USHL: QA with Alex Chiasson

Scoring two goals and two assists in three games for the Des Moines Buccaneers at the 2008 USHL Fall Classic, right-winger Alex Chiasson put the hockey world on notice that he'll be one of the top USHL prospects to watch this season. The 6-foot-3, 182-pound power forward has good hands and a nose for the net and looks poised to put up impressive numbers on a high-scoring Buccaneers team in 2008-09.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey had the opportunity to talk with Chiasson after Des Moines' opener and discussed his move to the USHL, his marked improvement over the summer, his prep hockey at Northwood, his choice to go the college route, and his early hockey days in Quebec.

McKeen's: You have played two exhibition games against Cedar Rapids, three games last weekend at the Fall Classic, and then tonight's score fest (an 8-3 victory over Tri-City). What are your initial impressions of the USHL?

Chiasson: Obviously it's a big league, but I don't mind playing great hockey here. I'm enjoying every moment I can, and I appreciate it.

McKeen's: How does the play compare to what you played last year at Northwood Prep?

Chiasson: Oh, it's a lot better, to be honest. It's faster, and guys are bigger and stronger. So, it's great.

McKeen's: Last weekend at the Fall Classic, you ended up leading the team (Des Moines) in scoring, with two goals and two assists in the three games, and I've been able to watch you at tryouts this summer, an exhibition, the Fall Classic, and then tonight, and you seem to have gotten progressively better every time I've seen you. What's helping you make that adjustment?

Chiasson: I work out during the summer in the gym, and also on the ice power skating. Everyday, I just keep trying to be better and better. I guess just, everyday, working hard, and that's what happened.

McKeen's: Any special things you do in the weight room, or with plyos, and such?

Chiasson: Oh yeah. I train six days a week. I do plyos three days, and then gym three days. I'm trying to get better, faster.

McKeen's: Was there a particular power skating instructor you worked with?

Chiasson: Well, I worked with my family advisor, but there's power skating in the morning, around 7:00 am, before the training. So, it's one-on-one. It's power skating, that's the way it is.

McKeen's: If I may ask, who is your advisor?

Chiasson: Phil Lecavalier.

McKeen's: Oh, yes, Phil represents a number of players from Quebec.

Chiasson: Yeah.

McKeen's: You were drafted in the second round of the USHL Entry Draft by the Bucs with the 13th overall pick. How did you find out about that and what was your reaction?

Chiasson: That was again by Phil. Ever since last year in prep school, he told me, "You want to go play in the USHL." First, I was supposed to play with Omaha. Then, we found out about here, with J.P. Parise being from Ontario, and he's a good friend of Phil's. I guess that's the best place I could be right now.

McKeen's: It looks like it's going to help the stats, at least.

Chiasson: (Smiles). Yeah.

McKeen's: You were also drafted by Val-d'Or in the third round of the QMJHL Draft. Obviously, you decided to come this route. Tell me about that decision and why you chose this path.

Chiasson: Since I was young, I've been working hard in school everyday, and education is important for me. In the Q, I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I have friends, and I know how it is. The guys don't do school there. So, right here, I have a chance to play great hockey and then hopefully get a great degree in college.

McKeen's: How was it that you came to play for Northwood?

Chiasson: That's a weird story. One of my friends, he's a good skier, Will (William St. Hilaire), he's a good skier for the Olympic team for Canada, and that's why he came to Northwood two years ago, and it's by him that I went there. It's weird, but that's the way it is.

McKeen's: I didn't know if that was something Lecavalier recommended, but it doesn't sound like it, but you are kind of following the Torrey Mitchell path: Growing up in Quebec, playing Quebec Midget AAA, prep school, and if you're fortunate you'll follow him to the NHL. With Northwood, what were some of the highlights of your time there?

Chiasson: Every game was a highlight for me. I enjoy every game. I had a great team, great chemistry, and probably the last tournament, in Culver, we won. That might be the best bond that we had.

McKeen's: Also, I saw that you were drafted in the QMJHL out of Seminary St.-Francois, the Blizzard. How long did you play for them, and who did you play for throughout the different levels of your youth hockey.

Chiasson: I played for the Blizzard for two years, and then prep school. The Blizzard starts with peewee two years, then bantam two years, and then Midget AAA.

McKeen's: Okay, so like the top Midget AAA programs that we have in the United States.

Chiasson: Yeah, yeah.

McKeen's: Speaking of American hockey, Canadian fans aren't really that familiar with the USHL. What are some things you would tell Canadian fans about the level of play and the league that they probably don't know.

