Hey everyone and welcome to todays mini episode of The Show! I'm Jordan Nugent-Hall and today I interviewed top 2 projected pick Brandon Donini. He is an amazingly talented player and I'm very happy I got the opportunity to interview him.



Hey Brandon thanks for joining me today at the The Show!

Brandon: thanks for having me!

Let's get right to the interview, you're regarded as one of the top prospects in the draft, what are your thoughts on this?

Brandon: Anytime your name is thrown in there for 1st or 2nd overall you have to feel honored, but of course getting drafted is only half of the adventure. You need to proove yourself to be worthy of the pick you were chosen with, some people bust, others are considered steals. I think i should be able to make myself worth the pick

How did you get to become one of the top rated prospects?

Brandon: Hard work. Day in and day out you need to give it all you've got. My passion is hockey, i spend pretty much all my time training and improving to be the best, obviously to get to where i am i have to have a natural ability to play hockey but that's the difference, personally, between top prospects and depth picks; it's their ability to take their skills even further than their natural abilities let them.

What does your daily training regiment contain?

Brandon: I always work on my skating in the mornings, especially when i'm back home in Italy. There's nothing better than riding your bike through the hills early in the morning to work on your speed. In the afternoon i like to focus more on on-ice training, doing drills, working with my private coach, getting to those weaker areas like my puck handling, etc. At night is usually when i go all out. I watch videos of my play to really pinpoint my weaknesses and then when i'm done i like to do some off-ice training, work on my physical conditioning, my hitting, my strength, my endurance, etc.

You're a pretty rich man here Mr. Donini and that is said to attract both NWJHL and SHL scouts, do you think you will try and grow your wealth or keep in around this level?

Brandon: The more the mearier. That's the only way to think about it. I'm set for the year as far as NWJHL training costs go, but in the SHL training will only be more expensive because i'm going to need the best training possible to keep up with the best players in the game, so yes i believe i need to keep on growing my bank account, and i'll continue to do so untill i have the best bank account.

Who are your NHL and SHL idols and why them specifically?

Brandon: NHL would have to be Jarome Iginla or Patrick Marleau. Iginla is exactly what my player is, he can put 50 goals in the net but at the same time he's extremely physical, he fights and he's passionate. Marleau because he's the face of my favortie team, he's been what them every year since being drafted by them 2nd overall 14 years ago, he's a true leader, he gives hockey everything and he's really just the type of player all young people should look up to. SHL-wise, i'd have to say Ben Wong. His passion for the game of hockey is undescribable and his drive to be the best is there. You can tell that he's commited and that he wants to be the best and he'll stop at nothing to get there.

Heading into the draft, are there any teams that you would prefer to go to?

Brandon: The Montreal Impact are definitely first on my list. They have the 1st overall pick and i would fit perfectly there. They have no need for a top dman with top notch send downs Chris Serpe and Joel Westbrook, with Smirnov Light also being sent down and the impact having 2 picks in the 1st round, we can complete the ultimate line of Donini-Light-Smith, along with that D pairing and a top goalie.....i smell a 4 stars cup no doubt. 2nd team on my list is The Detroit Falcons: the defending four star cup champs, their GM is amazing....they may not have the most solid of picks but based on their track record they'll make the right picks for sure. This team wants to win all the time and with their current GM there's a huge possibility that they will be winning. for a very long time. 3rd on my list is The Prince George Firebirds and 4th is The Vancouver Whalers. The Hitmen and Knights do not interest me at all right now.

You played for Team Italy in the Olympics, what was the experience like?

Brandon: Just a terrific experience. Sitting at home (or canada or russia) as a kid and watching the Olympics, every kid says "that'll be me one day" and when i put on that Italy jersey and heard my name being called as i skated on to the ice, that's when it hit me that it was me, that i was going to be the one on TV now while other kids look at me and say "that'll be me soon"

Do you think it will benefit you in the future?

Brandon: I definitely think it'll benefit me, it already gives me an advantage over some of the other top prospects in the NWJHL as i already have playing experience, playing top line with one of the greatest players in the SHL Frankie Gooseneck, playing more than 20 minutes a game and also doing it against top notch talent because that is what the olympics are, it's the top talent from every country, so just having that experience will be extremely valuable in the NWJHL this season and also down the line in the SHL as it'll give me an idea of what to expect of the game at it's highest level of competition.

Alright, last question here. Where do you think you will be drafted in this year's draft and why do you believe you will go in this position?

Brandon: I truly believe i have what it takes to go top 3, i think anything out of that will be a dissapointment for me, i've worked so hard for this moment, obviously there's the SHl Draft next season but this draft is where the adventure begins and i want to be that type of player who makes their mark from the beginning. I've been in contact with some GMs picking in the top 3, i'm one of the top tier talents in this draft and i really think i have what it takes to be there.

Thanks for your time Brandon, its always a pleasure to have you here. Good luck in this year's draft

Brandon: Thanks for having me, i've had a great time


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Conclusion: Brandon as I stated previously is a very talented player and will make any NWJHL one of the best in the league. He has an innate ability to put up points and still make it back in his end and play some great defense. He's definitely high up on every teams draft board and I think he may very well be the next Ivo Willems of the Season 10 NWJHL Season. I wish Brandon the best of luck in this years NWJHL Season 10 and draft and maybe I'll get the chance to play with him one day.


Draft Projection: 2nd Overall