Ponich Q&A with Andy Kemper

Winterhawks Captain Brett Ponich - Image via winterhawks.com

The second BlueNoteZone Prospect Q&A focuses on Brett Ponich. The 48th overall pick (2nd round) in the 2009 draft has been honing his defensive skills with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Andy Kemper

Recently, I contacted Andy Kemper, the Winterhawks play-by-play voice and blogger at After the Whistle. Many Blues fans may not know much about the 6 foot 7 inch stay at home defender and few do like Andy does. We discussed just who Brett is on and off the ice. Sounds like the organization added another classy character to their family.

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Q. How would you summarize Brett Ponich’s play at this point of the WHL of the season.

Andy Kemper: Ponich has had a tremendous start to his 19 year old season in the Western Hockey League. His defensive zone play has been very good, as his league best +22 would indicate. He is playing physical without taking a bunch of penalties and when he goes into a puck battle on the boards or in the corners, he usually comes out with the puck. Offensively, he has chipped in eight assists in 24 games, but on a team that has a few offensive minded defensemen, Ponich is not called on for much offense.

Q. What is Brett’s biggest strength that will translate in to his NHL future?

AK: In my opinion, Brett’s biggest strength is his poise and composure under pressure. Ever since he was a 16 year old rookie, he has always played very poised and combined with his size and strength, he has all the makings of a solid stay at home NHL defenseman.

Q. What area of Ponich’s game play needs to improve to succeed at the professional level?

AK: Brett will probably need to work on making quicker decisions with the puck in the defensive zone and also a bit on his initial outlet pass. He has made great strides on moving the puck from his own zone in the last couple of years, but with the additional speed of the NHL game, that is an area where most young defensemen need a bit of help.

Q. After seeing Ponich in his second training camp, his skating abilities have room for improvement. Is that an area of his game that he has been working on back in Portland?

AK: Without a doubt, that is the area of his game where he has worked the hardest. He has spent a lot of the last two summers in the Portland area working with Ben Stadey, a local skating coach and also Buffalo Sabres forward Paul Gaustad, a Portland resident. When you’re 6’7” and nearly 230 pounds, sometimes your skating looks slower than it actually is. Ponich has been jumping into the play more this year and often times leading the rush out of the zone. His skating has improved greatly since arriving in Portland three years ago.

Q. Due to his size and draft position, Brett drew a few comparisons to Zdeno Chara. Is that fair comparison? Why or why not?

AK: I think it is unfair to compare any young defenseman to Zdeno Chara as Chara is one of a kind. I saw Chara as a young player in the WHL and he definitely wasn’t the same player he is now, but his improvement was off the charts. Chara is meaner than Ponich and has more offensive upside, but that shouldn’t be taken as a slight to Ponich. It’s hard to compare a 19 year old to a Norris Trophy winner.

Q. Entering his final year in Portland, what type of leader has Brett become as one of the older, more experienced players?

AK: Brett is in his second year now as Team Captain of the Winterhawks and while I think it was harder for him last year as an 18 year old Captain, he has definitely matured into the role and is one of the key guys on and off the ice and rest of the team looks up to him as a veteran. He isn’t the most vocal guy in the room, but his on ice and off ice work ethic is something that all of the younger players can look at to see what it takes to be a high NHL draft selection and a team leader.

Q. Can you shed any light on Brett’s life outside the game? Community work? Video gamer? Gym rat?

AK: Brett is pretty much a typical 19 year old…likes video games and hanging around the locker and weight room with his teammates. Like many of the Hawks, he does community work with the team, including delivering teddy bears to local hospitals or serving food at a homeless shelter around the holidays.

Last year, one of Brett’s closest friends in Alberta was injured and was confined to a wheelchair. The Hawks were getting ready to head to Alberta for a road trip and before the team left, Brett worked with the Hawks to set up a fundraiser to raise funds to help offset some of the medical costs for the family. When the Hawks were in Edmonton, he had his friend attend the game and presented the check to him in the locker room with the rest of his teammates. I think that says a lot about the type of person that Brett is.

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BNZ: Andy also provided a link to a video of Ponich promoting a “Dash for Cash” event at a game against the Seattle Thunderbirds. Follow the link to see a nice hit and fight from the big guy.

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Look for another Prospect Q&A coming soon!