April 12, 2025 • 21 mins
SteelFlyers All Sports Network
Brought to you by www.steelflyers.com
Warning! Prospect Watch is not your average hockey podcast and that's OK with us.
Our goal is to introduce you to stars in the making from all over the world.They may not be household names yet but we assure you they will be soon enough.
Welcome to Prospect Watch a Pod Cast that focuses solely on the discovery and promotion of some of the best young talent in the game today from all reaches of the world.
Seeing that we have one of this years top rated draft prospects a Mr. Roger McQueen from
the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings.
Getting Familiar:
McQueen is considered one of the Top-Rated Prospects in this draft, largely do his physical attributes that just can't be taught. So, much so that at 6'5 and 192 pounds he not only has the kind of size and strength every NHL team dreams of their top line center man possessing, the kind of size that most NBA teams would consider ideal for their future shooting guard. With that being said we all know that size alone does not warrant a 1st round pick especially one from within the lottery. But, lucky for those teams that are drafting that early Roger has the skill to go along with the size.
Get all the latest on the Prospect Watch Show right here
https://steelflyers.com/links/prospectwatchshow/
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/prospect-watch--5587768
Email - prospectwatch@steelflyers.com
Follow the show on X @ProspectWatch23
Follow the show on Instagram @ProspectWatch1
Lance Green, follow on X @LanceGreen39
Ron, follow on X @SteelFlyers52
Please Hit the like and subscribe!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/prospect-watch--5587768/support.
Brought to you by www.steelflyers.com
Warning! Prospect Watch is not your average hockey podcast and that's OK with us.
Our goal is to introduce you to stars in the making from all over the world.They may not be household names yet but we assure you they will be soon enough.
Welcome to Prospect Watch a Pod Cast that focuses solely on the discovery and promotion of some of the best young talent in the game today from all reaches of the world.
Seeing that we have one of this years top rated draft prospects a Mr. Roger McQueen from
the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings.
Getting Familiar:
McQueen is considered one of the Top-Rated Prospects in this draft, largely do his physical attributes that just can't be taught. So, much so that at 6'5 and 192 pounds he not only has the kind of size and strength every NHL team dreams of their top line center man possessing, the kind of size that most NBA teams would consider ideal for their future shooting guard. With that being said we all know that size alone does not warrant a 1st round pick especially one from within the lottery. But, lucky for those teams that are drafting that early Roger has the skill to go along with the size.
Get all the latest on the Prospect Watch Show right here
https://steelflyers.com/links/prospectwatchshow/
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/prospect-watch--5587768
Email - prospectwatch@steelflyers.com
Follow the show on X @ProspectWatch23
Follow the show on Instagram @ProspectWatch1
Lance Green, follow on X @LanceGreen39
Ron, follow on X @SteelFlyers52
Please Hit the like and subscribe!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/prospect-watch--5587768/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Warning, prospect Watch is not your average hockey podcast, and
that's okay with us. Our goal is to introduce you
to stars in the making from all over the world.
They may not be household names yet, but we assure
you they will be soon enough.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Welcome to prospect Watch. Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Welcome to the next episode of prospect Watch with your
host Lance Green.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
All right, guys, welcome back to prospect Watch, a podcast
that focuses solely on the discovery and promotion of some
of the best young talent in the game today from
all all reaches of the world. Like Steele said, I'm
your host, Lance Green, and my cohort Steele is of
course going to be sticking around as we plan to
bring you one heck of a show tonight. All right, yeah,
(01:13):
because we have with us a very special guest, a
mister Roger McQueen from the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings. Roger,
how are you? Thank you so much for being with
us tonight.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Yeah, well, I'm doing great. I appreciate you guys getting
me on. This is awesome.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, great, thanks for being on here, Roger. We really
can't wait to get into some question.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Chair Man for sure, perfect, perfect, all right.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
So guys, just in case you aren't somehow familiar with
this young man's game, let me get you familiar. On
you right, let me get you familiar, all right. So
McQueen is considered one of the top rated prospects in
this draft, largely due to his physical attributes, in that
that he is six foot five and one hundred and
(02:04):
ninety two pounds. He not only has the kind of
size and strength every NHL team dreams of a top
line centerman, but maybe what an NBA team considers ideal
for their future shooting guard. He's so big, all right,
but no, yeah, let's go hockey. But stay hockey, right
(02:28):
right right. So, with that being said, we all know
that size isn't everything, especially enough to warrant a first
round pick coming from the lottery, where this young man
is projected to go. So with those lucky teams are
drafting that early, Roger has the skill to go along
(02:50):
with that size. Thankfully so, because while he is while
he may not have that top end speed some smaller
skilled players have, he can get a the ice extremely
well for a big man, and in doing so, he
has shown time and time again that he is willing
to utilize that size to take it to the outside
of the rink just to cut in to the crease
(03:13):
for a high quality scoring chance. Okay, and Steve, don't
let this kid or his team get in the offensive zone, okay,
because it's set up for a power play. Don't let
him because this young man has shown this season in
the WHL, and for that matter, maybe not too many
(03:33):
NHL players, but we'll see eventually are physically capable of
moving him out from in front of the net once
he has posted himself up there, all right, and he's
not going to leave until his team scores a goal.
