English: Erne, Remparts ready to move forward
TSR Features | 27 Jan 2013
Adam Erne has taken the road less traveled towards the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Photo: NHL
Erne began his minor hockey career in his birthplace of Connecticut, then moved all the way to LA at 13 to play for the Los Angeles selects. At 15, Erne returned to his home state of Connecticut and suited up for the Indiana Ice of the USHL. Being a rare 15 year old in an under 20 junior league, Erne held his own and put up 10 goals and 8 assists in 45 games. The black eye on his stat line was a woeful -18 on a team that had a +71 goal differential, but as a 15 year old it’s fair to cut him plenty of slack.
Erne commited to Boston University at 15, and when he was drafted that June by Halifax informed them that he would honour his commitment to B.U. The Mooseheads then shipped his rights off to Quebec, and Erne reported to the Remparts training camp and never looked back. Erne put up 55 points in 66 games and was notably strong on the boards and very aware for a 16 year old QMJHL rookie. The Remparts had an even better looking line-up heading into this year and Erne has again played a big role in the teams’ winning ways. Erne currently leads the team in scoring – with 21 goals and 38 assists for 59 points in 48 games. His numbers aren’t what impresses scouts though – it’s the skill set that he brings offensively combined with fearlessness on the boards and in the neutral zone.
Here is an excerpt of what I saw live at the top prospect game:
Erne had the best showing of any player from the Q, using his powerful stride to create separation on the outside and created offense steadily. Erne also was a breakout catalyst, seeming to always make the right decisions with the puck whether it was dumping the puck or making a nice cross-ice pass.
This stayed in line with the game that Erne brought to Halifax last night in the Remparts 4-2 victory. Erne had an assist on Logan Shaw’s game winning goal, and showed several nice drives to the net and was extremely dangerous when being the trailer on the rush, getting off a few nice one-timers.
I had the opportunity to speak to Adam on a range of topics after the game, and here is what we discussed.
The Scouting Report - Describe yourself as a player, to someone who hasn’t seen you play.
Erne - I’m a power forward, often really effective in the offensive zone and I try my best to be a two-way player as well.
TSR – What parts of your game are you looking to develop?
Erne – Definitely my defensive zone compete level and coverage.
TSR – Have you spoken to any NHL scouts yet? If so what are the main themes of their feedback.
Erne – I’ve spoken to a lot of scouts, and at this point they’re focusing on the basics. Where I grew up, few questions about the family just simple stuff.
TSR – What made your feel that Quebec was the best place for your development as opposed to Boston University?
Erne – Well, if you track the NHL draft you’ll usually see more CHL than NCAA players going first round, and it also seems that CHL players end up in the NHL quicker. Playing in the NHL is my dream so Quebec seemed like the right choice.
TSR - After the incident in earlier this month where you and Anthony Duclair were suspended for a game by Patrick Roy, what was the lesson learned?
Erne – In general, it was more of a team lesson learned, wasn’t necessarily an individual thing. It’s all about the team was the main theme of it though.
For Erne and the Remparts after a tough stretch, it’s full steam ahead & lesson learned. The proof is in the pudding after playing a near-perfect road game in Halifax, and defeating the #1 team in the CHL.
Tags: 2013 NHL Draft, 2013 nhl draft prospects, Adam Erne
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