WHL: QA with Gilbert Brule

We caught up with Gilbert Brule by phone recently as he and his Vancouver Giants rode the bus on an Alberta road swing. Aside from his Top Prospect game success, we asked him about his reputation as a player that won't back down from a challenge. He also told how much he'd love to be a part of the WJC squad for Canada in 2006, which will be played in his own backyard.

CHL TOP PROSPECTS GAME

McKeen's: How much fun was the Top Prospects game, especially given your amazing performance?

Gilbert Brule: It was a lot of fun. It was a chance to see the top guys from the CHL. I had a good game and had fun out there.

McKeen's: How competitive is the atmosphere in the dressing room before that kind of game?

Brule: I think the first few days were pretty relaxing and then once we got into the game situation at the rink it was pretty competitive.

McKeen's: Don Cherry was your coach there. He has a lot of fans out there, so what is he like in person?

Brule: I think he's the same as he is on the air. He's really outgoing and he speaks his mind and I like that about him. He's a great guy and a really nice person and was nice to me and treated me well.

McKeen's: You grew up on the West Coast, so how sweet is it to play for the Giants in general and then have the Top Prospects game there?

Brule: Playing for Vancouver in my home town is awesome. We've got a great organization here with a great owner and they treat us very well. Getting to play in front of them and show them what I can do in my own building in front of that many fans is pretty amazing at the Top Prospects game.

HEART TRUMPS SIZE

McKeen's: Compared with the average NHL player's size, you're on the smaller side (5'11", 180 pounds). Does that give you any extra motivation to be the best player you can be, just to prove any naysayer wrong who only judges on size?

Brule: Well, I think some guys who have size get by on size, but I have to get by on other things like scoring. I work as hard as I can to do the best I can and work on my scoring and just try to be a competitive player.

McKeen's: Who are some NHL players whose game you admire and maybe try to pattern your game after?

Brule: I don't know. I haven't made anything yet, so it's kind of hard to say. Maybe like a Forsberg guy who's pretty gritty, competitive, who can score and pass the puck.

McKeen's: You've got tremendous speed. How big a role do you think it plays in your success and how much extra room does it give you out on the ice?

Brule: I think speed is a huge thing in the game, letting you beat guys one-on-one and things like that. You can also beat guys to a loose puck.

ONE TOUGH CUSTOMER

McKeen's: Do you take some pride in knowing that you've got a reputation around the league as someone who won't back down from a physical challenge?

Brule: Yeah, definitely. I think everyone has to have some respect for themselves, play hard and do whatever it takes to win. If I get pushed around, I'm going to push back.

McKeen's: When you play with as much physical intensity as you do, sometimes a player can fall into periods where they're taking too many bad penalties. Is this something you are conscious of and what can you do to avoid hitting those kinds of landmines?

Brule: I think guys try to go at me once in a while to get penalties, but I don't retaliate too much. I think the penalties I do take are from being competitive and hitting hard and things like that – checking hard. Once in a while I get in the penalty box, but I try to stay out of there as much as possible.

McKeen's: What kinds of tactics work for you when it comes to winning face-offs?

Brule: I think just getting good body position and getting the guy's stick out of the way. Other than that, really just trying to get to the puck first.

TOUCHÉ

McKeen's: Do you think it's a fair criticism of your game to say that at times you could do a better job of distributing the puck?

Brule: I don't know. I think I'm one of the top guys in the league in getting assists, so I don't know that I'm not passing the puck enough.

McKeen's: You played with Carey Price in the BC Junior Leagues when you were both 15. We spoke with him earlier in the season and asked him about your game. What do you think the strengths of his game are as you each move toward the NHL draft?

Brule: I think he's a great goalie. He handles the puck so well that he's like a third defenseman out there. He works hard and he's a really good kid and I think that helps too.

McKeen's: You're part of a pretty tight scoring race right now. Does that make the season even more exciting?

Brule: Yeah, it adds more excitement. I try to give myself that extra push to try to get ahead for the next week, or whatever.

McKeen's: What kind of pride -- and pressure – comes with being the highest-ranked WHL player in the draft to this point?

Brule: There's a lot of pressure to do well. When I look at it I just look at how I played and if we win and I'm doing well, then that's the best thing right there.

HANDING IN THE RESUME

McKeen's: If you could speak directly to an NHL General Manager as the draft approaches (we hope), what would you say an NHL team is going to get if it drafts Gilbert Brule?

Brule: I'd say they're going to get a guy that's willing to do whatever is asked of him, compete as hard as he can, work as hard as he can, provide some offense and have a disruptive style of game.

McKeen's: How are you coping with the media attention and keeping your focus on improving your game and not getting distracted?

Brule: I don't think I get distracted by the media hype and things like that. I just try to stay away from things like that. It's kind of nice once in a while to see yourself on TV, because when I was younger I was watching all of the other guys. I just think it's kind of nice to have the attention once in a while, but I think I stay focused and keep a level head.

McKeen's:How much of a motivation for your outstanding Top Prospect game performance came from dropping to #6 in Central Scouting's rankings? By the way, we had you at number four.

Brule: (Laughs) I think by going to #6 I just tried to work a little harder and I knew that was a big game to show it in. I just wanted to go out and work as hard as I possibly could for our team and myself.

McKeen's: Next year the WJC is in Vancouver. How much extra motivation is that going to provide for you to get on that team, knowing it's in your backyard?

Brule: I think I'll have to play a really good game and play my game to get on that team or even get an invite to camp. It's in Vancouver and I'd love to be there.

McKeen's: Any thoughts on not getting invited to camp for this year's Team Canada tryouts, or do you just chalk that up to the age, experience and the awesome talent pool that was available?

Brule: They had a great team obviously and I don't think I could have made much of a difference.