BY SCOTT
HADDOW
Over the past four seasons, Sudbury Wolves defenceman Marc
Staal has developed from a bright prospect to a world class
junior player.
He has steadily improved his game each season, becoming a more
prominent factor in every game and has been the Wolves' captain
for the last two years.
Staal is currently in Calgary at the World Junior selection
camp. He is preparing himself to return to the international
scene by earning another spot on Team Canada for the upcoming
2007 World Junior Championship (WJC).
Staal was named the Top Defenceman at last year's tournament as
he helped Canada take gold by beating Russia in the final. He
shut down Evgeni Malkin, who was considered the best player
outside the NHL last year, in the final game, suffocating him
with a blanket of perfect defence. Due to his experience and
maturity, it's likely Staal will be the captain of Canada's
squad this year.
His leadership and skill are unsurpassed in the OHL and maybe
the entire CHL. Success has followed Staal throughout his
career. He was also a gold medal champion with Team Ontario at
the World Under-17 event three seasons ago.
Staal has been an OHL All-Star and has played in the OHL
All-Star Game as well as in the ADT Canada versus Russia
series.
The six-foot-four defender was taken 12th overall in the 2005
NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers and will eventually
star in the big show.
He's looking to follow in the footsteps of older brother Eric
(Carolina Hurricanes) and younger brother Jordan (Pittsburgh
Penguins) and become a legitimate young star in the NHL. The
youngest brother, Jared, is in his first season with the Wolves
and is under the wing of Staal.
The Thunder Bay native recently took time out of his hectic
schedule to talk with Northern Life reporter Scott Haddow about
his career, family and representing his country.
SH: Getting the opportunity to possibly wear a Team
Canada jersey again at the 2007 WJC, what does it mean to
you?
MS: It's exciting. It's always exciting. The camp in Calgary
will be a different experience with different players and I'm
looking forward to putting my best effort forward and showing
my best game.
SH: Despite being a huge factor last year, no spot is
guaranteed so will you have to prove you're worthy
again?
MS: I will have to earn a spot again for sure. At a summer
camp, head coach Craig Hartsburg said that's the way it will
be. I have to work just as hard again, if not harder. Everyone
going has to work their hardest to show they can compete at the
highest level.
SH: As a guy who has been through the WJC battles and
lived to talk about it with a gold medal, what do you think
you can offer this year's squad?
MS: I think I bring more of the same things I brought last year
- strong, solid defensive play. I also can bring more
leadership this year because of my experiences and always be a
guy who can be counted on.
SH: Do you feel like you're constantly under pressure
to perform at the best level, given you play all the major
events during the hockey season?
MS: I do feel some pressure with the WJC team just because of
the success we had last year and how much Canada wants us to
win. With the way I played last year, I will be looked upon to
have another great camp and, hopefully, tournament.
SH: What have you learned in your two years at the
Rangers' training camp?
MS: It's been good for me to get on the ice with players who
have been in the NHL for a long time and see what it's all
about. Their knowledge and leadership rubs off and helped me
out a lot. The work ethic of the players really stood out and
the commitment they have to the game. It was amazing to see
what these players go through to stay at the top and do their
best. It doesn't get any easier once you do get there…you have
to work harder to stay.
SH: What kind of challenge have you given yourself
and what do you still have left to prove at the OHL
level?
MS: Obviously, I want to be one of the best players in the
league each and every game. I want to help Sudbury win any way
I can. This is my final year so I would love to go past the
second round in the playoffs. I want to win a
championship…that's the big goal.
SH: Does this team have what it will take to a have a
deep post-season run?
MS: I definitely believe so. When we play the good teams and
play our best game, we can compete with any team in this
league. If we all bring it consistently, we have a very good
shot at winning this year.
SH: What's it been like to play with your youngest
brother, Jared, this season and have you taken on a role with
him?
MS: It's been great. Not too many boys can come to the rink at
this level and see their brother every day. It's been fun and
hopefully it's been fun for him too. We have a lot of young
players on the team, so my role is to help them all. Showing
them what hard work can do is the best thing I can teach
them.
SH: What was it like to see him score his first OHL
goal?
MS: I was on the ice when he scored. It was a really exciting
time. I was so happy for him to get that off his shoulders and
see a big smile on his face. Now, he doesn't have to worry
about it anymore and it was big for him.
SH: As Wolves captain, what do you want to impress on
the players?
MS: The biggest thing going into every game is I want to play
consistently and have everyone do the same. I am trying to show
them it's important to work just as hard off the ice as it is
on it. A lot of good things happen because of hard work.
SH: What kind of lasting impact did winning gold at
the WJC have on you?
MS: Winning was an unbelievable experience and something I will
never forget. It's something I can bring with me for the rest
of my career and life.
SH: Away from the game, with any free time you might
get, what do you like to do?
MS: I don't mind playing pool now and then…I'm all right at it.
It's pretty much just hockey around here and I don't mind that
at all. I am going to Laurentian University next semester…I'm
not sure what I will study.
SH: With the direction your brothers are going, does
your family ever get the chance to be together
anymore?
MS: It's rare when we can all be together…maybe once a year in
May. We're still a tight family even though everyone is so far
apart and we still support one another. It can be tough at
times, but that's the life of hockey.
SH: Let's pretend it's a family two-on-two game, who
would you take on your side and who would win?
MS: That's a tough question. I would have to stick to the way
we did when we were all younger - it was always Jordan and I
against Eric and Jared. There's no doubt Jordan and I would win
that game right now just as we did when we were younger.
