06-01-2015, 04:48 PM
<div align="center">Toronto's Answer?
Toronto North Stars is the only franchise in the SHL to have not won a challenge cup, this season things look bright as they didn't tank but missed the playoffs by a game or two. David Benson was drafted #1 overall by them last season and is looking to strive on the pressure of being #1 and will make his debut in the SHL this upcoming season. Pierre-Luc LaFlamme is another outstanding player who works hard and his contract year is about to be end this upcoming season. Can these two young studs bring a cup to Toronto?
We have them here today.
1. First of all I just wanted to congratulate you on your success in the SMJHL you are on to the big show SHL. Can you go through your experience playing in the SMJHL and what happen to the Knights these playoffs?
My experience in the SMJHL was a great one. I went into the original SMJHL draft as a bit of an unknown and the Knights took a chance on me at 10th Overall with the idea of me playing second-line center. I had to plug a lot of training time into faceoffs to improve as a Center above other things. Captain Ales Smirnov at the time was super helpful on the ice and off the ice in getting me prepared for the SMJHL. I was shocked that the team wanted me to be an assistant captain in my rookie year. Winning a Four Star Cup was very nostalgic and I can't describe in words how great it felt. Then I of course went on to get drafted First Overall in the SHL. This year however the team was very different, we weren't a consistent team and that is what I think caught up to us in the playoffs. Ogorodnikov was solid in net but the team in front of him was not as good as they needed to be. I myself was not good enough, as the captain the team needed more from me. The guys on the team all worked hard this year I just don't think we had the talent to overcome that of the Whalers. Big kudos to them, they played a hell of a series!
![[Image: Tyler-Seguin.jpg]](http://www.hockeyfeed.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Tyler-Seguin.jpg)
2. You were the first overall pick in last year’s draft then your sent down now it is confirmed you will be playing in the SHL with Toronto how much pressure is it for you to live up to the expectations of being a first overall pick?
Obviously a lot. I know I'm not expected to come in and take the league by storm right away, that just rarely happens in the SHL these days. But there's a lot of pressure in Toronto to turn this ship around and start winning. I feel like I need to contribute a lot to make that happen. I'm not saying it's too tough a task, but it won't be easy. I look forward to playing a pivotal role for the team and trying my best to help them win.
3. When you were getting drafted no one knew you were getting pick first overall because they were rumors Toronto was going to pick someone else until that person told them he didn’t want to play for them, do you have any insight on that?
Yeah I know what you're talking about. I wasn't fully contacted by Toronto until after Alexanderson made it clear he wouldn't be thrilled to go there in all honesty. They had expressed interest before but nothing hinting that I would go #1 as they had a few picks to use up. I had a really good talk with JNH afterwards just before the draft, everyone in Toronto knew I was going there at #1 prior to the draft but a lot of other teams still didn't. In the end it doesn't matter who gets drafted where but what kind of career they end up having. I try not to think how things went there and am just focused on improving my game and making that next big step up to the SHL.
![[Image: tyler-seguin-nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-da...90x900.jpg]](https://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/74/files/2014/05/tyler-seguin-nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-dallas-stars-anaheim-ducks-590x900.jpg)
4. Toronto North Stars have never won a cup in their history how important is for you to be loyal to this organization for years to come and bring them a title?
As long as the team stays loyal to me and shows they want to win things here too I'm fully committed to get just that done. Everyone here seems to be hungry to start winning and a bunch of us have done it at the SMJHL level. I could see me spending a long time here if things go right.
5. When it’s all said and done for your career, what is most important for you bringing a title to Toronto or your individual success?
I would think both in a sense. Winning a Cup with Toronto almost goes hand-in-hand with my individual success since nobody has ever done that before. I want to leave the league with a legacy behind me, I can't do that without titles. Of course individual success will need to be there as well. I think that will come with winning.
![[Image: hqdefault.jpg]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oXa4YeXyzl8/hqdefault.jpg)
1. You guys were so close to making the playoffs when experts predicted you to being last place at the beginning of the season, was it a disappointment you missed the playoffs or was it something to build on in the future?
I had high hopes going into the season. I really wanted us to make the playoffs and that was a goal I thought we could achieve. Realistically though, I knew it would be a tough challenge and even stated early on that I wouldn't be disappointed if we didn't make it, as long as the team was moving in the right direction. As the the season went on and we went back and forth on the last playoff spot, obviously I really wanted to play in the post-season and was a tad let down we just missed out. But, I know that this season coming should be our year and have been looking forward to it since being drafted.
2. You were named the assistant captain of this team when the season started, how much pressure was it for you because obviously you’re still young and learning the game day by day?
I was named Asst Captain because I did a lot of key things early on in the past offseason. I cleaned up our locker room, team info, history, etc and that made an impression. Plus I have the highest TPE count in my draft class and am dedicated to being the best. There wasn't too much pressure as the rest of the team knows I'm younger, plus we have a great locker room and if I needed help from anyone, it was pretty easy to ask!
![[Image: article_1b2e4c4c-dee3-48d7-adf6-b4815c02cf24.jpg]](http://thenationnetwork.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/images/1b/2e/article_1b2e4c4c-dee3-48d7-adf6-b4815c02cf24.jpg)
3. When your career ends do you see yourself in a Toronto North Stars jersey or somewhere else?
Hard to say! I'd like to imagine that I would! I really want to be the guy that was drafted to turn this franchise around. We've been getting better each season since I've been here and it looks to be continued next season. However, if it doesn't happen and things don't change... I would like to hold a Challenge Cup one day. But, as for now I don't see myself leaving.
4. Do you think this group of guys has what it takes to win a cup because Toronto hasn’t won in their history so there is a lot of pressure for you?
