O'Byrne wants to be like mike

[Habsfan84]

When the Canadiens selected defenceman Ryan O'Byrne in the third round of the 2003 National Hockey League entry draft (79th overall), he was viewed as a long-term project. Judging by the progress he has made so far, the team's project deserves a high grade.
After three seasons at Cornell University, O'Byrne turned pro in 2006, joining the Hamilton Bulldogs for their Calder Cup championship season last year in the American Hockey League.
The Victoria native has progressed rapidly since turning pro and made his NHL debut in December, only to have his rookie season interrupted by a broken thumb he suffered during a fight a few weeks later.

But the 6-foot-5, 228-pounder has come back strong and hasn't looked out of place against NHL competition. He has one goal, four assists, and a plus-4 rating in 30 games, along with 45 penalty minutes, including 15 in last night's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Question: What is it like seeing so many teammates from last season's Calder Cup-champion Hamilton Bulldogs joining the Canadiens?
O'Byrne: "It's obviously nice to play with those guys. We won the Cup there
together, we're familiar with each other and we know how to win. It's nice to be up here in Montreal and looking forward to the playoffs. We have a great hockey team going into the playoffs and I'm excited to make another run for it."
Do you think the experience gained last season will help at the NHL level?
"Yeah, absolutely, I mean it was a good lesson for us to learn how to play in pressure situations and compete at the highest level at that time. We learned a lot and came together as a team. A lot of guys had pretty good regular seasons, but they came into their own in the playoffs."
What was it like to walk into the Canadiens' dressing room for the first time and pull on the Canadiens jersey?
"It's pretty surreal. You go out on the ice and you're like: 'The guys before me have won 24 Stanley Cups' and you look at the names on the wall and you have a lot to live up to. I think you owe it to them and the organization to play your hardest every night because of all the history."
If there was one historical figure you could meet, who would that be and why?
"If Muhammad Ali was in a little better health, I would love to meet him. He's quite a character, and in his prime brought a lot of enthusiasm to the sport."
Who was your idol growing up?
"Wayne Gretzky, for sure. I had the L.A. Kings jersey, had the Wayne Gretzky stick. He was the best player at the time and I wanted to be the best, so I looked up to him, obviously."
Who do you model your game after?
"I'm a big guy, a defensive defenceman. I try and play a physical game. I look at a guy like Mike Komisarek and the way he plays and I just try to learn from him. The way he competes, the way he battles, the way he hits and blocks shots and does everything for the team, he's someone to look up to and he's a heck of a player. And he's right here to watch."
What is your offseason routine as you prepare for the following campaign?

"I take a couple of weeks off to regroup and relax. Then I get back into the gym. I'll get my workouts in and I'm a big tennis player during the summer. I think tennis is great for all-around athleticism. You need quick feet, working in agility and reaction time. I try and mix it up all summer."
A lot has been made of the crowds in Montreal. What is your impression of the fans here and what does it feel like on the bench?
"It's pretty amazing, really. When you first get here, it's pretty nerve-racking, to tell you the truth, sometimes. But once you settle down and get used to it, it's amazing. Every night, you go out there and even if you're feeling a little tired, when you hear that opening song and the crowd roaring right before the anthem, all the adrenaline goes through you. The fans are amazing, awesome and passionate."

What was your most embarrassing moment?
"Probably going out for warm-ups with my skate guards on."
Who do you credit most with helping you make it to the NHL?
"Absolutely my parents. You know, they've supported me all along the way. My dad has never told me I played a bad game. He's pretty positive. It's always 'great game' or 'good game.' They have supported me through all the ups and downs and when nobody believed in me."
What team do you enjoy playing against the most?
"The Toronto game during my first weeks when we played at the Bell Centre. Yeah, Toronto is pretty cool, absolutely, Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada, you can't beat that."
Who has been your best hockey coach?
"My college coaches were pretty superb. Mike Schaefer and Brett Brekke at Cornell University taught me a lot both on ice and off ice. I kind of went from a boy to a man in college and I learned a lot from them."
With a revamped NHL schedule next season, are you looking forward to playing Western Canadian teams, especially the Vancouver Canucks?
"That will be nice. I think everyone is on the same page with that one. It's going to be nice to get a chance to see everybody. Obviously, it will be a little more travel, but there's give and take, so it'll be nice to get out to Vancouver a little more often and play in front of friends and family. It's going to end up costing me a bit more for tickets, but it will be nice to get out there."