Every day during the 2008 TELUS Cup, hockeycanada.ca will sit down with the captain of one of the six teams competing for Canada’s National Midget Championship.

Today, we sit down with Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves captain Mathieu Lecours.

What does it mean to be the captain of a team at the National Midget Championship?

It’s awesome. It’s a chance to show that your can lead a team in a big championship.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of your team?

I think our strengths are speed and ability to score and our weaknesses are probably our (lack of) size and sometimes we’re undisciplined.

What was the defining moment for your team so far this season?

I think winning the Central Region championship. We found ourselves behind more than once, but we persevered. We were down 4-2 in the semi-final (against Ajax/Pickering) and came back to win, and we were down 2-0 in the final (against London) and won that. We’ve had to work at staying positive, and knowing we have the ability to come back.

What is your team’s style of play?

Hard-working and speedy.

As captain, what to you try to bring to the ice every game?

Hard work and leaving everything on the ice.

Where do you get your leadership skills from?

I’ve always played with big (older) players, especially my first year in Midget. There were a couple guys on that team that I really looked up to. That and also, past players that I’ve played with.

What NHL player do you look up to and why?

I’d say Joe Sakic. I like the way he plays and he’s really getting things done.

What is your best asset as a player?

I’d say my speed.

What is your favourite minor hockey memory?

I know it was recent, but winning the Central Region championship a few weeks ago was pretty special.

What would winning the TELUS Cup mean to you?

It would be one of the best things to ever happen to me. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and it would be unbelievable.