USHL: QA with Ryan Walters

The Des Moines Buccaneers suffered both a seven-game and an eight-game losing streak prior to the New Year, en route to a 5-15-3 record entering the Christmas and New Year break. Despite a dismal, disappointing start for Des Moines, forward Ryan Walters was a glimmer of light averaging nearly a point per game with 7 goals and 14 assists and was re-establishing himself as a probable pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft after being ranked a "C Player" on Central Scouting's "Players to Watch" list in October. One of the top scorers in Minnesota high school hockey in 2007-08, Walters' playmaking prowess has been more noticeable as the 2008-09 season has worn on, and the Rosemount, Minnesota, native appeared on the verge of establishing himself as the team's top set-up man entering 2009.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey was able to chat with Walters in late December. The young forward discussed the Buccaneers' difficult start to the season, his own personal success, his experiences playing for Team USA select teams, his split season in 2006-07, his high school hockey career and his commitment to the University of Minnesota. He also talks about a few players he looks up to, including a Golden Gopher his own age bound for first-round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

McKeen's: Well, unfortunately, and I hate to start off on a negative note, but tonight kind of went how it's gone a lot of nights this season for the Bucs. How would you describe the season overall for the team and for yourself, since things aren't going as bad for yourself statistically?

Walters: Right now, this season, for our team, we've been struggling a little bit after the start of the season. A couple weeks ago we went to Cedar Rapids and they ended up beating us 9-2 and then today we lost 7 to 1. So, it's been a rough start, but we've won two of our last five. So, it seems like it's been turning around, so hopefully we can go to break, get a rest, and come back after the break.

McKeen's: What are some of the things that the coaches have identified in talking to you guys, as some of the reasons you guys haven't been as strong as the roster would show on paper?

Walters: We just need to work on our d-zone. We've been scoring a lot lately, but our d-zone needs to tighten up and we need to start going stick-on-stick and body-on-body and just get the puck to the blueline.

McKeen's: Now, to areas of improvement, you've been averaging roughly about a point per game this season, which is up from the 3 assists in the 16 games you played in your split season last year. So, what are some of the areas of your game that you've been focusing on improving this season and also over last summer?

Walters: Last season I was trying to force plays when I was down here. I wasn't used to the style of play, it was a lot faster, stronger guys, and they had more experience. So, this year I've just been focused on making a smart play and not rushing everything, being patient and making the best of the opportunities.

McKeen's: What areas of your game do you consider are your existing strengths?

Walters: Well, I'd like to say, myself, as a goal scorer, but I couldn't do it without my linemates Alex Chiasson and Brett Bruneteau. They work hard in the corners and they feed me the puck. They make plays themselves, too. Like, tonight Alex Chiasson, he dangled through the defensemen and got a goal, so that was pretty sweet. They're just great teammates.

McKeen's: Yeah, that was a great start to the game. I thought maybe that things were going to go your way with that start, but unfortunately not. Now, prior to the regular season, or the exhibition season for the USHL, you played for Team USA at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. What was your role on that team, how did you feel that went, and how did you feel you did there?

Walters: This summer, I went to Czechoslovakia, we played in the Ivan Hlinka Tournament, and the year before we were in Czechoslovakia, too. On that team, me, Kyle Beattie, and Steven Whitney were linemates and we got a lot of goals and stuff, and then this past year in the Czech Republic, I didn't have my best tournament, I wish I could have played better. So, I think I was more of a grinder, going in the corners with guys. But, it was a fun experience and I hope to do it again some time.

McKeen's: As you mentioned, you also played in the Five Nations Tournament in 2007, and you guys did a little better, winning the silver medal. How would you say that experience, or that level of play at that tournament, compared to what you eventually played in the USHL last year?

Walters: They're very similar, you know? When you go play the Czech Republic and Canada, Sweden, all of them, they're the very best players in the world for their age level, and it was a lot faster pace as the USHL and the guys were really skilled players.

McKeen's: How did the Five Nations Tournament compare to what you'd played in high school?

Walters: Oh. No comparison there. The Ivan Hlinka Tournament, with those teams that I mentioned before, they're the best players in the world. High school's a little slower pace. I mean, they have their guys on their teams, like, their first and second-line guys are pretty good, and they always come out with draft picks. But, they're not as deep as all the international teams from all over the world.

McKeen's: Going back to high school with your split season last year, how did you feel that went for you, because you started in Des Moines, and then went back and ended up eighth overall in state scoring in Minnesota? So, tell me about that decision and how you felt about it.

Walters: Last year I came to Des Moines with the understanding of playing ten games before my high school season so they could have my rights for this season. So, going into the season, I knew I wasn't going to play the whole time. So, I went back to high school and the experience that I got from the USHL transferred right over to Minnesota hockey, and I just think it helped me a lot. Here, it's a better league. We (St. Thomas Academy) ended up winning the state tournament, so that was another fun experience. We had a very successful year.

McKeen's: Were there any difficulties with academics switching teams mid-season? Were you going to school in Des Moines at that time and then going back to St. Thomas, or online, or just playing the games and staying there in Minnesota?

Walters: I was going to school on the weekdays, and on the weekends, I'd play in the games. So, I didn't practice during the week. So, I only missed Fridays, got my homework, did it in the car on the way back.

McKeen's: Sure. Tony Lucia did that a few years back with Wayzata while playing for Omaha. Now, going back to your freshman year of high school, you had a very good year and you had some phenomenal teammates. Tell me about that team.

