USHL: QA with Nick Dineen

Sioux Falls Stampede right-winger Nick Dineen is among the USHL's scoring leaders in his third season, despite missing a couple games while playing for Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge. The 18-year-old Omaha, Nebraska native finished fourth in Team USA scoring at the tournament with three goals and two assists in four games. McKeen's recently had the opportunity to catch up with Dineen and talked about playing at the World Junior A Challenge, his development in the USHL, his commitment to Colorado College, and the possibility of following in the footsteps of other recent drafted USHLers who were passed over in their first year of eligibility.

McKeen's: Earlier this month you played for Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge. What was it like to get that call and what was it like to play for Team USA?

Dineen: It was an honor. It was a lot of fun being up there and meeting all the guys that you play in the league with and everything like that. It was just so much fun to play for your country and put on the jersey for a couple nights and just playing against that international competition.

McKeen's: I noticed that every other team in the tournament had the opportunity to play two exhibition games heading into it. What kind of a disadvantage might it have been for Team USA going into the tournament?

Dineen: Well, we just didn't have our chemistry and it was kind of apparent early on in our first game that none of us had ever played together or anything like that, and it showed. But, we caught on and we played well, we played hard, and it was a lot of fun.

McKeen's: Tell me more about that first game against Belarus. You guys came back for that 7-6 victory.

Dineen: That was kind of a roller coaster. I don't know what to say about that game. It was a lot of fun. It was the first international game I've ever played in. So, there was a lot of energy and a lot of the kids are the same way. Just … I don't know what to say about it.

McKeen's: Did Belarus exceed your expectations?

Dineen: Not so much. I mean, going into it you knew it was international and you had to be ready for anything. At the same time, we were just caught a little bit on our heels, being our first game together and everything.

McKeen's: You beat Canada East, but Canada West put you out of the gold medal game. What happened in that game?

Dineen: We took a lot of penalties. We were in the box pretty much the whole game and that was kind of frustrating. We never really got a chance to get anything going. I think that was a big factor.

McKeen's: In the bronze medal game, you had a wild third period. Tell me about that six-goal period against Russia.

Dineen: (Chuckles) Once again, I don't know what to say. We didn't come out strong again in that game, but the USA pride might have taken over and we played hard. Some guys came in at big times with Barry Almeida and guys like that coming in and scoring important goals.

McKeen's: You had a couple of third period goals yourself.

Dineen: Yeah.

McKeen's: Overall, how did the level of play at the World Junior A Challenge compare to what you play every night in the USHL?

Dineen: It was pretty similar for the most part. The Canada West might have been a little bit more physical I think. They tried to bang us around a little bit. But, every night whether it's international or what, you've got to come to battle. You've got to be ready for anything.

McKeen's: It is your third year in the league and it seems statistically that you have made steady progress. What has enabled you to make that progress every year?

Dineen: I don't know, just confidence and coaching and being in the weight room and getting stronger and quicker and all of that stuff.

McKeen's: Obviously, players are always trying to improve at a little bit of everything, but what are some of the things you are really focusing on improving going into college?

Dineen: Well, scoring goals. Being a forward, you've got to concentrate on that. So far this year it's been working out for me. I've just got to keep that up and I give almost all of the credit to my linemates. I've been getting great passes, so…

McKeen's: On the flipside, what are some of your strengths and what kind of game do you play?

Dineen: I don't really know. I think I'm pretty well rounded. I can play defense. I can play offense. I just go out there every night and play hard and hit people and take advantage of the opportunities that come my way.

McKeen's: You are an Omaha native but you went out to Colorado Springs to play for the Pikes Peak Miners. When did you make that decision and what led to that decision?

Dineen: Well, I made that decision about 15 minutes after the tryout ended. Frank Serratore, the coach of the Air Force, he got me out there and I tried out and I made the team and my family didn't want to move out there. So, I went in and told the coach and he said that he could arrange a housing family for me. So, me and my family had 15 minutes to decide and we did and we haven't looked back since.

McKeen's: What year of hockey was that for you?

Dineen: It was my first year of bantams. I was in eighth grade.

McKeen's: You spent that time with Pikes Peak out in Colorado Springs and now you have committed to Colorado College, also in Colorado Springs. Did that play into that decision at all?

Dineen: Oh yeah, it was a huge factor. I was familiar with the campus and I went to all the games and I just love the arena and the school and everything like that, and the area. The area is great.

McKeen's: Tell me more about Colorado College. In every other sport, it is NCAA DIII, except women's soccer I think. It is a small college, probably smaller than some high schools around Omaha and Colorado Springs, yet has a very well respected program. Tell me about that dynamic.

Dineen: Yeah, like you said, there's like 1900 people there and so it is kind of like a medium-sized high school. I don't know, they continue to get great and good players and they have great facilities and a great coaching staff. So, I think that has a lot to do with it and the fact that just being in the mountains attracts a lot of people.

McKeen's: Obviously, it does give one an advantage in training, going from the high altitude to lower altitudes for away games.

Dineen: Yep.

McKeen's: What was the recruiting process like that coach [Scott] Owens led you through?

Dineen: Well, I talked to him a little bit when I played for Pikes Peak. They gave me a media guide and stuff like that and as my first year went along, I talked to him more and more. I went on an unofficial visit, then ended up committing there because that was my number one choice in a school anyway.

McKeen's: The USHL has grown on the NHL radar. There have been other players, such as former Pikes Peak player Trevor Lewis, or even third-year USHLer Phil DeSimone, who have been passed over once or twice but still were drafted. Does that give you some optimism going into the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, or does that not really enter your mind?

Dineen: It enters my mind, but at the same time, a lot of people go undrafted. So, you've just got to … you can't control … all you can control is yourself. So, you've got to go out there and play hard every night and if they like you, then they like you. If not, you've just got to keep getting better.

McKeen's: Lastly, I read on the Stampede's website that Mark Messier is your favorite player. When did he become your favorite player and why Messier?

Dineen: I watched him growing up and the leadership that he shows on and off the ice, with all the stuff that he does for charity and stuff like that. I don't know, all the stuff that he's accomplished in his life. He's a real good role model.

McKeen's: He was definitely a great all-around player.

Dineen: Yep.