So you're just not moving this guy out. He's physically,
you know, amazing stature. So let's I mean, I could
(03:55):
talk about this kid all night, Steel, but let's get
in some questions.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Why don't we I'm excited. Can you tell? Can you tell? Right?
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Yeah, well I'll tell you what.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
First of all, just to let you guys all know
everything here, man, we really appreciate you tune it in here.
If you like what we do, please hit the like
and subscribe. You would really appreciate that as well too.
Oh and also just to tickle your fancy. We got
some of Rogers's best highlights rolling in the background here
(04:26):
on the show here just to just to tantalize you
a little bit more with some of his skill and
some of the way he puts the biscuit in the basket.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
So what do you say, Roger? Are you ready for
some questions? Buddy?
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Yeah, all right, We're gonna hit you real good here.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Man.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
All right, we heard Lance talk a little bit about
what he likes about your game, and I do too
as well, of course, but.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I'd like to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
What kind of a player do you consider yourself to be?
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Yeah, and trying to play like a skilled power forward
kind of kind of more of a heart skill kind
of game and use my size to my advantage and
my shot and skill with with being pretty tall is
an advantage for sure.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
And you do have a really good shot, and you
do have some really good skill. Any kind of NHL
player that you kind of maybe modeled your game after
growing up or.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
Yeah, you know, I I look at Ryan Getzov as
a guy I try I try and try and go
for even though he's not in the league anymore. But
it's kind of a guy we watched from my dad
really really liked him, so kind of that is the
that what that's what I got.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Okay, I mean he's he was definitely a really really
good player and he played a lot of years there,
and yeah, all right, I could see that. I could
definitely see that.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Lance. What do you think.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, that's not a guy you hear of too much outside,
you know that that West Coast kind of thing. A
guy that's a little underrated in my eyes. He had
a great, great career for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
No, I agree.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Okay, So I know it's seems like ages ago now
to you probably, but can you take us back to
maybe December of twenty twenty one when that little scrawny
kid with braces was drafted and signed by the weak
Kings and described just you know how that felt at
(06:18):
that time?
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Yeah, that was that was awesome way I think we
all we all got together.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
At at in a room.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
With my parents' family and lots of my buddies and
just put it up on the TV and we're kind
of waiting along.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
I wasn't too sure what.
Speaker 5 (06:35):
Was going to happen at a feeling maybe Brandon was
going to take me there, but it wasn't one hundred
percent sure, And yeah, sure.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
As hell when that when that happened, that was that
was awesome.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
What a feeling, the what a feeling to get drafted
there forth, especially to the Brandon Weekings, like such a
great organization and so many people have talked about how
well they've done and their players that have came out
of Brandon is is pretty incredible. So being drafted there
was kind of the kind of the dream growing up,
especially I was a season ticket holder with the Saskatoon Blades,
so I went to watch them all the time and
(07:07):
it was my dream to play and play in that league.
And then going to Brandon, I heard so much good
about it and it was it was Yeah, it was
a dream from true.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
So with that being said, touch on your experience now
that you've been there, what three season pool seasons anyway,
I think you played a couple of games that first year,
but you know, speak on your experience there and how
this organization has helped shape you into the player that
you are today.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
Yeah, they're like I said, both I've had two head
coaches there, Don mcguilverrey and now Marty Murray, and both
of them were both of them were unreal for me
and really.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Helped my development, especially as a young kid coming into
the league.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
And yeah, it's always tough going in at sixteen into into.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
A league like that.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
It's a lot of old guys and it's a bit
of a change from playing the guys kind of your
age and just around your hometown. So now Western League
is it was a big step. And I think, especially
my teammate's done such a good job with my coaches
on keep me feel like safe and giving me lots
of opportunity and give me some feedback to get better
(08:12):
at And it's it's been awesome. Brandon such a good
town and the fans there too are awesome for us
and couldn't ask for a better place.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Couldn't disagree with any word you said there, man, Brandon
is definitely one of the top flight organizations in any
league much less you know anything else as far as
that's concerned.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
That's one of the reasons.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Why we wanted to have you on here, Roger, because
we feel it that team and that organization and the
league and everything that you play for is is one
of the top organizations out there. I mean, all you
have to do is look in the past couple of
drafts and you see the list of WHL players that
have gone in the draft, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
So it's great that you're in such a great organization.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
And speaking of being in such a great organization, now
we know that unfortunately the season's over for you. Okay,
but we get it and and we understand. But what
do you have coming up here that you're going to
work on before the scouting combine that's going to be
coming up here in this first week of June, And
(09:17):
do you plan on being in attendance, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
For sure. The combines.
