Checking In With Louie Caporusso
9/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
With 12 freshmen on the Michigan hockey team in 2007-08, memorizing the whole roster may require some dedicated studying this fall. Over the next three weeks we'll introduce all of the freshmen so every hockey fan knows the names, numbers, faces and personalities of the newcomers to the team. Starting things off is forward Louie Caporusso.
Caporusso
Louie keeps the Canadian-Italian pipeline going at the University of Michigan. He has been preceded by Mike Cammalleri (2000-02), Jeff Tambellini (2003-05) and Andrew Cogliano (2006-07). Like Cammalleri and Cogliano, Caporusso hails from the Toronto suburbs -- Woodbridge to be exact. Caporusso acknowledges that Cammalleri's and Cogliano's success in Ann Arbor played a part in his initial interest in Michigan. From the "Did You Know" department, in 2005-06 Caporusso broke the St. Michael's Buzzers (Ontario Provincial Hockey League) rookie point record (73) which had previously been set by Cogliano in 2003-04.
The talkative Caporusso discussed his "seriously loose" preparation on game days, his affinity for playmaking, and the reason he chose to be just the eighth Wolverine -- and second non-goalie -- to wear sweater No. 29.
On his roommate ...
"I'm rooming with Tristin Llewellyn. I played against him a couple times, but we didn't know each other personally at all. When we met each other we just clicked. He's such a good guy, and we got along so well."
On campus and classes ...
"I don't really have classes with anyone on the team. I just have one class with Matt Rust. We're both in sport management. I think I want to be a physical education teacher though. I know quite a bit (about campus). I know where to go if someone wants to go get coffee or go get something to eat. I know some good restaurants. Getting to my classes is not a problem at all. I can get to the arena. I think once I got on the outskirts of campus I would be pretty lost though. Campus is pretty familiar -- Michigan Stadium and Crisler Arena -- I know where everything is generally."
On the 12-member freshman class ...
"It is pretty fun having a lot of guys come in with you. You don't feel as uncomfortable. There are a lot of new guys, and everyone is really friendly. When there are less guys you kind of feel like the team is already made, everyone already knows each other because they've been together for so long. But when you come in with 12 guys, it's not like that."
On when he began playing hockey ...
"(I've been playing) since I was three years old when my dad took me to the public skating rink. He was very consistent with me; every week we would go. I developed a passion for the game really early. When I was four years old I really wanted to play hockey. I didn't realize that I was a lot better than most of the kids in house league. When I went out there I was just running around all over, so I guess going out with my dad really paid off. It took off from there. Growing up I always played a year up and I think that helped me a lot."
On his family's impact on his hockey career ...
"My dad played hockey as a kid. He didn't really play in any leagues, just a lot of pond hockey. Both of his parents were immigrants, so they didn't even know what hockey was. My dad had a nickname, 'Leaping Lou.' I guess he just dangled everybody. But I don't really come from a huge hockey family where I had to play hockey; it was something I wanted to do. I am not trying to chase my dad's dreams or my mom's dreams. This is my dream. I have one sister who is the oldest, an older brother who's 21, and a younger brother who is 14. My older brother actually played with me last year at St. Michael's. He played with me the first part of the season, but now he is actually getting into dental school."
On other sports he played ...
"I love soccer. I love golf and tennis. I am a very competitive guy. Any activity, I'll try to beat you, even if you're four years old. I'm the type of guy who hates losing. If I am losing, then I will just keep practicing so I can beat you. My kids will never beat me because I let them -- they'll have to beat me legitimately."
On when he realized a long-term hockey career was possible ...
"When I first started AAA, I was on a pretty powerhouse team, the Toronto Red Wings. We were the best team; we just dominated. We played this all-star team of Russians, and we won. Then we went through some struggles with the Red Wings because the Marlies starting taking over and getting guys like John Tavares and Sam Gagner. When I got to the (St. Michael's) Buzzers, that is when I realized I could have a career playing hockey, maybe even in the NHL. That is something not many kids get to do. When I heard that NHL scouts were looking at me, it lit a fire under me and I wanted to go with it because I had something to play for."
On players he knew that had played before him at Michigan...
"I knew Mike Cammalleri and I knew (Andrew) Cogliano. That was kind of a big part in me coming here, but I think the main reason for me coming here was my first visit. On my first visit here, when I walked into Yost, I saw the atmosphere, and I saw the way the players played. The whole arena and the way they treated me -- it is a classy organization and hockey program. It is first class all the way. I said to myself that this is your dream playing here. As soon as I got it, I jumped on the opportunity."
On choosing between Canadian juniors and college hockey ...
