Development Camp 2013: Sean Monahan

 

 

The first thing you notice about Sean Monahan is his deep voice. He’s also incredibly well-spoken. Calgary’s sixth overall selection in the 2013 NHL Draft comes across as incredibly focused on improving as a hockey player and challenging for a roster spot in Calgary in the fall.

I had the chance to chat with Monahan briefly in-between sessions at Calgary Flames development camp this past week.

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Ryan Pike: WHAT’S THE BIGGEST ADJUSTMENT FOR YOU TRANSITIONING TO BEING “SIXTH OVERALL PICK” SEAN MONAHAN AS OPPOSED TO “OTTAWA 67S FORWARD” SEAN MONAHAN?

Sean Monahan: I honestly don’t think anything’s changed. I’m just trying to be the same person, same player, no matter what. I think that, obviously you’re drafted to an NHL team now, you’re got something to look forward to. I’m trying to make the NHL, so that’s I guess the biggest thing. There’s an opportunity there, so I think just getting in the gym and on the ice, I’m working that much harder because I’m looking towards something and I’m really looking forward to that.

THE FLAMES HAVE GIVEN YOU A LOW NUMBER (23) AND THE TEAM USED A LOT OF YOUNG GUYS DOWN THE STRETCH THAT ARE HERE AT THIS CAMP. GOING INTO THE SUMMER, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PREPARE FOR YOUR CRACK AT PRO CAMP?

I think it’s just a lot of hard work. You’ve got to be committed. I think obviously you’ve got to go to the gym for two hours, two and a half hours, whatever it is… You’ve gotta work as hard as you can there. You have to carry yourself well after the gym. You have to eat properly, get the right sleep if you want to be prepared and want to be a pro. All the little things there is throughout the summer until you get to the next camp, if I get invited, I think I’ve got to be ready for that and that’s what I’m looking forward to.

HAVE ANY FLAMES REACHED OUT TO YOU TO HELP YOU PREPARE FOR THE TRANSITION?

I got to skate with Mike Cammalleri twice now, back home in Toronto. He was there and [I saw him] at my gym and asked me to come out and skate. I got to talk to him and he told me about Calgary and how it’s run. It was encouraging words and I feel really comfortable here. The staff’s great, the coaching staff is obviously great, too. All the players on my team and all the players at this camp make you feel very welcome, and the fans, too.

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