WJC: QA with Jeff Carter
Patrice Bergeron won MVP honors for Team Canada, but the contributions of Jeff Carter were just as crucial in bringing home the gold. The talented center - who ranks 8th on McKeen's Top 100 Skaters list - spoke with us about that 6-0-0 sweep. He also gave us his thoughts on the lockout that has prevented him from likely suiting up with the Flyers this season.
MINING FOR GOLD
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McKeen's: Congrats on the gold medal. Has the great feeling worn off yet?
Carter: It's still settling in, but it's definitely great to be a part of it.
McKeen's: This WJC gold is part of a recent great run by Canadian hockey teams in international play. Do you take some satisfaction knowing you were a part of it and helping a nation solidify its grip on its national pastime?
Carter: Yeah, definitely. Canada's been waiting a long time to win another gold medal and to be part of a team that hopefully sets them on the track to win a few more in a row here – it was great to be a part of it and to get the chance to win a gold medal was just an unbelievable feeling.
McKeen's: You had a great tournament: seven goals and outstanding play all around. Gold was obviously the goal for everyone from Day One, but what were some of the personal goals you had in terms of your own play for this event?
Carter: I didn't really have many. I was obviously looked upon to be an offensive leader and that's what I wanted to do. Go out there and put points on the board and be strong around the net as well.
McKeen's: Everyone knows about the legendary Sutter work ethic. With Brent Sutter coaching the team this time around, do you think he was able to bring out that little something extra in every single guy and was that maybe the difference for Canada winning gold this time around?
Carter: Yeah, Brent was great. He's obviously an intense coach and he expects the best out of everybody each time they go out on the ice. The guys respect him so much and we played our hearts out for him.
McKeen's: Should Canada ask him back for next year?
Carter: I think he'd definitely be a great choice. He did a great job this year and I'm sure if he wanted to do that, they'd have him back.
McKeen's: Team Canada outscored the opposition 41-7. The offensive part of the equation is easy to explain with all of the talent that was on the team. How were you guys able to be so dominant defensively?
Carter: All the players we had on our team were unbelievable. Our D were huge and they just kind of tossed guys around back there. With that and our forwards coming back and helping, it made it real easy.
SO MUCH SKILL
McKeen's: You've had the chance to see Sidney Crosby up close. Is he as good as the scouts think?
Carter: He's unreal. He's a great hockey player, but he's a great kid too. Even though he's a couple of years younger than us, he fit in well and was just like one of the boys.
McKeen's: As you mentioned, Sid's also got a great reputation off the ice. Do you think that's going to help him stay grounded and realize his potential?
Carter: For sure. Obviously there's a lot of hype around him and I think he's handled it well so far. He's such a great kid and an all-around nice guy that I don't think that's going to bother him at all.
McKeen's: Dion Phaneuf: He's recognized as one of the best players in the CHL. How comforting was it to know that he's back on the blueline when the play heads toward Team Canada's end?
Carter: It was definitely comforting, but I think we could have put any of our D out there and they would have done a great job for us.
McKeen's: Earlier, you mentioned the D tossing guys around back there. How big of a role did physical guys like Phaneuf and Shea Weber have in this tournament and how much did physical play in general help in Canada's dominance in this tournament?
Carter: It was big for us. Coming out of the gate and throwing our bodies around kind of put the other teams back on their heels a little bit and it opens up more ice for us. I think it was a big part of the tournament.
McKeen's: How important do you feel international tournaments are in the development of a player?
Carter: They're huge. Playing with and against the best players in the world you can learn so much. Representing your country gives you a lot of experience and it's going to be big for us down the road.
PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM
McKeen's: You're known for being a great skater. What types of things have you done to develop that aspect of your game and how huge of a role do you think it will have for you in having success at the NHL level?
Carter: It's definitely a big part of my game. I think it's just working out in the summer, working hard on the legs to build the overall speed and strength. But at the next level it's another notch up and I think you just have to be faster and quicker up there.
McKeen's: You were going to get a good shot at making the Flyers this year, if not for the lockout. How frustrating has it been, not just because of the lockout itself, but also with the lack of negotiations all around?
Carter: I don't think it's been frustrating at all. Obviously I would have liked to have had the chance to play with Philadelphia this year, but I'm happy that I have a spot back in the Soo here and I'm happy where I am right now.
McKeen's: Philly's a great hockey town. Do you think you'll be able to channel some of the crowd's energy to enhance the physical part of your game?
Carter: Yeah, definitely. It's always easy to play in front of a real lively crowd and the Flyers have a lot of great fans in Philadelphia and it just makes it easier to play.
McKeen's: You weren't able to get signed before the old CBA expired. How much did Bob Clark talk to you and your agent about this during the summer and was it expected that a deal wouldn't be reached before it expired?
Carter: I don't really know. I let my agent deal with that stuff and I'm just worried about playing.