Less than a week after being selected 8th overall by the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL draft, Max Fransen set foot in the city of Owen Sound and the iconic Bayshore for the very first time. Fransen spent Wednesday afternoon playing 9 holes of golf with Tyler Nother, Keenan Reynolds and his agent before taking a few minutes to chat with me in the Bayshore’s familiar red seats while a minor lacrosse practice took place on the turf. After that it was straight to Harrison Park for the unveiling of the new outdoor AED installed by the TD BeAT Association. It was a very Owen Sound introduction for Fransen who has heard his father Aaron’s tales of this city’s love for the team but is quickly experiencing it first-hand. Here are a few words from this year’s first round pick.
First of all, welcome to Owen Sound. Is this literally the first time you’ve been here?
Yes, this is the very first time I’ve been in Owen Sound.
I hear you golfed this afternoon. Have you had time to look around the town at all or did you just roll in?
I looked around a little bit. It’s a smaller town, obviously, which is kind of nice coming from Toronto. It will be nice to experience a real community vibe. The rink seems like it’s in a great spot on the water which is cool.
Occasionally they do cold plunges out there. I’ve seen that happen for team building. Are you in?
Yep, I’m in.
Awesome. So first impressions—you got to tour the dressing room, see the rink and meet some of the staff today?
Yeah. It’s awesome. The facilities are unreal. There’s lots of room which is nice. I think it will be a great spot for the players. We can have everyone together and do everything we need to do here. It should be fun.
Obviously it’s been a whirlwind since you heard your name called at the draft. What’s been happening since then?
I think just a lot of change quickly. I’m trying to understand what’s coming next for me and I’m excited for what’s ahead.
And going back to the draft, how did it feel to hear your name called?
It was obviously a dream come true. It’s something that a lot of people work towards but not everyone has that opportunity. It’s something I’m grateful for and I’m very happy to have landed in Owen Sound.
This was the first year the league returned to an in-person draft. What did you think of the event, the hype, and the whole experience?
It was lots of fun and it felt very professional. The event was awesome. They ran a great couple of days in Kingston and it was super fun.
Obviously there have been some big changes here with the Attack in the last few months. How does it feel to be the very first draft pick for Tyler Nother and this team?
I think it’s an honour. I made a big change coming to a newer program at Upper Canada College so I’m not afraid of change. I’m very excited to see what’s coming.
In talking to Tyler and Keenan about their approach to this team, how are you feeling heading into the season?
They’re awesome. I think they’re just trying to do what’s best for the players and everyone on the team. Whether you’re an older guy or a younger guy, they’re focused on doing whatever is best for you. They’re trying to build a strong team and bring in a culture that really wants to win. We’re going to have a great season together.
Your dad was a defenceman here in Owen Sound. What do you remember the most about his stories about playing here?
There are some great stories that come up often—stories about the town and how supportive everyone is. Stories about how great it is to play here in Owen Sound. He has always talked positively about the environment around the rink and the players. There’s so much love for the team here. It’s unreal.
Yeah, it is pretty crazy. Did he ever talk about the Boot and Blade?
I don’t think he’s ever mentioned that.
It’s the legendary breakfast spot. It’s on the boards over there (laughs).
Oh yeah! I have heard of that. Sean Durzi brought it up at the draft.
That’s hilarious. Trust me, it won’t take you long to figure out where you’re going.
Moving on, how do you feel your time at Upper Canada College prepared you for the OHL?
It’s obviously a different environment than a traditional GTHL or OMHA team. It was a new thing, which was exciting for me to step into. It was exciting to be part of something new. I think the whole setup helps. You practice every day after school, you work out every day, and then there’s the aspect of being able to play up with the older guys. I remember playing my first game—it was really exciting. You’re not the number one guy anymore, so you have to play your own game but also learn to play the same style as the rest of the team to try and find your role.
That’s a pretty direct translation to what’s going to happen to you shortly here.
Yes. It was something that took time to adjust to but it was exciting when it all fell into place.
Awesome. I know the Attack also drafted Turner Stephenson, who you went to UCC with. What can you tell the fans about what they can expect from him?
He came to UCC the same year as me, so we played together for two years. We were D partners. Just the way he plays the game—he’s more focused offensively, but he’s so smart. He’s got an unreal stick and a long reach, which is really good. He breaks up plays a lot, and he’s just so smart. He’s a guy you want on the ice against the other team’s best players because he’s so good at shutting them down.
The Attack have a pretty young, motivated, strong roster going into this year. Do you know any of the guys? Did you get to meet any of them at the draft?
I know the captain, Pierce Mbuyi, a little bit. I’ve talked to him a couple of times. Then Cole Zurawski, Welsey Royston and Harry Nansi were at the draft. Itwas cool to talk to them. They welcomed me to the team and I got some early insights into what it’s like to play in Owen Sound.
As we already mentioned, Attack fans are pretty diehard about their team. What would you like to them about yourself?
I’m just a guy who’s going to work hard every night, compete, and do whatever the team needs to win.
What are you doing for the rest of the summer to be ready for training camp?
I’ll just be training every day, on the ice three times a week, and working on getting bigger and stronger. I’m working out with older players who play NCAA and OHL hockey, so I’ll be learning from those guys, seeing how hard they work, and getting a perspective on what it takes to be a good player in this league.
Is there a specific program in Toronto that you work with?
Yes, I work with Dan Noble at Noble Sport and Performance. He trains Mitch Marner, Adam Fantilli, Anthony Cirelli, and alot of those guys. I have a lot of trust in him and what he puts us through. A lot of work has gone into his program.
What do you like to do for fun?
I like to golf, and go up to the cottage and hang out with my family. I like to go out on the boat, go surfing and just have a good time.
Awesome. Okay, last question. Tell me a little bit about the golf game today?
It was Tyler, Keenan, my agent, and myself. We played nine holes, a little two-man scramble. Keenan and I were partners. There was a lot of average golf, some really good shots, and some really bad shots. It was a lot of fun and it was awesome to hear stories about their hockey careers and get to know them a little bit more.
For sure. Did you win?
We did. We won on the last hole. We made par on a par three to win it.
Nice. Thanks so much for your time Max. See you at training camp.
Thanks!
This season’s player interviews are sponsored by Burke’s Brick Work. Burke’s Brick Work is a full-service masonry company offering new home construction, as well as restoration work. We service both Grey and Bruce County. We work with all types of materials – brick, Block, and stone. We are available by phone at (289) 200-8290, by email at burkesbrickwork@gmail.com You can learn more at our website at https://www.burkesbrickwork.com and you can follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/burkesbrickwork and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/burkes_brick_work