What was the experience like, attending the San Jose Sharks’ training camp last fall?

It was a great experience to measure myself, compare myself in the world, I guess. Coming back here, it gave me the knowledge of what I really had to improve in my game to get to that level.

The team started the season kind of slowly, but all of a sudden, you all rattle off a 10-game win streak, and win 15 out of 16 games. Talk about what that was like for the team.

It was crazy. The atmosphere was great in the room, outside the rink, everyone was happy. It just makes life so much easier when you win. We were all having a good time.

What’s it been like for you, growing up as the son of someone who played in the NHL? Has that ever added pressure for you?

Not at all. I get that question a lot, actually. But it doesn’t add any pressure at all. He supports my decisions, he’s always there to give me advice, but he never adds pressure on me, at all.

How does this team compare to other teams you’ve played on in your career, here or elsewhere?

This is definitely the best team of my junior career. I believe we have a good shot at going all the way, even the Memorial Cup. The atmosphere is great, everyone really gets along together, there really are no separate cliques. I really have a good feeling for this team.

How does being here, on this team, compare to being in other places in the past?

Being in the U.S., I didn’t see that much difference, except we have to cross the border every time we go on the road. But other than that, it’s not very different here from Cape Breton. There, it’s not very big, it’s very nice, the people are very warm, and I find that’s the case here, too.