Speaker 5 (09:21):
It was it was definitely a cool a cool email
to get to get the invite to the combine. And
I actually had another player on my team, Carter Klippenstein,
got the invite too, so it was pretty It was
pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
For that to have both of us going there.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
And I think usually when two teammates are there, they
usually stay in the same room. So that'll be nice
to have some of my my my teammates there in
the same room.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
But yeah, yeah, obviously.
Speaker 5 (09:45):
For the combine, I guess a big thing is just
strength and being able to get that. You kind of
lose a bit of it during the season, just not
being able to always be in the gym, just trying
to recover. So I think a big thing is just
getting back in the gym for that month and a
half until until the combine kind of thing, and just
getting getting.
Speaker 4 (10:03):
Back into the swing of things almost in the offseason.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
And yeah, just a bit of skating and lots of
putting on some weight hopefully and being able to get
better on a couple of those couple of those things
that kind of go away during the season.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
But yeah, it's a it's a huge honor.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
It'll be so cool, awesome, awesome, congratulations.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Thank you. Right.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
So, although you're only eighteen years old, and I think
you touched on this a little bit already, but you've
been able to fulfill every Canadian boy's dream of not
only being drafted to a CHL team, but being able
to represent their country and bring home, you know, gold
for Canada in both I believe, the Helnka Gretzky Cup,
(10:42):
in the UA teen tournament in juniors. So can you
speak on what it meant to you to get to
wear that red maple leaf on your chest.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Yeah, obviously it was the dream of every kid kind
of growing up playing on the playing of the on
the outdoor rank or on your backyard rank, one of
the two, of playing for Team Canada in the big
big game, and which I was lucky enough to do,
and playing playing one of those.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
And it's a it's it's such a.
Speaker 5 (11:10):
Feeling that it's hard to describe playing for your country.
It's one of those times where everyone says the same thing,
but it's so true. It's it's just playing in front
of your country. It's just a completely different different game,
and you're playing for You're playing for your family, friends, everyone,
and it's it's not just about you and the guys
in the room.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
It's you're back in your country. So it was awesome.
Speaker 5 (11:29):
And both tournaments we got to go overseas to Europe,
which was also which was also very cool, and I'd
never been there before, so that was that was a
treat as well, and just kind of adding on to
the to the whole tournament, but uh, yeah, it was.
It was awesome, and both tournaments both great coaches again,
and all the guys there you seem are just kind
of all gel so quick, and I think that's the
(11:49):
biggest thing in a tournament like that. Is just being
able to get to know all the guys and gel
off the ice before being able to click on the ice,
and when you get there there every guy is.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Such a great guy.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
And being able to see them again the next year
was so huge at the U eighteen Worlds. Obviously that
got caught short, but we we did still end up
getting gold, which is amazing. And I got this ring
here too, which is pretty cool. I gotta get that
in there.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Okay, there we go.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Okay, wow, look at that. That's okay man.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
Yeah, so we all got one of those, and uh yeah,
it was a lifelong memory.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Nice nice man, You know what. I never get that
never gets old, man, It never gets old seeing that hardware, brother,
you know what I mean. And that's awesome that you
get to represent your country. Now, Roger, I know you
spoke a little bit about this here slightly earlier, but
I used to be a professional chef and a long
(12:48):
time ago, and I'm really curious. Do you eat your
billet family out of house and home this season?
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Pretty close?
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (12:56):
Okay, yeah, no, it's especially we had Charlie Alecto. I
lived with him when when he was there and he
got traded this year. But yeah, we were both pretty
big kids, so it was quite a.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Bit to handle. But yeah, they're they're they're amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
So okay, do they get a meal stipend for you
or something from.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
The team, are you know right?
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Pretty close? Yeah, pretty close?
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Okay No, But seriously though, I mean, I know you're
still growing and you work out and playing all the
games you do and everything, and obviously you burn a
lot of calories.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
So tell us what like a.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Normal game day intake of meals from sun up to
sundown consists for you? Like, how does that all work?
Your your breakfast, your pregame meal, postgame meal, stuff like that.
Can you go through that with us?
Speaker 4 (13:38):
Yeah? Usually usually, usually game day is a little a
little lighter for me, just because.
