With 11 assists in his last 7 games and leading the Attack roster with 28 points, Landen Hookey has taken on a role with this year’s team that matches his  stature. Wearing the A in his overage season, Hookey is a leader on and off the ice. Championing mental health awareness, building relationships between younger and older players and pushing his play in pursuit of a pro contract, Hookey has a lot going on. But the rink is his happy place and this game gives him a place to play for his family and himself. I caught up with Landen Hookey before Tuesday’s practice as the team prepares for a mid-week matchup with the London Knights to talk about the season so far, his hiatus on fighting and his secret love of Justin Bieber.

First off Landen, Congrats on achieving a big milestone last weekend of playing in 200 OHL games. When you first started in this league, did you ever imagine making it this far?

Yeah, I think so. That was my goal and I knew I’d get there. But obviously, when you do make it you feel proud of yourself.

What’s one of the most important things you’ve learned over those 200 games? One thing you would tell your younger self.

Just that you can’t take a single game for granted. This year, I’ve been taking games one by one. I feel like in past years, I was looking more in the past or ahead to the future about what I wanted to do, but now I’m just taking it day by day. And I think if the young guys can learn that sooner, it’s a lot easier to succeed.

You’ve been a big part of the leadership of this young team this season. What does it mean to you to wear the A and what do you see your role as?

I was really grateful and honored, obviously, that I get to lead these guys, especially this year. I have never been on team where it’s this many young guys and I think it’s kind of cool. There are more things that you can teach and share with these young guys growing up. And I feel like the times have changed since when I was first year. A lot of stuff has been taken out of the league with hazing and bullying which is great. I like teaching them the new ways and showing them how they should approach the younger guys when they get older. I think that’s a big thing this year.

This has been a tough season for over-agers in the league with an abundance of players and you’ve been making the most of it now leading the team in points. What does it mean to be able to play this season and what is your mentality when you step on the ice?

Yeah, there are a lot of ‘04s this year. Coming into this year, I knew I had to work extra hard this summer. I knew there was a chance that I could come to camp and there could be six guys that I had to make it over. I just worked really hard. Obviously, I want to sign a pro contract after this, so that’s what I’m focused on. I’m just working on everything I can day to day, and doing whatever I can to help myself get better in my final year in the league.

This is a young team and you’ve been surprisingly competitive in a number of one goal games against tough teams. What will it take to start coming out on the winning end of a few of those matchups?

I think it will take time and I think we’re just getting there now. You can see every game when we’re playing the best teams in the league, we’re losing by one goal. Obviously we don’t want to lose, but we know we’re right there. It just that extra 10 minutes in the third that we need to dial in. That’s when we’ve been losing these games—in the last five or 10 minutes of the game. I think if we just dial in our play late in the games we’ll start winning more of those.  It’s all mental. We need to realize that we have a really good chance of winning those game and not focusing on trying not to lose them.

What has the mood been like in the dressing room after all these tough contests?

Everyone has been bummed because we’re putting in so much work and we put so much heart into each game. You can tell everyone’s working hard and then you lose. So it’s kind of draining but you can’t get too down yourself because you play the next day. Obviously we’re all learning, the young guys are learning and we’re learning as well. If you’re not learning, you’re not getting better.

If there was ever a year to be a rookie on this team in terms of ice time, I feel like this year is a great opportunity. How would you compare that opportunity to your first year in the Soo for example?

My first year in the Soo, I played like two minutes a night. So these guys have a lot going for them and the older guys remind them of that just so they don’t get too comfortable. It’s rare that the young guys get to play this much. You need to take the opportunity and run with it. But at the same time, you’ve got to be held accountable. When I was a rookie, if you didn’t perform you were out of the lineup for five games and that’s really tough on your mental game. So these guys have a great opportunity and it’s really good for the organization too. As these guys get older, they’ll be that much better because they’re getting so much experience right now.

What’s your advice to the boys moving forward as you fight for a playoff spot against some slightly lower ranked teams than the first half of the season?