Chiasson: Like all of my friends say that the USHL is just junior hockey, but it is the same as major junior back home. I know what it is, and it's great hockey, and obviously the fans are crazy. Tonight, that was awesome, a great feeling. My friends are watching the game back home, but I can't wait until they come here and see a real game.

McKeen's: That'll be a heck of a trip, especially in the winter.

Chiasson: Yeah. My dad went last week, to the Fall Classic.

McKeen's: Got a chance to see you in three games at once, rather cost-effective. Now, it's looking like there's a good chance that you'll become one of the more dominant power forwards in the USHL, especially as the year moves on. What would you say are some of the strengths of your game that makes that possible?

Chiasson: I guess, I just work hard in the gym and it paid off. I have a goal in my mind, and I know what to do to get there, and that's what I want to do. I want to live my life by hockey. It's my passion.

McKeen's: What are some of the skill sets on the ice that you feel are the strengths of your game?

Chiasson: Probably my hands, my vision. I have a good shot, but it didn't go in tonight, but that's alright. I'm pretty strong in the corners. I love Vinny Lecavalier, Phil's brother. I watched him this afternoon over in Europe, in Prague. I watch him play, and I'm kind of a similar player. He's 6-foot-4, I'm 6-foot-2 and a half. I can only look at him and try to do the same things on the ice.

McKeen's: Was Lecavalier your favorite player prior to your association with Phil, or who were some of your other favorites?

Chiasson: Well, because I grew up in Quebec, Alexander Radulov. I went there, watched the Remparts play. He was awesome, he's a great player. But, [Sidney] Crosby's probably the one I enjoy watching most.

McKeen's: Unfortunately, we won't get to see much of Radulov for a while.

Chiasson: Yeah, I know. He's back in Russia now.

McKeen's: On the other hand, what are some of the skill sets of your game that you're working the hardest to improve?

Chiasson: My skating. I try to be faster, and stronger in the corners. My shot, every time I go on the ice, I try every practice, take some shots with J.P. and do some little things that make a difference in games. But, my skating, that's what I try to work the most. That's how you get better.

McKeen's: If I'm watching Alex Chiasson play, what are some of the things I should look for so that I know he's at the top of his game?

Chiasson: Watch me every shift, I compete. I want to win. So, if I'm not there a shift, that's not me, that's not Alex. So, every shift I compete, I want to win, and that's what happened tonight.

McKeen's: Considering where you've been drafted, both in the QMJHL Draft and the USHL Draft, how you've been doing so far, the odds are looking pretty strong that you'll be one of the players to watch in the USHL this season and most likely will be drafted next June. What does that mean to you? Do you ever think about that?

Chiasson: That's just something (pauses)… it's not my focus right now, to be honest. I try and do everything on the ice and if I get drafted, great. That's great. But, I'll do everything to get drafted, but I'm not just focusing on drafting right now. So, I keep my mind set to this year, every game. June is far from now. I'll have time after the season.

McKeen's: Sure. Personal battle by personal battle, shift by shift, game by game, it'll take care of itself.

Chiasson: Oh yeah, absolutely.

McKeen's: Going back to your youth. When did you start playing hockey and how did you get your start?

Chiasson: I was probably four or three. I can't remember. The first time I went on the ice, I didn't want to play. I was crying on the ice. Then, my sister, she's 21, used to play hockey, and she put me on the ice and I started playing through my sister and my parents. So, that's how it is.

McKeen's: Not everyone has their sister as part of their introduction, but it's worked out well for you. How many years did it take before you were better than her?

Chiasson: Oh (pauses)… actually, she stopped playing when she was, probably 12. So, I got better quick.

McKeen's: To close things out, who are some of your Des Moines Buccaneer teammates that have impressed you the most so far and why?

Chiasson: First one, Chris Knowlton, captain. The first time I came here in the tryouts, he took care of me. First time, he said, "You need something, just tell me and I'll be there with you." So, I appreciate that. Then, there's Brett Bruneteau, who's diving me every day to the rink, back home, to my billet home. Then, I have two good friends, Nick Pryor and Joe Gleason. So, they're great.

McKeen's: Hanging out with the draft picks…

Chiasson: (Laughs) Ha! Yeah, I guess.

McKeen's: Oh, one more thing, since you mentioned the importance of education, what are some of the things you're looking for in a college program? Any particular degree?

Chiasson: Both. I'm trying to find the best fit right now. Hopefully go to a good hockey school for my future but also try to get a great degree from college. Then, if hockey doesn't work, I'll have something in my back pocket, to go back to work.

McKeen's: Any particular major?

Chiasson: Probably business or engineering.