USHL: Nico Sacchetti Interview

McKeen's recently had the opportunity to talk with Omaha Lancers forward and Dallas Stars prospect Nico Sacchetti. Sacchetti discusses his transition from Minnesota high school hockey to the USHL, his development camp with the Stars, representing his country, the Matt Niskanen factor, and teammates past and present.

McKeen's: It is your senior year of high school, but instead of playing for Virginia-Mountain Iron-Buhl, you are now with the Omaha Lancers in the USHL. How has your adjustment been so far?

Sacchetti: Well, the biggest adjustment is, it's tough, because you have to adjust to the playing style. Obviously, the USHL is a lot different style of hockey than Minnesota high school, and then just being away from home is an adjustment, this is the first time in my life, and the schooling - I opted not to come down and transfer to a school down here. I'm doing like a correspondence high school. It's been a new experience not really having a teacher anymore. It's definitely a big move of independence. It's been ups and downs, but I'm really enjoying it.

McKeen's: When you were drafted, Les Jackson said many great things about you, but he also said you had a few more steps to take. What were some of those steps that you think he was talking about that you are working on here with Omaha.

Sacchetti: Definitely getting stronger, just working on being able to keep the puck, and just overall strength on the ice, because every level you go up, obviously, everyone is a lot tougher and it's tougher to have the puck, and that's kind of what my game sort of revolves around. And then the other biggest thing is just working on my defensive end. I've always kind of excelled offensively, but I definitely know that I'm not the greatest defensive player. The best forwards in the world are two-way players and that's what I want to work to become.

McKeen's: You had an opportunity early in the preseason to play Rimouski and Quebec in the CCM Classic. What was it like to represent USA Tier I hockey against Canadian major juniors and to have your team more than hold your own?

Sacchetti: It was definitely an experience. There was no need for anyone to try and get us up for those games, because we were representing that the U.S. can play hockey, and Hockey Canada frowns upon us and thinks we don't know what we're doing down here. But, we went up there and wanted to prove something and I think we did.

McKeen's: How different are things in the USHL from high school as far as the games, the practices, and the preparation?

Sacchetti: Well, practices day to day are definitely harder, same with the workouts from day to day. The biggest thing is, in the game, every team has four lines that can compete. In high school, everyone has top two, maybe three lines, but it gets sort of watered down. But here, every line can score, every line can bang, and it's just a battle when you're out there.

McKeen's: Speaking of preparation, you were able to skate at the Dallas Stars' developmental camp this summer. What was that experience like and how did it help your game?

Sacchetti: Well, we got to work with a lot of cool guys. Jack Bowkus came out there; he works with various NHL teams. Brett Hull was on the ice. A lot of the other camps (pauses) … teams take different approaches to it in the league. Some of them are about boot camp, that want to really see what the guys, what condition they're in and stuff like that. But, Dallas's is really a skilled camp. You kind of get a chance to go out there and show your offensive ability. So, it was a really fun experience. The most fun I had was actually off the ice, just getting to meet all the guys, talk to players, their experiences in the AHL or playing wherever they were, because there are guys there from all over the world. There's some Russian kids there and just getting to be with all those people was a great experience.

McKeen's: Who were some of the prospects at that camp that really impressed you?

Sacchetti: Well, Matt Niskanen was the best player there. I went to high school with him, and, yeah, he's playing on the real team this year. Other than that, Ivan Vishnevskiy was a really skilled forward, err, defenseman from Russia. Mark Fistric, he plays on their AHL team, he's a first rounder. He's a man out there compared to everyone else.

McKeen's: You mentioned Niskanen. How much did his drafting and his subsequent success create more exposure for guys like yourself and Scott Kishel up at Virginia-Mountain Iron-Buhl?

Sacchetti: Well, it's great, because scouts would come in not having any idea who we were, they came to watch him, and it was motivating that if we went out and worked hard, they might notice us and take a name down for future reference. When I was up at the combine, a lot of the guys, a lot of the meetings I had with teams, they said, "We've watched you since you were 14 years old playing with Niskanen, because we went to watch him." So they've watched me for quite a while. It was good. It was good for all of us, good for everyone on the team.

McKeen's: Tell me a bit about Scott Kishel's game, since he is just up the road in Sioux Falls.

Sacchetti: He's a really skilled defenseman. He's got great puck skills, great vision, and he's a really good skater. He's got big parents, and he's got potential to get really big, but he's a little small right now. I remember last year for high school, when we had weigh-in, I think he wore his backpack. But, when he gets bigger, and he will, he's going to be a force to play against.

McKeen's: You were recently selected to represent Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge. What's it like, once again, to represent American junior hockey on the international stage and then Team USA again.

Sacchetti: Well, this will be the second time that I get to wear a Team USA jersey. I was on the U18 Select Team a couple summers ago. That was a great experience. Every time you walk into the locker room for the first time and you see your USA jersey, you get a little chill down your spine. It's just something special, because you have to take it all in because you never know if you're going to get another chance to wear the jersey. It's something that a million kids would want to do, so you really just have to cherish the experience and feel special about being able to do it.

McKeen's: Obviously, you haven't played at the Challenge yet, but how do you expect it to be the same as the Hlinka Memorial Tournament back in 2006 and in what ways do you expect it to be different?

Sacchetti: It's definitely going to be different because of the teams there. A lot of the guys will go to the summer one overseas but not go into this. Canada, they can't take major junior guys, is that right?

McKeen's: Right, with them, it is all Tier II guys.

Sacchetti: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know some of the Euro leagues, they're not going to let their guys from the elite league teams over there to come play in this tournament. I'm interested in how the competition is going to be. But, other than that, I'm just excited to get there and wear the jersey again.

McKeen's: Is this tournament, and you haven't played in this one, kind of a replacement of the Viking Cup in a way?

Sacchetti: That's what I've heard. I actually know nothing about it. When I got asked, I had no idea what it was. I hadn't even heard of the Viking Cup before, but I've heard it's a replacement, yeah.

McKeen's: McKeen's: I've read that you feel your game is similar to Scott Gomez'. Tell me a bit about that and what you feel your strengths are as a player in general.

Sacchetti: Sacchetti: Well, I really just like to be a give-and-go player. I think I have pretty good vision. I kind of feel stupid talking about myself, but (pauses) … coach is really stressing working on my release because he says I have a dangerous shot and the more I get it off the better. So, that's what I'm trying to focus on now, just crossing the line, letting it go, and crashing the net hard.

McKeen's: McKeen's: Lastly, it is early in the season, but your team has been at it for a little while. Who are some of your Omaha Lancers teammates that impress you either on the ice, or maybe off the ice?

Sacchetti: Sacchetti: Definitely Keir Ross and Chris Hepp. I don't need to guess how it is to play against them, because every day in practice we get to, and it's really a pain because they're just men out there. How strong they are along the boards, it really is not fun. I look forward to games because I don't have to play against them, and I feel bad for the people that do.

McKeen's: McKeen's: Any of your fellow forwards?

Sacchetti: Sacchetti: Yeah. Travis Novak is probably one of the fastest kids in the league. You go in practice and we do timed drills, I hate going with him, because he just makes me look foolish.