I think we’ve got to treat it the same as any other game. If we come in thinking that we’re the better team and that we can get a bunch of points, we’re going to lose. So I think if we come in with the same mentality that we’re playing London or Kitchener, I think we will be just fine. We’ll be playing teams that really need those points and we really need those points as we’re fighting for playoff spots. This next stretch is going to be really important for our group and I’m looking forward to it.

Big news for the team with Carter George getting the call to try out for Team Canada’s world junior team. Any thoughts on his season so far and how do you compromise between rooting for him to make the team and wishing he was back in your net?

Yeah, obviously, he’s been phenomenal for us this year and I don’t think we’d be in a lot of those games without him to be honest. He’s amazing, but with the World Juniors, I think it’s great for him to go. He’s earned every bit of it and I think he’s going to take full advantage of it. I think he’ll do really well there. The fact that he won’t be here does suck but at the same time, you would never wish for someone not to go to play for Canada. It will be fun for us all to watch him together and I think everyone’s really proud of him.

The first home game I missed all season, you scored the fastest hat trick in Attack franchise history. Tell us about that night?

Oh man, it was really fun. It was a weird night. I was having a really good game but between the second and third period I was getting really frustrated with myself because I hadn’t scored. Then I came out in the third and I scored one. I just kind of felt relieved and then the next shift I went out and scored again and then I scored again. It was weird. It was like  every time I touched the puck it was almost going in. I almost scored another time. It was really cool. We needed three goals in the third period and we ended up winning 7 to 3. It was cool to help the team and earn that franchise record.

Let’s go back to the beginning. Tell us a bit about how you got started in the sport?

When I was younger, I lived in a really small town and I grew up with a lot of hockey friends and my family was into hockey too. I started with power skating when I was younger and then I started playing hockey with kids two years older who were actually playing games. I don’t think I was ready to play but I just kind of stuck with it and never looked back.

I’ve heard that your dad played some pro hockey back in the day.

Yes, he played in Australia for Canadian team over there.

What do you remember about watching him play?

I was too young to really remember him playing. He’s the one who got me into hockey for sure.

Your mom mentioned that your jersey number is connected to your dad?

Yes he wore number 10 playing so that’s why I wear number 10. It started in minor hockey but when we moved to Sarnia and I started playing AAA a guy actually already had #10. I was pretty bummed. But he ended up giving me his number and we have been good friends ever since.

He’s still my best buddy. He used to play for the Sarnia Sting and the Sudbury Wolves but he’s had to stop playing due to concussions.

You’ve overcome some big obstacles to become the player you are today. What kind of supports do you have and how do you think those struggles have made you a better player?

I think I play for a lot more than just myself. I’ve been through a lot in my life and that makes me play for something bigger. My family is a huge part of what I do and I play for them. They motivate me to reach my goals but at the end of the day I play for them. Especially since I started playing in the OHL, after making the team in the Soo, I’ve just wanted to get better and work towards the next level—for myself and for them.

The Attack often work with local Mental Health agencies giving school presentations and I’ve noticed you advocating for mental health issues on your own social platforms. Why do you think that’s important for youth today and why is it important to you?

Last year my uncle passed away from suicide and it hit me hard. It’s a lot different than when your family member passes away from old age or illness. It was really tough and it was really hard to not be near my family during those times. But I was here doing the thing I love which helped me a lot. I just want to bring awareness to that kind of thing because you never know what people are going through. It’s really tough because you really don’t know. I talked with him the day before he passed away and there was zero clues to me that he was having a hard time. I knew he had struggled in the past but I wouldn’t have been able to tell you that he was struggling in the moment. So seeing that firsthand had a huge impact. I’ve heard people say in the past, you never know what someone is going through and I always thought, I really feel like you would know. But now I can tell you from experience, that you really don’t know. People battle with their own things and they go through struggles in phases. I think shining a light on that for people can go a long way and I will continue to advocate for awareness about mental health. I designed custom jerseys for the team and we will be doing a mental health game in February. We are going to raise money and awareness. People should keep an eye on their family members, friends and teammates and people should not be afraid to ask for help.

