 Overage defenseman Scott Fletcher is featured in this edition of “Breaking the Ice with…” The feature showcases different Whalers so we can get to know them.
Selected by the Saginaw Spirit in the 2nd round (22nd overall) in the 2004 OHL Entry Draft, Fletcher was traded to the Mississauga IceDogs along with a 7th round draft pick for a 6th round draft pick in 2007 and a 4th round pick in 2008. The team relocated to Niagara and the Whalers acquired him for London's 8th round draft pick in 2010 on December 10, 2008. The Haslett, Michigan, native, who is in his fifth and final season in the OHL, took a few minutes after practice to help us break the ice and chat about his feelings on the new helmet rule during fights, the experience of attending NHL camps, and his best and worst fights in the OHL. » On the best advice he has been given… “Probably from Pat Verbeek, who was a coach of mine when I was younger, he just said to play hard and he knew I might go to the ‘O’, so he said to never back down to anyone.” » On how he started playing hockey… “My dad just started skating me when I was younger. I had a hockey game and a basketball game at the same time when I was about 5 years old and my mom asked if I wanted to go to the hockey game or basketball and I picked hockey, so she took me out of basketball and I’ve stuck with hockey ever since.”  » On his youth hockey highlight…
“Playing for Honeybaked in general. I went from AA to AAA and became captain of Honeybaked my draft year.” » On the championships he has won… “I won States twice with Honeybaked and we went to Nationals, but lost in the semi-finals with both teams.” » On his most embarrassing hockey moment… “I’ve had funny moments, but nothing really embarrassing. I’m not really a person that gets embarrassed. Right now it would be that I’m not able to live on my own and I’m 21 years old.” » On who has influenced him in hockey… “100% my dad.” » On his most memorable goal… “Scoring against Sault Ste. Marie (January 15, 2006) to tie the game my second year because it was my first OHL goal. It was a one-timer from the point, that went post and in.” » On if he has played with any of the guys before… “I never played with any of the guys because they are younger, but I did know a few of them because they played for Honeybaked and (Little) Caesars.” » On if he grew up as a Whalers fan… “I really didn’t know what the OHL was, even during the year I was getting drafted into the ‘O’. I only knew about it because I came to a Whalers game and talked to Mike Vellucci. I talked to him face-to-face when I was 16. They gave me tickets to watch the Whalers play Sarnia. It was a good game. I saw a (Gino) Pisellini-(Marco) Caprara fight. It was a good fight and thought it was something I would be interested in. I went pretty high in the draft, so it’s been good and a lot of fun.” » On the trade process… “Before I left Niagara, I heard Plymouth was interested in me. Then I came home – I was happy to be home because I didn’t want to be in Niagara any longer – but I heard Plymouth and Owen Sound were the top two teams that were most interested in me. I was hoping it was Plymouth just because it was closer to home, closer to my family. I got a phone call about a week and a half before the trade from Mike Vellucci telling me that I was coming to the Whalers. He asked me what I would bring to the table if he did pick me up and I told him exactly what I thought and I think I have done that so far.” » On adjusting to a new team… “It’s hard, it’s always hard. I didn’t know anyone, but it’s exciting and it’s a fun feeling. It’s just an adjustment and guys are going to accept you no matter who you are. Some guys are going to like you, some guys aren’t, but you come in here to do a job. That’s what I’m here for; I’m doing a job. The guys like me and I’m happy, I get along with them all. Caria coming here at the same time and being the same age that I am really helped as well.” » On comparing the three teams he has played for… “I started off in Saginaw and it was a lot of fun. We had a really good group of guys that were close. It was a great city, but it kind of fell apart after a while. I went to Mississauga and had a roommate there. It was really good, the organization took care of me really well. The guys were good and I had fun. Then we moved to Niagara. Niagara was an unreal town, just a blast, so much fun. The guys were good and the GM was good to me. I thank the GM there for everything he did for me. Coming here, I like it. I’m close to home, so I can go home and see my family whenever I want. Mike’s a great coach, same with Joe, and they’re helping me a lot and I hope they can help me more.”  » On attending NHL camps…
“Going into my third year I went to Anaheim’s camp. It was really good; it was a fun experience. We played a little rookie tournament out there against San Jose, Phoenix, and LA. It was fun and I did really well up there. I was there for about a week. Then I went to Boston this year and I had a blast up there. The guys were good and I played really good hockey. I was the only guy from the rookie camp that was asked to stay and they sent me down to Providence. I was there for about three weeks and played in four exhibition games in the AHL. I was there past regular season and they offered me a PTO (Professional Tryout Contract), but I decided to come back, have a good year, and hopefully earn a full contract from them” » On living with another player… “I like living with (Matt) Caria, he’s a good guy. I like having a roommate in general. I had a roommate my third year in Mississauga and it really helps. It’s fun.” » On who he tries to model his game after… “Wendel Clark. He’s tough, gritty, likes to hit. He scored goals, but I’m not a goal scorer, but he was a good player.” » On what he should bring to the team… “Toughness, I’m a gritty player. I think I’m a solid defenseman in the backend. I make a good first pass, I’m not going to rush the puck and I’m steady in the backend.”  » On the toughest player he has played against…
