WHL Alumni Spotlight - Kris Versteeg
December 4, 2008
Only three short years ago, Kris Versteeg was playing his final season of Major Junior hockey with the Red Deer Rebels.
Now, the 22-year-old from Lethbridge, AB, finds himself atop the NHL’s rookie scoring charts as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, and is even the subject of early-season whispers when the discussion turns to the Calder Trophy.
It’s been a well-travelled road to the NHL for Versteeg. The 5’ 8”, 180-lb right wing played for three WHL teams in his Major Junior career – the Rebels, the Kamloops Blazers and his hometown Lethbridge Hurricanes – before spending the last two seasons playing for three different AHL teams.
Drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 5th round, 134th overall, in 2004, Versteeg started his AHL career with the Providence Bruins, playing 56 games for the team over the tail end of the 2005-06 campaign and the start of the 2006-07 season. Traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2006-07, Versteeg suited up for the Norfolk Admirals for the remainder of the season, and remained with the team when the Blackhawks moved their AHL affiliate Rockford, Ill, in 2007-08 and became the IceHogs.
Now firmly planted in the Blackhawks’ lineup, Versteeg is hoping his days of traveling are behind him and he can enjoy a productive career with one of the most exciting and promising young teams in the NHL.
Catching Up With…Kris Versteeg On making it to the NHL… “It’s been fun, for sure. Coming into camp, I didn’t really knowing what was going on, but I had my mind set on making the team. It’s been an exciting ride, a little nerve-racking at the start of the year, but it’s been great. The team has put a lot of trust and faith in me, which is making it easier.”
On the adjustment to playing in the NHL… “There’s a lot of differences. The big thing is the way guys are positioned in the NHL…it’s more structured and precise. Guys in the AHL are doing whatever they can to make it to the NHL, and rightfully so, so they are out there fighting for their lives and playing a bit more recklessly than in the NHL. In the NHL, there’s a bit more of a comfort level, and guys are a bit more calm and able to play smarter. But, in the AHL you’re still playing against big, strong players who have speed and skill, so it gets you used to the physical type of players you see up here.”
On playing with the up-and-coming Blackhawks… “It’s the coolest thing to be a part of. The fans are coming out and they know who you are, and our Public Relations people are always getting calls for player appearances, so it’s nice to see the people in Chicago care about the team and want to know about the players. It’s great for the team because we’ve got such a great group of young guys who are a part of the process and going along with it. There’s definitely a buzz in the city, and people are excited for what we could bring in the future.”
On the large WHL contingent on the Blackhawks… “It’s pretty cool. I played with (Brent) Seabrook for a few years in Lethbridge, and played against guys like (Cam) Barker,
Troy Brouwer,
Colin Fraser and
Dustin Byfuglien, so it’s cool to be able to be around them again and see how they’ve come along since our days in the WHL. There’s a lot of WHL influence right through the NHL nowadays, and everywhere you play you see guys you grew up playing against or playing with.”
On the WHL as a development League… “The WHL is the best Junior League in the whole world to play in, in my opinion. The hockey is such great quality, and the players are hard and learn how to play tough and competitive because of the systems and the coaching you get. The WHL is a very tough and physical League compared to some of the other free-flowing, skill Leagues out there. You also learn to deal with travel, and you learn how to manage time really well. Those were some great years I had in the WHL, and it was the time of my life.”
Jesse Watts
whl.ca ------------------------------------------------------------