What kind of questions do the kids ask on your visits?

They mostly ask about hockey. But sometimes we talk about what we do day-to-day to keep our mental health in check.

And what do you do personally?

I think just coming here to the rink every day and being with my friends and calling my family every day. I think just having relationships with people is key for me. I’m a people person. I like interacting with people and coming to the rink every day and goofing off and working hard. For me, that helps a lot.

Has this become a pretty tight group?

I think so. I think with the young guys and the older guys it’s been a great mix. There’s not really a divide between us which I think is great. My first year in the league, it wasn’t like that and it sucks. That was a big thing for me this year. I didn’t want the young guys to feel like they can’t talk to us. That sucks and it affects you and your play on the ice. It affects your games and your confidence. So that relationship between the younger and older players is something I wanted to try and focus on this year.

You’ve got an incredible support system in your mom Marnie and Chris and your siblings. What does that support mean to you?

I think this year they picked it up a level with it being my last year in the league. My mom said she wanted to come to every arena she hasn’t been to so they’re making even more trips. It’s nice to see them after the games and forget about hockey for a little while.

And your family are billet hosts for the Sarnia Sting?

Yes they billeted Theo Hill for four years before I was even in the league and he was awesome. And then this year they’re taking on a younger guy right now which is great but I’m losing my room. They just love going to hockey games and being involved.

This is your second full season in Owen Sound. What were your first impressions of this city and this club?

Honestly, I didn’t know what to think when I got here. It was tough at the start because obviously I no idea the trade was coming. It was really last minute. Within two hours I was leaving. But after half of January it was good. The guys were unreal and I made those friendships really quickly. I feel like it comes really naturally to me. The guys were great, and I made friendships that I’ll have for a lifetime like Cedrick Guindon, Barz and Seeder. I excelled right away here so it was good overall.

What have you grown to love about playing here?

I like the rink the most. I love playing here every night and I think the fans are great. The atmosphere here is fun and this arena style fits my game really well. It makes me play better and it’s really good for me.

And I have to ask about fighting. It definitely seems like you’ve been fighting less this year. What are your thoughts on that?

It’s tough this year. Last year, I was third line and I didn’t play as much. We had people that played a lot. Obviously, you think you should play more than you did of course. But this year, I’m playing a different role. I like fighting (laughs) I’d fight every game if I could. But I just can’t this year because I’m playing more minutes and I’m producing a lot more and if I’m out of the game for 17 minutes, that hurts my team more than anything. So it’s something I have to keep an eye on. Obviously, I did it once at the beginning of the year and I right after that, I thought “Yeah, I can’t do that again’. I still want to play that role but I definitely have to pick my battles and think about what’s best for the team.

Look Landen, you’re growing up.

I know I am (laughs). It’s good.

OK on to the fun stuff …

What kind of music do you listen to pre-game?

I listen to Eminem a lot before games. That’s what motivates me.

What’s one talent you wish you had?

Growing up I always wished I could sing. Even now, it would be nice to be able to sing country songs well. When I was little I wished I was Justin Bieber so I’d say I just having a good voice is one talent I wish I had… but I definitely don’t.

Which NHL player do you most want to be like or admire?

Kyle Lowry of the Winnipeg Jets. I model my game after him. That’s the way I’d want to play every game if I were to make it to the next level. He’s a big guy—the same size as me—and I play a similar game. He fights when he needs to, he scores, he’s just a hard working guy and a good leader.

What’s your favourite pre-game meal?

They used to be pasta and chicken, but pasta sits too heavy in my stomach now, so chicken and rice is good.

What’s your favourite post-game meal?

We just normally eat chicken and rice again (laughs).  But if we didn’t have a game the next day, it’d be pizza because it’s just easy to eat. I can’t eat after games normally because I have no appetite. Tacos would be nice too.