Q & A: John Hecimovic

Rob Way
Feb 4, 2004

Courtesy of OHL Tough Guys

John Hecimovic is a player who combines the two things most sought after in Canadian hockey today: toughness and touch. In other words, he can beat you on the ice, or in the alley.

A true power forward in the mold of Cam Neely, Brendan Shanahan, or even Jarome Iginla, Hecimovic is on pace this season to net thirty-plus goals for the third straight year; and while it's true he hasn't fought as much as he did last year, he's still getting his knuckles dirty whenever necessary.

Recently the Sarnia Sting were here in Windsor and after the game, we left our 20 Toe to Toe questions with the big guy. Here's what he had to say:

Rob: John, when did you realize you wanted to be a "serious" hockey player?

John: Honestly, it was when I was drafted last summer by the Florida Panthers. That was a big turning point in my hockey career.

Rob: Prior to being drafted by Sarnia, what / who was your favourite OHL team/player?

John: I was born in Sarnia, and played my minor hockey there, so naturally it would have to be the Sting. As for my favourite player, that was Jon Sim.

Rob: Tell us how you felt before your first career OHL game.

John: Without a doubt, it was the most nervous I have ever been in my life!

Rob: Who did you score your first goal against, and what kind of goal was it?

John: Actually, I scored my first goal on my first shift in my first game in the OHL. Wasn't all that pretty though, it was just a rebound that I put in.

Rob: You're now in your fourth OHL season, how do you think you've progressed?

John: Well I had a rough first year, but I think I've matured a lot every year that I have played since.

Rob: You were drafted last summer by Florida, tell us about it.

John: I was totally surprised because I didn't get drafted the year before. I didn't set myself up for it, so when it happened, it felt great!

Rob: Who would you say is the most talented teammate and opponent you have played with and against in the O?

John: I would have to say that Joey Tenute is the most talented teammate, and Jason Spezza was the most talented opponent I have played with and against so far.

Rob: If you couldn't play at the SSEC, which road arena would you most like to call "home" temporarily?

John: Guelph and Kitchener. Guelph because I have always played well there, and it has a good atmosphere. Kitchener because it's where I've lived for the past seven years and have always enjoyed playing there.

Rob: Do you know where you'll be next season?

John: Hopefully playing pro hockey somewhere, but if not, I'll be happy to come back to Sarnia for an overage season.

Rob: What do you think you need to most improve on if you are to one day play in the NHL?

John: Two things for sure: my skating and my conditioning.

Rob: Moving on now to the fighting questions...how much did you scrap in your first two seasons because honestly, before you fought the Spits' Josh Gratton last year, I had no idea you were a fighter?

John: My first season I only fought once. In my second season I fought a lot more, like seven or eight times.

Rob: What do you remember about your first OHL fight?

John: The first game of the playoffs my underage year. We were getting smoked by Plymouth and there were already a bunch of fights. So Greg Campbell and I went at it. It was pretty one sided for me.

Rob: According to my contacts, you had 13 bouts last season. Which one was the toughest?

John: I would have to say Nate Kiser. He was the first true "heavyweight" that I went buckets off with. Plus, it was right at the start of the game so I was pretty nervous.

Rob: What exactly goes through your mind as you're squaring off against a guy who you know is trying to knock your block off?

John: Simple as it sounds, just one thing: hit him before he hits me!

Rob: In all of your fights, who do you think you ever hit the hardest, and who was it that ever hit you the hardest?

John: Nate Kiser definitely hit me the hardest that I have been hit and in my second fight against Greg Campbell, I knocked him out with an uppercut, so he would be the guy I ever hit the hardest.

Rob: Do you usually try to dictate whether the fight is hit and move or toe to toe?

John: I just go with the flow of the fight, but it depends on who it is too.

Rob: Tell us a little bit about these past opponents: Matt Carkner, Mike Amodeo, Nate Kiser, Josh Gratton.

John:
Carkner: probably the scariest guy in the league my first year.
Amodeo: I thought he was the best technical fighter in the league last year.
Kiser: D-man that a lot of players hated playing against.
Gratton: good team guy that can fight and score too.

Rob: This season you seem to be scrapping a lot less than last season. Is there any particular reason why?

John: I haven't had as many offers so I've just been focusing on other parts of my game.

Rob: Before Christmas, a much anticipated bout between yourself and Cam Janssen occurred, but never really got going the way most fans thought it would. Do you foresee a rematch sometime in the future?

John: Oh, I don't know. We'll see...

Rob: Last question now, one I always like to end with. Is there any one fighter out there, from any era, that you would love to get your hands on, that you'd love to try out?

John: No, not really, but there are a couple of rats I would like to get a hold of!

hockeyfights.com thanks OHL Tough Guys, and John Hecimovic

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