Speaker 5 (13:44):
I like to kind of feel flashed by the time
of the game. So usually try to get up around
eight thirty eight forty five. We'll out checking in around ten,
So usually try to get maybe like oatmeal and berries
or maybe some yogurt in there too, not nothing crazy,
and then get to the rink. I usually pregame skate
every day, every every game, so I'll be on the
(14:04):
ice till till around eleven thirty, and then we have
a meeting team meeting at twelve, and then for for
pregame meal, they fluctuate between about like maybe a chicken
rice in broccoli or some salmon maybe I'll throw in
there sometimes, or like just a chicken fetacini alfredo.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Oh there you go.
Speaker 5 (14:25):
Yeah, And then me and my buddy Kilo Padlin on
the team will go for a forty minute walk usually
every game before the game, so we'll do that, and
then I have like a thirty minute nap and then
usually head to the rink about three hours and fifteen
minutes before and stretch for a bit and hang out
with the guys.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
So usually I'm there.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
You're there either first or second, so have some alone time,
I guess, but wait for the guys to come and
just talk hockey and then kind of get on it
and get on the ice and so what we can do.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
There you go, man, that's awesome. That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
So what is your favorite meal that your billet uh
family makes for you?
Speaker 5 (15:06):
Oh, they do make very good steaks, So I would
have to say steaks, pretty generic answer, but they they're
really good at cucking steaks.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
So all right, there you go.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
I'll take that all right.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Okay, So obviously this season your draft year did not
go quite as you might have planned, with you getting
injured and having to miss a significant amount of time
this season. But without going into too much detail, can
you tell us, perhaps and you know, any prospecting NHL
team that might be watching, how you're feeling right now?
(15:41):
Obviously you got back out there, uh you know, obviously
towards the end of the season, but you know, how
how do you feel now? Do you are you back
to one hundred percent or.
Speaker 5 (15:50):
Yeah, yeah, I'm uh, yeah, I'm back to I'm back
how I want to feel for sure? And uh, just
getting back into the gym now and getting all the
office all all the office strength back and yeah, I'm
feeling great and super excited to get back on the
ice and start the new season and try and play
the full season is obviously the biggest goal in mind,
and just getting healthy is the biggest thing.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
But yeah, I feel great and how I want to feel?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
So good?
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Good? That's awesome, man, that's awesome. And clearly we.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Can tell that you're you're feeling better by the production
you were able to do and just a short amount
of time that you were able to come back and play,
but having had some significant injuries in my past as well.
What was one of the things that you took away
from your time away from hockey while you were rehabbing.
(16:41):
What was one of the things that you took away
from that?
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Yeah, the biggest thing.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
The biggest thing for me was just staying positives through
the whole thing and just being able to realize that
there wasn't much I could do about it, and so
just trying not to get down on yourself and kind
of beat yourself up about something you can't really control.
Especially with the injury of mind. He couldn't really do anything.
I just had to wait for it to heal. So
it wasn't a whole lot of rehab, So it was
(17:07):
kind of just staying positive and and just recognizing that
it's going to get better at some point, and and
just sticking to the process.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Okay, and now with that sticking to the process and everything,
what was it like getting back out there again with
her teammates and getting that first goal on that first assist.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
Yeah, exactly, that's the that's the that's the biggest thing
is missing your teammates is a huge thing.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
And just being able because I.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
Was at home for a bit too, and you get
pretty bored in the season, watching your watching your team playing.
You just want to get out there and be able
to battle for battle for the guy standing next to you.
So it was tough being out but yeah, the first
first goal and for assist just felt so nice to
be able to get back into the swing of things.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
And yeah, it was just it was just the best.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Feeling good deal, all right. So mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
I know currently, I mean, it's going to be a
busy offseason for you this year especially, But now that
the season's over, you know, what are you look looking
forward to getting back into maybe an off ice hobby,
you know, something hanging out with friends, something that you
haven't been able to do, you know obviously with the
(18:17):
season going on.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
Yeah, A big thing is I love we have a
boat here, so I love wake surfing. I do a
lot of that, So I gotta I gotta wait for
it to get a little warmer. I guess in the
lakes done freeze out here in Saskatchewan.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
But but that's that's probably my favorite thing to do
in the summer.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
And then the obvious hanging out with friends and I
have a sports court in my backyard, so I play
a lot of basketball and just hang out back there.
Speaker 4 (18:40):
And I think, honestly, just being outside and not being
sheltered in the negative forty forty weather, it is like
getting so nice now and you almost take it.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
For granted, but yeah, exactly, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
So that my last question for you here, Roger, and
and then I think we can let you go here,
and that's this. What would you tell the guys that
are coming up that want to be in the position
where you are, What kind of advice would you tell them?
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Yeah, that's a great question. I would say The biggest
thing for me is just trying to be able to
be in the moment and enjoy and enjoy The Western
League is not always not always super highs. It's always
got a lot of bit of lows, and it gets
a super tough league, so it goes up and down.
