Concord Monitor, Concord, New Hampshire

This past weekend Ellsworth native Zebulon Leavitt was drafted by the Vancouver Whalers of the Simulation Major Junior Hockey League (SMJHL). We caught up with him before he caught a flight out of Manchester. He only had time for some short questions.

Concord Monitor: How do you feel about being drafted by the Whalers? 
Zebulon Leavitt: I am pretty excited and nervous.  Playing for an SMJHL team is pretty awesome and I am looking forward to playing at the level, but Vancouver is a big step up from Ellsworth. [Editor’s note: Ellsworth’s population is 89, Vancouver is over 675,000] I’ve seen pictures though, and it looks beautiful. There are plenty of new mountains for me to see for the first time.

CM: Was there a team in particular you wanted to be drafted by?
ZL: Well, I of course was hoping for a more local team like Portland so my family could see me play, but honestly I was just happy to be drafted. And Vancouver is a great organization, and how could any player not want to play in Canada?

CM: There is a rumor that you asked for a Whaler’s theme kayak as part of your contract, is that true?
ZL: [Laughing] It is.

CM: Why a kayak?
ZL: I read an article about how great kayaking is in Vancouver, so I figured if I was going to do it I should do it with my new team’s gear.

CM: I understand you actually didn’t play organized hockey until you were 11. How did that happen?
ZL: When I was little my grandfather and father both thought that a league wouldn’t give me the skills I needed to succeed, and travel from Ellsworth sucks during the winter. Oh shoot, can I say that? I’m sorry.

CM: [Laughing] Don’t worry about it.
ZL: I skated a lot on the lakes near my house and we had a rink in the backyard too. My grandfather was retired so he helped me out a lot.

CM: Your grandfather, you’re named after him, correct?
ZL: Yes, sir.

CM: I understand he played pro for a while?
ZL: He played a few games with Boston, but mainly in the minor leagues.

CM: Your family has a long history of hockey correct?
ZL: It does. My grandfather’s dad played in the Canadien leagues, my dad was drafted, and my mom even played for a while.

CM: What was it like the first time you played organization hockey?
ZL: Oh, it was something else. I’d only played pick-up before that. I’d watched plenty of hockey on TV, but experiencing it was something else. I kept going off-sides the first few games, but those were just scrimmages. I think I picked it up quickly.

CM: You didn’t really have a position at first, how did you end up on defense?
ZL: My first team only had 14 of us, and the coach was going with three lines up front. Pops, I mean, my grandfather told me I would get a lot more ice time on defense so I asked to play that.

CM: What are you most looking forward to once you get to Vancouver?
ZL: I think meeting my new teammates and playing hockey with them.

CM: Thank you so much for taking the time with us. Good luck this season and we hope to interview you again soon!
ZL: Thank you, and you will.

Zebulon Leavitt, Defense

Number:24

We got another 603er here? I love me some MHT airport flying even though I always go out of Boston because its cheaper.

Thank you OrbitingDeath! <3

I'm just south of the border, trying like hell to figure out a way to move north.

Zebulon Leavitt, Defense

Number:24

I'm just south of the border, trying like hell to figure out a way to move north.

My family is from Salem, NH, so I totally get that! I am living in Manchester now haha.

Thank you OrbitingDeath! <3