"Well, I got drafted by the (St. Michael's) Majors (of the Ontario Hockey League). Then the funny thing was that I got drafted by the (Ottawa) Senators (of the National Hockey League). I don't know if everyone knows this, but the Senators and the Majors are the same organization, they have the same owners. As soon as I got drafted by the Senators, everyone just figured that I was going to the Majors because of that. The truth of the matter was that I never considered the Majors. I had people coming up to me saying they heard I was going to the Majors and I was telling them no. The OHL, I'm not knocking it because there is some great talent that comes out of there, but I've seen some really great players go to the OHL and become nothing because they get sat down on the bench since they're young and they don't know what to do and they never get a shot. The NCAA gives you four years to prove yourself, and I know Coach Berenson, Coach Pearson and Coach Powers are definitely going to do a good job in improving their players. I like the amount of effort put into the NCAA and the way the teams look to develop their players."
On if he looked at any other schools...
"It was either New Hampshire or here. Their arena is amazing at UNH. But when it came down to it, I always wanted to come to the University of Michigan. I was not going to settle for UNH. When you graduate from Michigan or you say you play on the Michigan hockey team, (people's) eyes light up. You feel like you are someone really special. You will always be a Michigan graduate; it is part of your life."
On his game day preparations ...
"I have to be relaxed. I like to stay lose before games. I don't mind laughing before games. I have this little message: seriously loose. Basically, you are serious, but you are not too serious. You are ready and you are thinking about the game. In the back of the mind I am always visualizing being out on the ice, but you can't let that get the best of you. You have to think positive, laugh a bit. I find that if I laugh before a game and I am joking around, I go out there and play better. I feel ready to go and more relaxed. In terms of superstitions, I always tie my right skate first and I don't let anyone touch my stick before games."
On what his first game at Yost Ice Arena will be like ...
"I can't wait. The wait has seemed like forever. I'm looking forward to see what it's like. It will be the experience of a lifetime."
On how he sees himself as a player...
"I'm the type of player that's not going to be the fastest or highest scorer. I am a fast hockey player, but I'm probably not the fastest. I have a nice shot, but probably not the nicest. The thing is I like my all-around game, that's what I like about myself. I can play both ends of the ice. I win draws. I can score. I love playmaking, though. If a player is in a better position than me, I'll always make that pass. I am not a selfish kid at all. I think an assist is better than a goal. I'll set up anyone for a goal into an empty net any day over going top-shelf. I love doing that."
On who he likes to watch ...
"I like Mike Fisher (of the Ottawa Senators) a lot because of his heart. He goes on 90 percent work, and 10 percent talent and that is unbelievable. He is not the most talented guy, but he goes all out every game. That's what it's all about. Talent will only get you so far because at the end of the day, if you want to win and be a champion you have to go to work. I just love people that play like that. As far as playmaking, the Great One (Wayne Gretzky) is the best. You can't get better than that. His vision -- I love vision -- let him make those behind-the-back passes when it looked like no one was there. I love when I've made a pass where someone asks me, 'How did you know he was there' That's the best compliment I can get. If someone says, 'Nice goal,' yeah, I know it was a nice goal. When someone comes up to me and asks, 'How did you know that guy was coming down the other side' that's what I really enjoy."
On being picked by the Ottawa Senators in the 2007 NHL Draft ...
"That was probably one of the best times of my hockey career if you include getting into Michigan. I wasn't at the draft. I think Ottawa really liked my character. In my interview they really liked the way I spoke. I told them, 'If you don't take me you're going to regret it.' I think they understood that. Then they took me. On that day I was pretty excited. It was almost like I was in a dream."
On wearing jersey number 29 ...
"There are so many generic numbers like 19 or 9. You hear all about that. This is a new era. I know (Brendan) Morrison and (Andrew) Cogliano both wore 9. And 19 is a big number too. With 29, let's just say I have to try twice as hard to be as good as them. That's probably how I came up with it. Also, Jonathan Toews wore it in the World Juniors and I love that guy. He's an awesome player. So he's one of the biggest reasons why I'm wearing 29. I saw him in World Juniors wearing 29 and he just dominated and I thought it looked pretty good. It's something new. You have to start your own legacy. You can't just use 9 all the time. I know it might seem like a goalie number but I think it's pretty cool."
Checking In With ... Schedule
Sept. 20 -- forward Louie Caporusso
Sept. 21 -- forward Carl Hagelin
Sept. 24 -- goalie Bryan Hogan
Sept. 25 -- goalie Shawn Hunwick
Sept. 26 -- defenseman Chad Langlais
Sept. 27 -- defenseman Tristin Llewellyn
Sept. 28 -- forward Max Pacioretty
Oct. 1 -- forward Aaron Palushaj
Oct. 2 -- defenseman Kevin Quick
Oct. 3 -- forward Matt Rust
Oct. 4 -- defenseman Scooter Vaughan
Oct. 5 -- forward Ben Winnett
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