And to not just expect to come in and always
be enjoyfully staying away from home, it's tough for me
(19:39):
and especially that side of things, So just trying to
be able to enjoy every moment of it and it
flies by so fast, and especially now.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
Like I'm done my third season, which is crazy to say.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
And I can remember stepping in the league at fifteen
years old for my first game, and it's crazy how
fast it goes by. So just being able to enjoy
the moment and enjoy the bus rides on the road guys,
because they go by pretty quick.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
So hopefully that you'll graduate to plane rides with those guys. Yeah,
at least that's what we're kind of hopeful anyway. Right
So yeah, all right, well, Roger, thank you very much
for hopping on here. Lance, you got any last questions
for us as gentlemen, No.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Man, I think I think we're good. I just want
to say thank you again for joining us. Definitely, you know,
appreciate your talents out on the ice and uh you
know look forward to uh not only seeing where you
might end up, you know, NHL wise with the with
this draft this summer, but you know after that as well,
(20:43):
and you know, watching you as you continue to progress
your game.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
Thank you so much, appreciate its awesome.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Thank you very much, Roger for hopping on here with us. Man,
We really appreciate that. And we also really appreciate the
Brandon Wee Kings for allowing some time for you to
be on camera here with us, so very much appreciate that.
Thank you guys very much for that. My name is
Ron Steele, Flyers, I'm your co host, and this has
been Prospect Watch and we will catch you all on
(21:10):
the next episode.
Warning, prospect Watch is not your average hockey podcast, and
that's okay with us. Our goal is to introduce you
to stars in the making from all over the world.
They may not be household names yet, but we assure
you they will be soon enough.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Welcome to prospect Watch. Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Welcome to the next episode of prospect Watch with your
host Lance Green.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
All right, guys, welcome back to prospect Watch, a podcast
that focuses solely on the discovery and promotion of some
of the best young talent in the game today from
all all reaches of the world. Like Steele said, I'm
your host, Lance Green, and my cohort Steele is of
course going to be sticking around as we plan to
bring you one heck of a show tonight. All right, yeah,
(01:13):
because we have with us a very special guest, a
mister Roger McQueen from the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings. Roger,
how are you? Thank you so much for being with
us tonight.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Yeah, well, I'm doing great. I appreciate you guys getting
me on. This is awesome.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, great, thanks for being on here, Roger. We really
can't wait to get into some question.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Chair Man for sure, perfect, perfect, all right.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
So guys, just in case you aren't somehow familiar with
this young man's game, let me get you familiar. On
you right, let me get you familiar, all right. So
McQueen is considered one of the top rated prospects in
this draft, largely due to his physical attributes, in that
that he is six foot five and one hundred and
(02:04):
ninety two pounds. He not only has the kind of
size and strength every NHL team dreams of a top
line centerman, but maybe what an NBA team considers ideal
for their future shooting guard. He's so big, all right,
but no, yeah, let's go hockey. But stay hockey, right
(02:28):
right right. So, with that being said, we all know
that size isn't everything, especially enough to warrant a first
round pick coming from the lottery, where this young man
is projected to go. So with those lucky teams are
drafting that early, Roger has the skill to go along
(02:50):
with that size. Thankfully so, because while he is while
he may not have that top end speed some smaller
skilled players have, he can get a the ice extremely
well for a big man, and in doing so, he
has shown time and time again that he is willing
to utilize that size to take it to the outside
of the rink just to cut in to the crease
(03:13):
for a high quality scoring chance. Okay, and Steve, don't
let this kid or his team get in the offensive zone, okay,
because it's set up for a power play. Don't let
him because this young man has shown this season in
the WHL, and for that matter, maybe not too many
(03:33):
NHL players, but we'll see eventually are physically capable of
moving him out from in front of the net once
he has posted himself up there, all right, and he's
not going to leave until his team scores a goal.
So you're just not moving this guy out. He's physically,
you know, amazing stature. So let's I mean, I could
(03:55):
talk about this kid all night, Steel, but let's get
in some questions.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Why don't we I'm excited. Can you tell? Can you tell? Right?
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Yeah, well I'll tell you what.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
First of all, just to let you guys all know
everything here, man, we really appreciate you tune it in here.
If you like what we do, please hit the like
and subscribe. You would really appreciate that as well too.
Oh and also just to tickle your fancy. We got
some of Rogers's best highlights rolling in the background here
(04:26):
on the show here just to just to tantalize you
a little bit more with some of his skill and
some of the way he puts the biscuit in the basket.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
So what do you say, Roger? Are you ready for
some questions? Buddy?
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Yeah, all right, We're gonna hit you real good here.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Man.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
All right, we heard Lance talk a little bit about
what he likes about your game, and I do too
as well, of course, but.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I'd like to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
What kind of a player do you consider yourself to be?
