William had the chance to speak to Portland Winterhawks forward Chase De Leo of La Mirada California. De Leo eligble for the 2014 draft currently has 19 goals and 33 points, in 32 games for the strong Winterhawks club. Credits a lot of his sucess to working out in the summer with Detroit Redwings prospect Mitch Callahan, and his trainer Brandan Schieppati from Rise Above Fitness in Huntington Beach. But those aren't the only people who have influnced him.

"My neighbors at the time were good friends with Bob Hartley the coach of the Avalanche at the time. They gave me a vhs movie of the Stanley Cup series when they won in 2001.
I probably watched that video at least once a day, and just got attached. Thats when I started playing ice hockey but also still played roller."

Much like other Californian hockey players De Leo is no exception to when it comes to starting out in roller hockey and aswell not only credits that for helping him develop parts of his game,  a certain Colorado forward influneced him to play the position he does today.

"Well I started off playing roller hockey when I was 3, I actaully started out a goalie.  Joe Sakic was immediately my favorite player so I decided to switch from goalie to forward.
 Obviously its a more skill/laidback kind of game but I feel like roller hockey helps your hands a lot and your skill in tight around the net."

De Leo hopes to follow the same path as many of the Californian players that have been drafted, and credits a lot of California's recent success to the Kings winning the cup, and a lot of people giving back to the communities. 

"Great to see familiar faces get selected in the draft and people you grew up watching and playing with all the time and seeing them everyday around the rinks back home. Great to see California being represented so well.
Obviously with the Kings winning the cup that helped out a bit. But I think there are a lot of great coaches and programs because of all of the old retired Pros come back to california and retire there. So that helps"

But the work doesn't stop there, with the draft coming the always hard working 5"10 175lbs De Leo decided to ramp it up slightly with training at Rise Above Fitness with trainer Brandan Schieppati to not only work on his weaknesses but his strenghths as well.

"I have always trained very hard. I feel as a smaller sized guy I have to be stronger,quicker and faster then everyone else and work that much harder. Speed is probably one of the most important things in the game. Worked on explosiveness and quickness and power"

About half way through his third season in Portland, De Leo feels that seeing all these recent players coming out of major junior, and the Winterhawks going there was the right move to make and is embracing his new leadership role.

"I love it. Obviously more comfortable and experienced with going to the Mem cup last year and deep into playoffs past few years. We have another awesome group of guys this year and we are a super tight group. Its awesome in Portland, great city, amazing fans, and such a professional organization here. Practicing and working out with such talented guys such as Seth Jones and Rattie and Bartschi  Johan and Nino and those types of guys since ive been here is obviously pretty lucky and special.
At the end of the day my dream is to play in the NHL, and in my opinion, after getting drafted to Portland and seeing all of the players get drafted to the NHL and move on from here and turn their dreams into reality I knew this was the right place for me."

Here at Elite Scouting we hope De Leo realizes his goal sooner than later, and wish him the best of luck with the upcoming draft, and his hockey career.