Honestly, if it doesn't happen in the next 3 seasons, it won't happen. This team CAN do it. We have a solid group of defenseman (hoping Stinson comes back), a group of forwards that can score and are getting better, a few rookies coming up that are difference makers and a goalie in Harter who had a better-than-expected rookie season and is only getting better! The pressure is there of course, but it's almost like we are expected just NOT compete every year. So I really think we will be turning heads in the upcoming season.
Toronto North Stars is the only franchise in the SHL to have not won a challenge cup, this season things look bright as they didn't tank but missed the playoffs by a game or two. David Benson was drafted #1 overall by them last season and is looking to strive on the pressure of being #1 and will make his debut in the SHL this upcoming season. Pierre-Luc LaFlamme is another outstanding player who works hard and his contract year is about to be end this upcoming season. Can these two young studs bring a cup to Toronto?
We have them here today.
1. First of all I just wanted to congratulate you on your success in the SMJHL you are on to the big show SHL. Can you go through your experience playing in the SMJHL and what happen to the Knights these playoffs?
My experience in the SMJHL was a great one. I went into the original SMJHL draft as a bit of an unknown and the Knights took a chance on me at 10th Overall with the idea of me playing second-line center. I had to plug a lot of training time into faceoffs to improve as a Center above other things. Captain Ales Smirnov at the time was super helpful on the ice and off the ice in getting me prepared for the SMJHL. I was shocked that the team wanted me to be an assistant captain in my rookie year. Winning a Four Star Cup was very nostalgic and I can't describe in words how great it felt. Then I of course went on to get drafted First Overall in the SHL. This year however the team was very different, we weren't a consistent team and that is what I think caught up to us in the playoffs. Ogorodnikov was solid in net but the team in front of him was not as good as they needed to be. I myself was not good enough, as the captain the team needed more from me. The guys on the team all worked hard this year I just don't think we had the talent to overcome that of the Whalers. Big kudos to them, they played a hell of a series!
2. You were the first overall pick in last year’s draft then your sent down now it is confirmed you will be playing in the SHL with Toronto how much pressure is it for you to live up to the expectations of being a first overall pick?
Obviously a lot. I know I'm not expected to come in and take the league by storm right away, that just rarely happens in the SHL these days. But there's a lot of pressure in Toronto to turn this ship around and start winning. I feel like I need to contribute a lot to make that happen. I'm not saying it's too tough a task, but it won't be easy. I look forward to playing a pivotal role for the team and trying my best to help them win.
3. When you were getting drafted no one knew you were getting pick first overall because they were rumors Toronto was going to pick someone else until that person told them he didn’t want to play for them, do you have any insight on that?
Yeah I know what you're talking about. I wasn't fully contacted by Toronto until after Alexanderson made it clear he wouldn't be thrilled to go there in all honesty. They had expressed interest before but nothing hinting that I would go #1 as they had a few picks to use up. I had a really good talk with JNH afterwards just before the draft, everyone in Toronto knew I was going there at #1 prior to the draft but a lot of other teams still didn't. In the end it doesn't matter who gets drafted where but what kind of career they end up having. I try not to think how things went there and am just focused on improving my game and making that next big step up to the SHL.
4. Toronto North Stars have never won a cup in their history how important is for you to be loyal to this organization for years to come and bring them a title?
As long as the team stays loyal to me and shows they want to win things here too I'm fully committed to get just that done. Everyone here seems to be hungry to start winning and a bunch of us have done it at the SMJHL level. I could see me spending a long time here if things go right.
5. When it’s all said and done for your career, what is most important for you bringing a title to Toronto or your individual success?
I would think both in a sense. Winning a Cup with Toronto almost goes hand-in-hand with my individual success since nobody has ever done that before. I want to leave the league with a legacy behind me, I can't do that without titles. Of course individual success will need to be there as well. I think that will come with winning.
1. You guys were so close to making the playoffs when experts predicted you to being last place at the beginning of the season, was it a disappointment you missed the playoffs or was it something to build on in the future?
I had high hopes going into the season. I really wanted us to make the playoffs and that was a goal I thought we could achieve. Realistically though, I knew it would be a tough challenge and even stated early on that I wouldn't be disappointed if we didn't make it, as long as the team was moving in the right direction. As the the season went on and we went back and forth on the last playoff spot, obviously I really wanted to play in the post-season and was a tad let down we just missed out. But, I know that this season coming should be our year and have been looking forward to it since being drafted.
2. You were named the assistant captain of this team when the season started, how much pressure was it for you because obviously you’re still young and learning the game day by day?
I was named Asst Captain because I did a lot of key things early on in the past offseason. I cleaned up our locker room, team info, history, etc and that made an impression. Plus I have the highest TPE count in my draft class and am dedicated to being the best. There wasn't too much pressure as the rest of the team knows I'm younger, plus we have a great locker room and if I needed help from anyone, it was pretty easy to ask!
3. When your career ends do you see yourself in a Toronto North Stars jersey or somewhere else?
Hard to say! I'd like to imagine that I would! I really want to be the guy that was drafted to turn this franchise around. We've been getting better each season since I've been here and it looks to be continued next season. However, if it doesn't happen and things don't change... I would like to hold a Challenge Cup one day. But, as for now I don't see myself leaving.
4. Do you think this group of guys has what it takes to win a cup because Toronto hasn’t won in their history so there is a lot of pressure for you?
Honestly, if it doesn't happen in the next 3 seasons, it won't happen. This team CAN do it. We have a solid group of defenseman (hoping Stinson comes back), a group of forwards that can score and are getting better, a few rookies coming up that are difference makers and a goalie in Harter who had a better-than-expected rookie season and is only getting better! The pressure is there of course, but it's almost like we are expected just NOT compete every year. So I really think we will be turning heads in the upcoming season.
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