating around about how to improve the game. Everyone from the NHL to the fans has made suggestions. Make the goalie equipment smaller, make the nets bigger, etc. What do you think would make the game more marketable?

Kemp: A big one to me is the two-line pass. I think they should get rid of that for sure. It would open things up more. As for the stuff with the goalies and the nets, it's really tough to be a goalie. Fan-wise, I think everyone loves fast, exciting hockey. Fans love to see a breakaway down the ice.