Getting to know ... Kyle Turris

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Rob Brodie

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Kyle Turris has surely found his new hockey oasis.

From toiling in the desert with the Phoenix Coyotes to a return to a hockey-mad market with the Ottawa Senators, Turris has seen his world undergo a massive sea change in just a few short months.

But even in the middle of one of Ottawa's famed frosty winters, the 22-year-old native of New Westminster, B.C., is a young man at peace with where the game and life has taken him. Obtained from the Coyotes on Dec. 17 in a deal for defenceman David Rundblad and a second-round draft pick, Turris wasted little time making an impact with his new team.

Senators head coach Paul MacLean will tell you it's more than just a coincidence that his team went 8-1-1 in its first 10 games with Turris in the lineup. The 6-1, 195-pounder quickly filled a need as the Senators' second-line centre and produced 11 points in his first 15 games with the team.

Turris was the No. 3 overall pick by the Coyotes in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Six months later, he led Team Canada's gold-medal winning squad in scoring at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in the Czech Republic.

The newest Senator took some time out with Score to share some of his thoughts about hockey and more:

Q: Who was your hockey hero growing up?

A: Steve Yzerman. He was the best all-around hockey player, Detroit Red Wings captain, won the Stanley Cup (three times) ... he was just unbelievable.

Q: Tell us something about Vancouver that nobody would know.

A: You can go skiing and golfing in the same day.

Q: What do you remember about your draft day?

A: I remember everything. Waking up, getting ready, working out in the morning because the draft wasn't until the afternoon, doing a couple of interviews, walking over to the rink (Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio), seeing the atmosphere, Wayne Gretzky calling my name to come up and join him on the podium because Phoenix had drafted me ... it was a pretty neat experience.

Q: Your favourite memory about world juniors.

A: Winning the gold in overtime. The whole tournament was fun and the way Hockey Canada treated us was great.

Q: Where do you keep that gold medal?

A: I've got it in a safe back in Vancouver.

Q: Other than the weather, the biggest difference between Phoenix and Ottawa.

A: Here, I live about five minutes from the rink but back in Phoenix, I was about 35 minutes away. The hockey atmosphere is definitely quite a bit different here.

Q: Name three people, living or dead, who you'd like to have dinner with.

A: Muhammad Ali, Neil Armstrong (he was the first guy who walked on the moon and he'd be pretty interesting) and Albert Einstein (I read a book about him. He'd be pretty cool). Maybe Steve Yzerman, too.

Q: If you're cooking dinner, what's on the menu?

A: Pasta. Something like a fettucine alfredo mix with marinara sauce, with a rib eye (steak) on the side

Q: Your favourite music. A: I like relaxing to Jack

Johnson type of stuff, and I like the Kings of Leon upbeat stuff. I like a little bit of everything. Q: Your favourite TV show. A: Modern Family is hilarious.

I like Seinfeld, too. Q: Your favourite movie. A: Dumb and Dumber is pretty

good.

Q: Your favourite thing to do

away from the rink. A: Just relaxing with my family

and friends.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Friday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m. Sportsnet East

More was expected this season out of the Islanders, who again find themselves closer to the Eastern Conference basement than a playoff position. But the Isles aren't without some standout performers, the most notable being former No. 1 overall pick John Tavares, who's scoring at nearly a point-per-game clip. Also chiming in as offensive leaders are Matt Moulson and PA Parenteau, while Michael

Grabner was a Calder Trophy finalist a year ago. On defence, the return to health of Mark Streit has been a boost for the Isles. Al Montoya and Evgeni Nabokov have split the majority of the goaltending chores.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Saturday, Feb. 4, 7:00 p.m. CBC

The Maple Leafs are pushing hard to end a six-year absence from the Stanley Cup playoffs. Offensively, much of Toronto's fortunes rest in the hands of Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul, who both rank among the NHL's top point-getters. Also chipping in to the Leafs' attack are a forward group that includes Tyler Bozak, Mikhail Grabovski, Tim Connolly and Clarke MacArthur. On the blue line, the leader of the pack is captain Dion Phaneuf, the lone Leaf voted into the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game by fans. James Reimer is the main man in goal for Toronto and he gets backup support from Johan Gustavsson.

UPCOMING SENATORS GAMES

New York Islanders at Ottawa Senators: Friday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m. (Sportsnet East)

Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators: Saturday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m. (CBC)

St. Louis Blues at Ottawa Senators: Tuesday, Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m. (Sportsnet East)

SCOTIABANK PLACE EVENTS

Disney On Ice ... Presents Treasure Trove: Feb. 15, 7 p.m., Feb. 16, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., Feb. 17, 7 p.m., Feb. 18, 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Feb. 19, 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Simple Plan: Feb. 24, 7 p.m.

WWE RAW World Tour: March 3, 7:30 p.m. Hedley: March 14, 7 p.m. Van Halen: March 21, 7:30 p.m. 2012 JUNO Awards: April 1. Harlem Globetrotters: April 7, 3 p.m. Stars On Ice: April 29, 4 p.m. Chris de Burgh: May 5, 8 p.m. Johnny Reid: May 12, 7:30 p.m. Il Divo: May 20, 8 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.CapitalTickets.ca, by phone at 613-599-FANS (3267) or 1-877-788-FANS (3267), in person at The Sens Store at Carlingwood Mall and Place d'Orleans, any Ottawa Sports Experts location, Les Galeries de Hull and at the Scotiabank Place box office.


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WHEN TO WATCH:

Jan. 31: At Boston, 7 P.M. (Sportsnet East)

Feb. 3: Vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7:30 P.M. (Sportsnet East)

Feb. 4: Vs. Toronto, 7 P.M. (CBC)

Feb. 7: Vs. St. Louis, 7:30 P.M. (Sportsnet East)






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