June 8, 2008

Kevin Wey
McKeen's Hockey Prospects

Omaha Lancers center Matt Thurber started his USHL career as a 15-year-old back in 2005-06, and he's made steady progress all three seasons since. Thurber scored 14 goals and 41 assists in 58 games in 2007-08, tied for second in Lancers scoring, all while serving as one of the team's top defensive forwards, and top penalty killers. The University of Wisconsin recruit also experienced significant team success this past season, as the Lancers won both of their games against QMJHL teams at the CCM Classic, won the USHL Fall Classic, won the USHL's Anderson Cup for the best regular season record, and won the USHL's Clark Cup as playoff champions.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey had the opportunity to talk to Thurber after Game 4 of the Clark Cup Finals and discussed his progress with Omaha, his commitment to Wisconsin, overcoming personal tragedy, playing for Team USA, his early hockey days, and the upcoming 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

McKeen's: You are finishing your third season of USHL hockey and had your best numbers this season and your numbers have progressively gotten better each year. So, what are the areas of your game that have improved those three years?

Thurber: Playing defensively, I'm a lot better, my skating and shot have improved, just being able to see the ice, progressively, through the years, I've been able to work on that, just making more plays happen to my teammates.

McKeen's: What would you say are the strengths of your game and what type of player do you feel you are?

Thurber: More of a power forward. I can play defensively as well, seeing the ice really well right now, have a decent shot, keep working on things like that. I can play pretty solid defense and penalty kill.

McKeen's: I would concur. Tell me about your role on the Lancers this year.

Thurber: My major role is penalty killing, getting it all done for the guys, just making plays happen and not giving up goals against and just working hard ever since.

McKeen's: Ever since the Fall Classic, and even since the CCM Classic up in Quebec, you guys have been the best team all year. What's helped you guys achieve that?

Thurber: You know, all year coach has helped us out and just progressively been giving us more things to work on. The guys have been buying into it and our work ethics are incredibly great, and everything's just going our way right now.

McKeen's: Next season, you are going into the University of Wisconsin. What are your goals for your freshman season in Madison?

Thurber: Freshman season, I just want to be in the lineup every night and see how things go and just fit in well with the team and keep working hard every day and hopefully get my opportunities.

McKeen's: Are there any particular things you feel you will need to work on while at Wisconsin?

Thurber: Just keep on working at penalty killing and working on all the other stuff, my shot.

McKeen's: You committed to UW in May of 2006. When did you first start talking with Wisconsin, tell me a bit about the recruiting process, and, this may be obvious on its face for a Wisconsin native like you, and why you chose Wisconsin?

Thurber: Ever since I was about five, I've always been looking to go there. I started go to camps with them when I was younger and progressively through the years got to talk to them, and then something finally happened with the scholarship and I just took it two seconds after they gave it to me.

McKeen's: If I might ask, what other programs were looking at you and what other programs were you considering?

Thurber: A lot of WCHA teams like CC (Colorado College), and Denver, and UNO (University of Nebraska-Omaha), a little bit. Out East, it was like UNH (University of New Hampshire), and Vermont, and teams like that. CC and Denver were definitely on top of the list. I wanted to stay in the WCHA.

McKeen's: You started playing in the USHL as a 15-year-old in 2005-06. Tell me a bit about that adjustment coming from midgets.

Thurber: It was a big adjustment, coming from midgets. I just lived on my own, being away from my family, having to experience that. A lot of 15-year-olds don't leave that early. It was kind of weird to do that, but it worked out great for me. I'm going to school, not having the parents there to get on my case about doing my homework and all of that?

McKeen's: Hopefully that's working out.

Thurber: (Chuckles) Yeah. It worked out well. It was tough at first, but I had a good roommate my first year to help me out through everything.

McKeen's: Who was your roommate, if I might ask?

Thurber: Ryan Turek (fourth round pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and who currently plays at Michigan State).

McKeen's: Oh, okay. If you are fortunate, you'll be able to follow in his footsteps some. I read recently that you said playing for the Lancers is like playing for family.