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Yeah, and trying to play like a skilled power forward
kind of kind of more of a heart skill kind
of game and use my size to my advantage and
my shot and skill with with being pretty tall is
an advantage for sure.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
And you do have a really good shot, and you
do have some really good skill. Any kind of NHL
player that you kind of maybe modeled your game after
growing up or.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
Yeah, you know, I I look at Ryan Getzov as
a guy I try I try and try and go
for even though he's not in the league anymore. But
it's kind of a guy we watched from my dad
really really liked him, so kind of that is the
that what that's what I got.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Okay, I mean he's he was definitely a really really
good player and he played a lot of years there,
and yeah, all right, I could see that. I could
definitely see that.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Lance. What do you think.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, that's not a guy you hear of too much outside,
you know that that West Coast kind of thing. A
guy that's a little underrated in my eyes. He had
a great, great career for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
No, I agree.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Okay, So I know it's seems like ages ago now
to you probably, but can you take us back to
maybe December of twenty twenty one when that little scrawny
kid with braces was drafted and signed by the weak
Kings and described just you know how that felt at
(06:18):
that time?
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Yeah, that was that was awesome way I think we
all we all got together.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
At at in a room.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
With my parents' family and lots of my buddies and
just put it up on the TV and we're kind
of waiting along.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
I wasn't too sure what.
Speaker 5 (06:35):
Was going to happen at a feeling maybe Brandon was
going to take me there, but it wasn't one hundred
percent sure, And yeah, sure.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
As hell when that when that happened, that was that
was awesome.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
What a feeling, the what a feeling to get drafted
there forth, especially to the Brandon Weekings, like such a
great organization and so many people have talked about how
well they've done and their players that have came out
of Brandon is is pretty incredible. So being drafted there
was kind of the kind of the dream growing up,
especially I was a season ticket holder with the Saskatoon Blades,
so I went to watch them all the time and
(07:07):
it was my dream to play and play in that league.
And then going to Brandon, I heard so much good
about it and it was it was Yeah, it was
a dream from true.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
So with that being said, touch on your experience now
that you've been there, what three season pool seasons anyway,
I think you played a couple of games that first year,
but you know, speak on your experience there and how
this organization has helped shape you into the player that
you are today.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
Yeah, they're like I said, both I've had two head
coaches there, Don mcguilverrey and now Marty Murray, and both
of them were both of them were unreal for me
and really.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Helped my development, especially as a young kid coming into
the league.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
And yeah, it's always tough going in at sixteen into into.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
A league like that.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
It's a lot of old guys and it's a bit
of a change from playing the guys kind of your
age and just around your hometown. So now Western League
is it was a big step. And I think, especially
my teammate's done such a good job with my coaches
on keep me feel like safe and giving me lots
of opportunity and give me some feedback to get better
(08:12):
at And it's it's been awesome. Brandon such a good
town and the fans there too are awesome for us
and couldn't ask for a better place.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Couldn't disagree with any word you said there, man, Brandon
is definitely one of the top flight organizations in any
league much less you know anything else as far as
that's concerned.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
That's one of the reasons.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Why we wanted to have you on here, Roger, because
we feel it that team and that organization and the
league and everything that you play for is is one
of the top organizations out there. I mean, all you
have to do is look in the past couple of
drafts and you see the list of WHL players that
have gone in the draft, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
So it's great that you're in such a great organization.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
And speaking of being in such a great organization, now
we know that unfortunately the season's over for you. Okay,
but we get it and and we understand. But what
do you have coming up here that you're going to
work on before the scouting combine that's going to be
coming up here in this first week of June, And
(09:17):
do you plan on being in attendance, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
For sure. The combines.
Speaker 5 (09:21):
It was it was definitely a cool a cool email
to get to get the invite to the combine. And
I actually had another player on my team, Carter Klippenstein,
got the invite too, so it was pretty It was
pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
For that to have both of us going there.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
And I think usually when two teammates are there, they
usually stay in the same room. So that'll be nice
to have some of my my my teammates there in
the same room.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
But yeah, yeah, obviously.
Speaker 5 (09:45):
For the combine, I guess a big thing is just
strength and being able to get that. You kind of
lose a bit of it during the season, just not
being able to always be in the gym, just trying
to recover. So I think a big thing is just
getting back in the gym for that month and a
half until until the combine kind of thing, and just
getting getting.
