PHD Athlete and Toronto Maple Leaf forward Zach Hyman is enjoying his time in the Show…
Zach Hyman
#11, Toronto Maple Leafs (at the time of print, Zach was getting ready for the playoffs with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies).
Minor Hockey Association: GTHL
Jr. A Hamilton Redwings
University of Michigan Wolverines
PHD: Zach Hyman, Toronto boy, GTHL grad, and now Toronto Maple Leaf. How does it feel?
ZH: It’s a dream come true. It’s awesome!
PHD: So, being a kid from hogtown, you must be hounded for tickets from family and friends?
ZH: I try to get some tickets, but it’s hard to get them for everyone. As the oldest of five boys, there can be a lot of people asking, but my parents have been a big help in keeping the requests under control so I can focus on hockey.
PHD: Who was your favourite NHL team growing up?
ZH: The Leafs.
PHD: Really? Or are you just saying that because you are now a member of the Leafs?
ZH: No, I was a huge Leaf fan growing up.
PHD: Who was your favourite player?
ZH: Mats Sundin.
PHD: Who was your biggest hockey influence?
ZH: Definitely my Mom and Dad.
PHD: Favourite hockey memory?
ZH: My first NHL goal, and playing at the University of Michigan.
PHD: Tell us something that most people would be surprised to find out about you?
ZH: I am a writer. I have had two children’s books published.
PHD: Very cool. What are the titles of the books?
ZH: ‘Hockey Hero’ and ‘The Bambino and me’
PHD: Sports books. Nice. Would you like a chance to plug them? Where can someone buy these books?
ZH: *(laughs)* Sure. Available at book stores across Canada.
PHD: Let’s talk about Michigan. Go Blue!
ZH: Go Blue!
PHD: What was it like to play for Michigan at Yost Arena?
ZH: Yost Arena is amazing. It’s the best atmosphere in all of college hockey. The crowd, the student section, the singing, it is amazing!
PHD: Who do you hate more? Ohio State or Michigan State?
ZH: Tough call. Michigan State is a bigger hockey rival, so we will go with that.
PHD: So, from Michigan, then drafted by the Florida Panthers, then traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs (for fellow PHD Athlete Greg McKegg) … what is the biggest difference in suiting up for the Leafs?
ZH: It’s great to be home, but I would say the huge number of media.
PHD: How do you like playing for Coach Babcock?
ZH: Its great! He is great. A great teacher, a great communicator, he is just great to work for.
PHD: You spent quite a bit of time working with Mike Ellis (PHD Founder and head instructor, and Toronto Maple Leafs Skills Coach).
ZH: Oh yeah. Working with Mike has been awesome. He has helped me improve bigtime.
PHD: What kinds of things have you been working on?
ZH: Everything. He has helped change many aspects of my game. Helped me get to the next level! Skating, edges, transitions. We have worked on eyes up stickhandling, eyes up passing, eyes up receiving, eyes up shooting. Spinning off a check, or spinning off to create time and space.
PHD: Sounds like lots of eyes up work.
ZH: It is, but I will tell you, it changes the way you play the game. Forces you to get comfortable doing everything at a high speed, high repetition with your eyes up. You see the game better, recognize things happening on the ice soon, with more time to react. It has been a huge game changer for me.
PHD: Are you becoming familiar with the PHD language? Crosby’s, Skinners, etc.
ZH: Yes, for sure. It’s amazing how you can take a simple move like a Crosby, and add a single element to that move and it becomes a weapon for you. It allows you to protect the puck, and it allows you to make a play sooner. It’s amazing how quickly you can take what you learn and incorporate it into a game. All this work with Mike has really got my game NHL ready.
PHD: What else would you say you have learned from Mike Ellis?
ZH: He is big on repetition. Lots of puck touches, lots of edge work. Lots of weight transferring, lots of stick handling, lots of video work. Mike is big on videotaping the sessions and then going over it with the players. He is also great for getting in-game video and showing me how what we have been working on is helping in games. He reminds me of Mike Babcock. A great teacher, a great communicator. I am grateful that we get a chance to work with Mike Ellis, he has helped change my game for sure.
PHD: So, Toronto boy, playing for the hometown Leafs, playing with the Maple Leaf on your chest, your name stitched on the back, in front of friends and family, the team you dreamed of playing for your whole life … What’s next?
ZH: Help bring home the Stanley Cup! Where it belongs.
PHD: Can’t wait to see that! Thanks for the time, best of luck the rest of the way.
ZH: Thank you.
Story submitted by Progressive Hockey Development (PHD), Photo by Christian Bonin/TSGphoto.com
