It’s been a heck of a start to the regular season for over-ager Deni Goure. Five games into the season, Goure has been making a huge impression on the ice, holding the early OHL scoring lead with 6 goals in 5 games. Goure isn’t shy about why he’s come out firing. After struggling with injuries last season, he’s looking to turn heads every time he steps on the ice … and he’s been doing just that. One of a strong trio of over-agers, combined with a influx of rookie talent and NHL prospects like Colby Barlow and Cedric Guindon, Goure is sure to be a key ingredient in the success of the Owen Sound Attack this season. We caught up with The Menace after Wednesday practice at the Bayshore.

First off, Deni, you’ve started off the regular season with an incredible string of performances putting you into the early scoring lead for the league. You’ve always been capable of this, but what’s got you so motivated right off the bat this year?

Well, knowing it was my last year, I knew I was going to have to have a big year if I wanted to have some success in hockey and maybe sign a contract. I don’t know what the next step is for me yet. So hopefully I can have as good a year as possible and end up with somewhere to play. I put in a lot of work in the summertime and it’s paying off so far.

Tell us a bit about the work you put in over the summer months that brought you ready to play at a such a high level?

Really, it was just getting healthy first. Playoffs were a battle last year. I was a little bit banged up. So when I got home, I was going to the chiropractor, getting my hips right and then later I was working out and trying to put on some weight to come back ready to go. I take around a month off after the season, get a nice break and then ramp it up after that. I’m on the ice at least three or four times a week and working out four times a week.

It’s your over-age season, and this Attack lineup has an incredibly skilled and what looks like an incredibly tight over-age lineup. Tell me a bit about what it’s like to play alongside Sam Sedley and Ethan Burroughs after so many years together?

Yeah, we’re really lucky to have three real good over-agers, three leaders on the team and guys that can make an impact every night. It’s been awesome so far. Each guy has a lot of skill and each guy has the ability to change the game on any given night. So it’s a big help for the team having three over-agers like that.

I don’t think you were ever on the chopping block, but I bet it’s nice to have that over and done with.

It’s a big relief for sure. That was a big thing coming in for training camp—just making sure I was at my best. I wanted to make sure I was going to be one of the three over-agers that was staying.

You had a quote in a Greg Cowan Owen Sound Sun Times story alluding to having no time to waste this year in getting noticed. How focused are you on performance game to game and how much is making a statement for the season on your mind?

Yeah, it’s on my mind quite a bit. There’s a lot of pressure this year and I’ve got to come to play every single night. But obviously, when you have a rough game, it’s pretty tough to think about that. You try to put it away, put it in the past and move on to the next one. You have to focus on having a better game next time out.

This is your fourth season with the Owen Sound Attack. What have you learned along the way that you’d share with the rookies on the roster this year?

Thanks to Covid this is actually year 5. I’ve learned that there’s no better hockey rink to play in.  This is my favorite rink, period. The home ice advantage is just awesome here. The fans are amazing at the Bayshore. No team likes coming in to this rink and I love that and so do most of the boys. So it’s a huge home ice advantage, and if you can learn to have success here, it’ll go a long way.

Last fall you had the opportunity to go to an NHL camp with the Carolina Hurricanes. That didn’t come together this year. What do you have to do to get back on that radar?

Yeah, it was pretty tough. I was hoping to be able to get an invite, but it never did end up happening. So that was another thing that I really wanted to focus on this year, to be better and hopefully be able to go to a camp next year. It was pretty tough not being able to go, but it is what it is. You just have to show up and play better this year. I just have to play a complete game, be higher in the plus minus. I have to be a good plus player, put up a lot of points and be good in the D zone. And, obviously, I think it would help a lot if our team could go on a big run in playoffs. That would be huge for us.

Yeah I bet there’s a lot of people in that room hoping for the same. There’s been a lot of talk about the depth of this team. What do you think about the abilities of this group?

Yeah, we have a pretty special group. It’s awesome. We’ve got a really good team. Our rookies have been really good so far. There have been some tough decisions for the coaches on who’s got to be out of the lineup and stuff each night. Carter and Corbin are two solid goalies and our forward group has lots of depth. We’ve got so many guys that can put it in the back of the net.  It’s going to be a real fun year, I’m thinking.

How would you describe this team on the ice and in the room?

We are pretty determined this year. We know we’ve still got lots of prove because last year we got swept in four games and we know how tough the playoffs are. We just want to be able to be ready to go come playoff time this year and go for a nice run. We’re more experienced, I’d say, because we had a lot of young guys last year who didn’t really know what to expect in the playoffs. We’ve just got more experience now, which is going to help a lot for this year. Maybe they’ll make a couple moves towards the deadline, keep adding some good players and we could be a real scary team come playoffs.

This team is poised to have a great regular season. What will it take to carry that over into the playoffs and ultimately the Memorial Cup?

Yeah, it’s a completely a different hockey game. People take it to that next level and you’re finishing every single hit. You’re trying not to make any mistakes, trying to get pucks in deep, and play a solid defensive game. You have to come to play. It’s so tough but it’s also lots so fun. But playoffs would be a lot more fun if you’re winning.

How would you describe your style of play?

I’m definitely an offensive player. I’ve got a good release and a good shot. I have good vision. I try to make plays, set up guys, but I also try to be really sound in the defensive zone and get pucks out of the zone. I try to have a good stick and be just as reliable a player in the defensive zone as I am in the offensive zone.

What have you learned to love about Owen Sound and how does it compare to your hometown?

It’s honestly pretty similar to Chatham. It’s a pretty small town with the same vibe. The fans here are unbelievable. It gets so loud in this smaller arena and I love it. But it snows a lot here, which is different than my hometown. It’s pretty cool, the scenery, the hills and stuff. It’s a pretty cool place and my billet parents are awesome. It’s been a really good time here.

I’ve often though you would be my first choice of a player to mic up during a game. Good idea or bad idea and why or why not?

I don’t know if that’d be a good idea. You might need to bleep out a lot of the stuff I’m saying, but it would be pretty interesting, that’s for sure.

Finally, your nickname on your warmup jersey last year was Menace. What’s the story there?

My rookie year, a lot of people were just calling me Dennis, and then Mack Guzda was really the one guy that started calling me Dennis the Menace. Then it got shortened to just Menace. That’s really where it all started and it stuck.

Thanks so much Deni and keep up the great work.

Thanks!