Speaker 4 (10:03):
Back into the swing of things almost in the offseason.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
And yeah, just a bit of skating and lots of
putting on some weight hopefully and being able to get
better on a couple of those couple of those things
that kind of go away during the season.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
But yeah, it's a it's a huge honor.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
It'll be so cool, awesome, awesome, congratulations.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Thank you. Right.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
So, although you're only eighteen years old, and I think
you touched on this a little bit already, but you've
been able to fulfill every Canadian boy's dream of not
only being drafted to a CHL team, but being able
to represent their country and bring home, you know, gold
for Canada in both I believe, the Helnka Gretzky Cup,
(10:42):
in the UA teen tournament in juniors. So can you
speak on what it meant to you to get to
wear that red maple leaf on your chest.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Yeah, obviously it was the dream of every kid kind
of growing up playing on the playing of the on
the outdoor rank or on your backyard rank, one of
the two, of playing for Team Canada in the big
big game, and which I was lucky enough to do,
and playing playing one of those.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
And it's a it's it's such a.
Speaker 5 (11:10):
Feeling that it's hard to describe playing for your country.
It's one of those times where everyone says the same thing,
but it's so true. It's it's just playing in front
of your country. It's just a completely different different game,
and you're playing for You're playing for your family, friends, everyone,
and it's it's not just about you and the guys
in the room.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
It's you're back in your country. So it was awesome.
Speaker 5 (11:29):
And both tournaments we got to go overseas to Europe,
which was also which was also very cool, and I'd
never been there before, so that was that was a
treat as well, and just kind of adding on to
the to the whole tournament, but uh, yeah, it was.
It was awesome, and both tournaments both great coaches again,
and all the guys there you seem are just kind
of all gel so quick, and I think that's the
(11:49):
biggest thing in a tournament like that. Is just being
able to get to know all the guys and gel
off the ice before being able to click on the ice,
and when you get there there every guy is.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Such a great guy.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
And being able to see them again the next year
was so huge at the U eighteen Worlds. Obviously that
got caught short, but we we did still end up
getting gold, which is amazing. And I got this ring
here too, which is pretty cool. I gotta get that
in there.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Okay, there we go.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Okay, wow, look at that. That's okay man.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
Yeah, so we all got one of those, and uh yeah,
it was a lifelong memory.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Nice nice man, You know what. I never get that
never gets old, man, It never gets old seeing that hardware, brother,
you know what I mean. And that's awesome that you
get to represent your country. Now, Roger, I know you
spoke a little bit about this here slightly earlier, but
I used to be a professional chef and a long
(12:48):
time ago, and I'm really curious. Do you eat your
billet family out of house and home this season?
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Pretty close?
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (12:56):
Okay, yeah, no, it's especially we had Charlie Alecto. I
lived with him when when he was there and he
got traded this year. But yeah, we were both pretty
big kids, so it was quite a.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Bit to handle. But yeah, they're they're they're amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
So okay, do they get a meal stipend for you
or something from.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
The team, are you know right?
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Pretty close? Yeah, pretty close?
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Okay No, But seriously though, I mean, I know you're
still growing and you work out and playing all the
games you do and everything, and obviously you burn a
lot of calories.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
So tell us what like a.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Normal game day intake of meals from sun up to
sundown consists for you? Like, how does that all work?
Your your breakfast, your pregame meal, postgame meal, stuff like that.
Can you go through that with us?
Speaker 4 (13:38):
Yeah? Usually usually, usually game day is a little a
little lighter for me, just because.
Speaker 5 (13:44):
I like to kind of feel flashed by the time
of the game. So usually try to get up around
eight thirty eight forty five. We'll out checking in around ten,
So usually try to get maybe like oatmeal and berries
or maybe some yogurt in there too, not nothing crazy,
and then get to the rink. I usually pregame skate
every day, every every game, so I'll be on the
(14:04):
ice till till around eleven thirty, and then we have
a meeting team meeting at twelve, and then for for
pregame meal, they fluctuate between about like maybe a chicken
rice in broccoli or some salmon maybe I'll throw in
there sometimes, or like just a chicken fetacini alfredo.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Oh there you go.
Speaker 5 (14:25):
Yeah, And then me and my buddy Kilo Padlin on
the team will go for a forty minute walk usually
every game before the game, so we'll do that, and
then I have like a thirty minute nap and then
usually head to the rink about three hours and fifteen
minutes before and stretch for a bit and hang out
with the guys.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
So usually I'm there.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
You're there either first or second, so have some alone time,
I guess, but wait for the guys to come and
just talk hockey and then kind of get on it
and get on the ice and so what we can do.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
There you go, man, that's awesome. That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
So what is your favorite meal that your billet uh
family makes for you?
Speaker 5 (15:06):
Oh, they do make very good steaks, So I would
have to say steaks, pretty generic answer, but they they're
really good at cucking steaks.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
So all right, there you go.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
I'll take that all right.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Okay, So obviously this season your draft year did not
go quite as you might have planned, with you getting
injured and having to miss a significant amount of time
this season. But without going into too much detail, can
you tell us, perhaps and you know, any prospecting NHL
team that might be watching, how you're feeling right now?
