WHL: Kyle Chipchura QA Pt 2

Concluding our interview with Prince Albert Raiders captain Kyle Chipchura, correspondent Patrick King asks Chipchura about his draft-day recollections, his future with the Montreal Canadiens and the upcoming world juniors.

McKeen's: Many thought you would be on last year's under-20 world junior team, but your injury forced you to miss the tournament, how heartbreaking was that?

Kyle Chipchura: Yeah, I mean, it's a hard team to make and I'm not saying I would have made it or anything like that. It's definitely a dream and luckily I have another year to try out for it and the guys didn't miss me too much last tournament. (laughs)

McKeen's: Did you watch the tournament over the Christmas holidays?

Kyle Chipchura: Oh yeah. I didn't miss a game.

McKeen's: Are you excited to attend camp and play for a roster spot on this year's team?

Kyle Chipchura: Yeah definitely. I don't even know how to put into words what it would mean for me. It's a dream of every Canadian kid and hopefully I get the chance. If I get the chance, I'll make the most of it.

McKeen's: Do you think your experience on the under-18 team will help you approach the camp and tournament?

Kyle Chipchura: Yeah for sure. When you get that international experience it's going to help you a lot. The under-18 tournaments are huge but this is the big one. This is what it all leads up to, so definitely I think it will help me out.

Draft Day 2004

McKeen's: In 2004, you were drafted in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens, what was it like hearing your name at the draft?

Kyle Chipchura: Yeah that was something else. I wouldn't be able to describe it now, it went by so fast. I can't really remember the day too well, but it was a proud moment for me and my family and we had a lot of fun.

McKeen's: Was it any more special for you being that it was the first round?

Kyle Chipchura: Yeah I'm not going to lie, every kid wants to go as high as they can go. To be a first round pick is definitely an honour but at the same time you're drafted by an NHL team and whether you get drafted in the first round or the ninth round you're still drafted. That's the way I approached it. It's definitely an honour going in the first round but any round would be an honour.

McKeen's: What were your initial thoughts when you found out Montreal was the team?

Kyle Chipchura: I wasn't too sure about them actually. I mean, I heard many were interested but Montreal wasn't a team I heard much about. When they called my name, I mean, it was good hearing it and I was a little bit surprised. But I'm definitely proud going to the Canadiens.

McKeen's: Which teams did you hear about before the draft?

Kyle Chipchura: I heard stuff about Nashville, the Islanders and Calgary quite a bit actually. I was slated to go anywhere from the 10th spot, to 50th spot, 80th spot. I knew it was a little wide open draft and I just thought to go in there and enjoy it and if I get picked, the sooner the better I thought. When I got picked it was a pretty proud moment.

McKeen's: So were you surprised that none of those teams picked you?

Kyle Chipchura: Yeah but you hear stuff before the draft. Maybe they weren't interested at all. You hear a lot through media and through interviews and stuff like that and I guess you have to take it with a grain of salt. Same with the rankings, guys drop down and climb and stuff like that. Especially that draft because it was wide open and I wasn't surprised at all by not being picked. I was more surprised with getting picked.

McKeen's: You've played in a few prospects tournaments with the Canadiens, how do you think you've matched up against some of the other prospects?

Kyle Chipchura: That's a different level of playing. You go to camp and that's a different level and then you go to exhibition and that's a different level. I think I probably matched up. You want to play the best and be one of the best and I know there's a lot of work to do.

Chipchura's future with Canadiens

McKeen's: Have the Canadiens spoken to you about their future plans for you?

Kyle Chipchura: I think they just want me to develop here in junior and keep on improving and see if I'm ready to turn pro next year. I haven't really talked about contracts or anything like that but I think they want me to develop more. I mean, they're a first-class organization and you have to earn a lot to be a part of their organization and it's definitely something I want to be a part of.

McKeen's: What was it like to visit your NHL city for the first time?

Kyle Chipchura: That's a great hockey city. They love their Canadiens and to be a part of it would be something special, that's for sure. The city is great, there's a lot of stuff going on and it's a real nice city. I have nothing but good thoughts about it.

McKeen's: Do the Canadiens have any expectations or goals for you to reach in the WHL this season?

Kyle Chipchura: I think they just want me to improve all season, work hard and try to be the best player that I can for next season. I have a chance to sign a contract this summer if I want to sign one. Like I said, you have to earn it and that's by getting better and working on your all-around game and coming ready next year. I think a lot of it too is they want you in a winning environment so if you can win some games here it bodes well for me as a player.

McKeen's: What does the future hold for Kyle Chipchura?

Kyle Chipchura: I'll worry about the future when the future comes. Right now I'm going to work hard and focus on the Prince Albert Raiders and let things go from there.