Thurber: Yep.

McKeen's: Tell me a bit about that.

Thurber: This is the earliest everyone's gotten in this year, coming in August. Everyone's just been so close. I've never had a team that's so compatible with each other. With everything we do, everyone's always together, there's no outcasts, nothing like that. Everyone gets along perfectly well and it's just a very close team.

McKeen's: I almost hate to ask about this, but while you were with the Lancers your second season you had a personal tragedy with your mother passing away. Tell me about fighting through that.

Thurber: Yeah, that was (pauses)?, probably one of the most difficult things that kids have to deal with. Even adults, too, it's a challenge. Keir Ross, my roommate, great kid, he helped me through every step of the way, especially with my team and coach. I went up to the funeral and my dad forced me to get back in the car to come back down here to sort of get my mind off things. My family, my friends, and coach, everyone just helped me through all that.

McKeen's: On to a positive note, back in 2006 you played for Team USA at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. What was it like to be named to that team and what was that experience like?

Thurber: You know, it was definitely an honor for myself to get named and play for the USA team out there. It's an absolute adventure going out there, flying out there with completely new guys that I've never met before, and just experiencing the whole lifestyle of being in Europe and playing different teams from different countries and not understanding what they're saying, which is always interesting. But, it's definitely a fun adventure for me and I'm really glad I got that opportunity.

McKeen's: How did you feel you fared playing the international game?

Thurber: I probably did okay. It was a little tough getting used to at first, but once everything started getting going, I thought I fit in pretty well.

McKeen's: How did you find that the international play at that tournament compared to the United States Hockey League?

Thurber: Honestly, I'd say it's pretty close, but then again those kids are all '89's and a couple 90's around some of the teams, and it was pretty close. I'd probably say, playing the 89's, the USHL teams are a little bit better.

McKeen's: It's your draft year, but NHL Central Scouting has been leaving you off their lists. Do you ever think about the draft and, if so, what are those thoughts?

Thurber: Yeah, I'm definitely thinking about it. Right now, of course, I just want to focus on what's going on right here. But, hopefully things work out well with that. Something happened with Central Scouting, I'm not exactly sure what happened with that. I'm just hoping for my opportunity with that and hopefully things will work out.

McKeen's: It was definitely interesting who was on and then who was not, and I'll just leave that at that. If I may ask, to your knowledge, have any NHL teams shown interest in you?

Thurber: Yeah, a few have.

McKeen's: Have you done the surveys and all that stuff?

Thurber: A couple of them, just working with some stuff, not too much, though.

McKeen's: If I might ask, any particular teams?

Thurber: Washington a little bit, and (pauses to think)?, I'm not exactly sure. My advisor, Al Roy, told me a little bit about it.

McKeen's: Who is he with?

Thurber: CMG Sports.

McKeen's: Along the draft lines, if I'm a director of amateur scouting for an NHL team, why should I consider drafting Matt Thurber?

Thurber: I'm a pretty good kid. I get my work done. I don't screw around off the ice. I like getting in the weight room, hard worker, and I'm a pretty good teammate and a good leader.

McKeen's: Going back to your youth, when did you first start skating, then playing hockey, and how did you get your start?

Thurber: I started skating when I was 2 1/2, had the ol' double-bladed skates, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where I still live today. My dad played hockey when he was younger and so did my grandpa, so they all got me into it. Started playing on teams when I was four, and just kept progressing from there.

McKeen's: What organizations did you skate for on up the ranks?

Thurber: I started out with my hometown, Beaver Dam, up in Wisconsin. Then, my squirt year, went up to Madison, played a few years there growing up, up until midgets, with the Madison Capitals.

McKeen's: Lastly, who were or are some of your favorite players and why?

Thurber: Jarome Iginla, by far. He's a goal scorer, he sees the ice, and he can get scrappy, too.

McKeen's: Are there any particular NHLers you feel you equate to?

Thurber: I'd like to say Jarome Iginla. I can get a little dirty if I need to, but I can see the ice pretty well and bury the puck.