Walters: We had a really skilled team. On that team, our goalie, who is here now, Aaron Crandall. We had Nick Larson, who's playing at Waterloo. Anders Lee, he's an all-around good athlete. He could go D1 in football, he's been offered. I'm sure he'll go D1 in hockey one of these days. But, he transferred to Edina. Those are just a few of the big-name guys we had on that team. So, I thought we had a really skilled team when I was freshman.

McKeen's: Did you manage to play with Jordan Schroeder at any point at St. Thomas?

Walters: No. I came my freshman year, and that's the year he left to go play for the National Team Developmental Program, so I never got to play with him, but I'm pretty good buddies with him and I know him.

McKeen's: I saw with Anders Lee that he earned a fairly prestigious award from the press for football.

Walters: Yeah, he was All-Metro Player of the Year for quarterback, for the Edina Hornets, so he had a really good year. I think he ran for over 30 touchdowns and threw for like, 2,000 yards, or something like that.

McKeen's: Following in the footsteps of Michael Forney, a Thief River Falls quarterback, and Matt Niskanen, a Virginia-Mountain Iron-Buhl quarterback, all recognized for their football accomplishments, too.

Walters: Exactly.

McKeen's: Now, last year, you committed to the University of Minnesota. When did you start talking with Minnesota and, and this is obvious for a Minnesota kid, but what made you decide that going to "The U" was the right move for you?

Walters: Shoot. I think I started talking to Minnesota the middle of my freshman season. After my freshman year, I committed during the summer before my sophomore year, and the reason I committed was, like you said, growing up in Minnesota, you've always dreamed of playing for the Gophers. I just felt like it was the right fit. When I was offered the scholarship, I said yes right in the office, I didn't hesitate. So, I was really pumped about it.

McKeen's: Not to harp on this, but you've never played with Schroeder?

Walters: No. When I was a pee wee, I played for Rosemount and he played for Lakeville, and we played against each other in district finals, I think it was, and we obviously lost, because he scored all their points. So, you can't really stop him. He's a really good player. I've known him throughout the years now, because we played on the same Minnesota boys team and he went to St. Thomas and I went to St. Thomas, and now he's at the Gophers. Hopefully he'll still be there when I get there, but I don't know, he might go pro.

McKeen's: Yeah, he is ranked in the top ten of a lot of scouting lists right now. Like Jordan [Schroeder], you did try out for the National Developmental Team, but you were not selected. How did you find out about that and what was your reaction?

Walters: I went to try out in Ann Arbor, and after tryout, they gave me a call about two weeks later and said, "We still might take you, we're going to watch you at the Select 16 Festival." And it was not what I wanted to hear, but I was like, "Alright, I still have a chance to make the team." I had a pretty good 16 Festival, and I came home, and about a week later they called me and were like, "You know what? We're going to go with two different guys. You're just not the player that we feel would fit our system." It was hard, because I wanted to play with them, but I accepted it and moved on and thought maybe a positive thing would come out of it.

McKeen's: There have certainly been a number of American kids who have not played there who have gone on to do fantastic things and there have been a number of players to play there who (pauses), haven't done as well, so it's definitely not the end of the world. Now going way back, to your youth, although you're not that old. When did you first start playing and how did you get your start in hockey?

Walters: Well, my dad, I give a lot of credit to my dad. When I was two years old, we had a lake right by our house, and he took me skating when I was two. Every weekend, we'd always go back there. Then, when I started too really like hockey, I started playing mini mites or mites and I just kept going with it from there.

McKeen's: At what point in your youth career, I guess we'll call it, did it become evident that you were a standout player?

Walters: I'd have to say by bantam year. I mean, I was pretty good, but I don't like to talk about myself that much.

McKeen's: Sure.

Walters: But, I'd probably say my first year of bantams. I had a really good year and I started to talk to WHL teams, but I didn't want to go major juniors, because you can't play college hockey, and I want to get a school education. That's when I started to find out.

McKeen's: As I mentioned earlier, you're averaging about a point per game in your draft year, and that puts you in contention to go somewhere in the draft. Do you ever think about that at all, have any teams contacted you, done the questionnaires and all that stuff?

Walters: Yeah, I've gotten a few questionnaires, but the lists are just the lists. I mean, it's a guy's opinion, some guys' opinions. You can't really focus on it. If you're ranked high, that's great. If you're ranked not-so-high, it's not the end of the world. It's just one guy's opinion. So, you've got to keep going and you'll fall where you fall.

McKeen's: I talked with John Moore a while back, and who is ranked pretty high, but he told me, with the draft, all you really come out of it with is a hat and a jersey.

Walters: (Chuckles)

McKeen's: It doesn't mean a whole lot other than that: an NHL team has your rights, and you have a hat and a jersey. Lastly, who were or are some of your favorite players and why, and who are the players you'd like to equate to?

Walters: Players my age?

McKeen's: NHL players, or any level, I suppose.

Walters: He's been mentioned before, Jordan Schroeder. He's one of my good friends. He's a really good hockey player. So, I just try to look up to him and try to keep pace with him, even though it's pretty hard to do. I try to look at him for motivation.

McKeen's: Any NHLers?

Walters: My favorite player back in the day was Eric Lindros, but he had too many concussions, so he had to retire. Right now, I don't really have a favorite player.

McKeen's: Eric did last a lot longer than his brother Brett, though.

Walters: (Chuckles) Right.

McKeen's: Not to make light of the serious concussion issues both Lindros brothers had. Any NHLers you that you feel you play similar to or would like to play similar to?

Walters: I'd say my game is close to Peter Forsberg, because he can score goals and he's not afraid to go in the corner and get the puck. He's a really hard-working guy, that's who I'd compare myself to.

McKeen's: You can't go too wrong with Peter Forsberg. He's a standard answer, and there's a reason for that.