“Hardest player to defend was probably Rob Schremp my rookie year.” » On his best and worst fights in his career… “My best fight was probably my first fight against Dan Carcillo who plays in the NHL now for Phoenix. I didn’t really know who he was and he asked my captain to fight, so I stuck up for him and went toe-to-toe with him and I was 16 years old. The worst fight I ever had was probably against Kyle Neuber of Mississauga last year during my fourth year. I wasn’t in the zone and he took it to me pretty good. I learned that you can’t go into a fight with your head in the clouds, you have to be focused.” » On being a protector… “I know that I can handle myself in fights against guys that are supposed to be the true heavyweights in the league. I don’t have a problem with it because I’m a bigger guy and I will always be there for any one of my teammates no matter what they go through. It’s just the way I was brought up and my style of hockey. I’m trying to get away from the fighting a little bit. I’ve done it the last four years. Everyone knows that I can fight. I’m trying to play the game a little more to show people that I’m not just a fighter.” » On if he has any superstitions… “I put all my right side gear on first before I put my left side gear on. I usually wear the same dress shirt to games. I actually just switched it up because I had a bad game, so I switched it up to see how that would work and it’s going pretty good so far.” » On if he has any nicknames… “Fletch.” » On his typical day… “On non-game days, I wake up early then wake my roommate (Matt Caria) up. We get breakfast and relax until we check in at the rink at 10. We do a little work out and after that we go home, eat a little lunch, and relax a little bit until practice. We practice and then catch a movie with the guys or something at night.” » On his pre-game routine… “Sleep until 10, wake up, go for a walk outside, come back in and eat breakfast, wake my roommate up. Hang out for the day, maybe play a couple video games to relax, clear my head, then come to the rink around 5 after eating pre-game.”  » On his dream goal…
“If we went to the Mem Cup and it was overtime and I was on the ice, I think just taking the shot where the puck went in to win the game for us would be the best feeling in the world.” » On if there is anything behind his jersey number 5… “No, I had like five options of numbers to pick and I picked 5.” » On what he'd be doing if he didn't play hockey… “Going to school full time. I’d be either a cop or lawyer.” » On the craziest thing that has happened on the road… “My third year, there were three guys in the room and I got pushed through a wall at a hotel. My entire body went through the wall.” » On what reality TV show he'd be on… “I think it would be fun to be on the Shot of Love with Tila Tequila. I think it would be funny to just go through and listen to all the drama these people have. I would just laugh at them, I wouldn’t care, and it would be hilarious.”  » On his funniest teammate…
“Steiny, Christian Steingraber. He’s a really funny guy.” » On his dream vacation… “Las Vegas right now because I just turned 21. It would be fun. Me and my buddies are planning on going this year.” » On what one thing he could not live without… “Food.” » On the person he'd most like to meet… “There are a lot of famous people out there I’d like to meet. I think our new president (Barack Obama) would be one, just listening about the struggles he’s gone through already and being the first black president would be something to hear about.” » On having all his fights on youtube… “It’s pretty cool. All my buddies back home since I’ve been away and all the Saginaw guys were in high school before I moved and then my buddies from college when I was in Mississauga think it’s pretty cool for them to just be able to bring them up and see the fights whenever they want. I still bring them up because you can always learn from a fight. I fight guys a couple times each year, so I can learn what they do and I just try to react to what they do. Kirky (George Scott, the Whalers boxing coach) really helps down there in the boxing aspect. I’ve never had a boxing coach and he’s done a really great job with the guys. He’s been working with (Jamie) Devane and Devane is a really tough kid coming into the league.” » On a rule change he'd make in hockey… “No more helmet rule (for fighting). I don’t think the new fighting rule is good at all. I think it’s a joke, honestly. The OHL is based on guys going to the NHL or AHL. They don’t have a neck guard rule, they don’t have a mouth guard rule, and they don’t have a helmets on during fights rule. I just think it’s a joke, but that’s just how I feel. I don’t think it’s helping and I think they will lose a lot people by having that rule.” » On what other players he would want on the ice with him… “I’d want my old coach Pat Verbeek back on the ice with me and Wendel Clark, that’s two forwards. Jarome Iginla, he’s a tough, rugged forward that can put the puck in the net. Goalie I’m going to say (Nikolai) Khabibulin. On ‘D’ would probably be the defenseman I looked up to my whole life, but unfortunately got in the car accident, Vladimir Konstantinov.” -Natalie Shaver, February 3rd, 2009- -- Other Players' "Breaking the Ice" Features -- | 