(15:41):
Obviously you got back out there, uh you know, obviously
towards the end of the season, but you know, how
how do you feel now? Do you are you back
to one hundred percent or.
Speaker 5 (15:50):
Yeah, yeah, I'm uh, yeah, I'm back to I'm back
how I want to feel for sure? And uh, just
getting back into the gym now and getting all the
office all all the office strength back and yeah, I'm
feeling great and super excited to get back on the
ice and start the new season and try and play
the full season is obviously the biggest goal in mind,
and just getting healthy is the biggest thing.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
But yeah, I feel great and how I want to feel?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
So good?
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Good? That's awesome, man, that's awesome. And clearly we.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Can tell that you're you're feeling better by the production
you were able to do and just a short amount
of time that you were able to come back and play,
but having had some significant injuries in my past as well.
What was one of the things that you took away
from your time away from hockey while you were rehabbing.
(16:41):
What was one of the things that you took away
from that?
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Yeah, the biggest thing.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
The biggest thing for me was just staying positives through
the whole thing and just being able to realize that
there wasn't much I could do about it, and so
just trying not to get down on yourself and kind
of beat yourself up about something you can't really control.
Especially with the injury of mind. He couldn't really do anything.
I just had to wait for it to heal. So
it wasn't a whole lot of rehab, So it was
(17:07):
kind of just staying positive and and just recognizing that
it's going to get better at some point, and and
just sticking to the process.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Okay, and now with that sticking to the process and everything,
what was it like getting back out there again with
her teammates and getting that first goal on that first assist.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
Yeah, exactly, that's the that's the that's the biggest thing
is missing your teammates is a huge thing.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
And just being able because I.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
Was at home for a bit too, and you get
pretty bored in the season, watching your watching your team playing.
You just want to get out there and be able
to battle for battle for the guy standing next to you.
So it was tough being out but yeah, the first
first goal and for assist just felt so nice to
be able to get back into the swing of things.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
And yeah, it was just it was just the best.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Feeling good deal, all right. So mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
I know currently, I mean, it's going to be a
busy offseason for you this year especially, But now that
the season's over, you know, what are you look looking
forward to getting back into maybe an off ice hobby,
you know, something hanging out with friends, something that you
haven't been able to do, you know obviously with the
(18:17):
season going on.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
Yeah, A big thing is I love we have a
boat here, so I love wake surfing. I do a
lot of that, So I gotta I gotta wait for
it to get a little warmer. I guess in the
lakes done freeze out here in Saskatchewan.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
But but that's that's probably my favorite thing to do
in the summer.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
And then the obvious hanging out with friends and I
have a sports court in my backyard, so I play
a lot of basketball and just hang out back there.
Speaker 4 (18:40):
And I think, honestly, just being outside and not being
sheltered in the negative forty forty weather, it is like
getting so nice now and you almost take it.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
For granted, but yeah, exactly, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
So that my last question for you here, Roger, and
and then I think we can let you go here,
and that's this. What would you tell the guys that
are coming up that want to be in the position
where you are, What kind of advice would you tell them?
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Yeah, that's a great question. I would say The biggest
thing for me is just trying to be able to
be in the moment and enjoy and enjoy The Western
League is not always not always super highs. It's always
got a lot of bit of lows, and it gets
a super tough league, so it goes up and down.
And to not just expect to come in and always
be enjoyfully staying away from home, it's tough for me
(19:39):
and especially that side of things, So just trying to
be able to enjoy every moment of it and it
flies by so fast, and especially now.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
Like I'm done my third season, which is crazy to say.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
And I can remember stepping in the league at fifteen
years old for my first game, and it's crazy how
fast it goes by. So just being able to enjoy
the moment and enjoy the bus rides on the road guys,
because they go by pretty quick.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
So hopefully that you'll graduate to plane rides with those guys. Yeah,
at least that's what we're kind of hopeful anyway. Right
So yeah, all right, well, Roger, thank you very much
for hopping on here. Lance, you got any last questions
for us as gentlemen, No.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Man, I think I think we're good. I just want
to say thank you again for joining us. Definitely, you know,
appreciate your talents out on the ice and uh you
know look forward to uh not only seeing where you
might end up, you know, NHL wise with the with
this draft this summer, but you know after that as well,
(20:43):
and you know, watching you as you continue to progress
your game.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
Thank you so much, appreciate its awesome.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Thank you very much, Roger for hopping on here with us. Man,
We really appreciate that. And we also really appreciate the
Brandon Wee Kings for allowing some time for you to
be on camera here with us, so very much appreciate that.
Thank you guys very much for that. My name is
Ron Steele, Flyers, I'm your co host, and this has
been Prospect Watch and we will catch you all on
(21:10):
the next episode.
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