Q&A With J.T. Compher

J.T. Compher is in his first full season with the Colorado Avalanche after playing 21 games with the club at the end of the 2016-17 campaign.
The 22-year-old forward was drafted 35th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL Draft and was acquired by the Avalanche on June 26, 2015. Colorado signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract the following year.

A native of Northbrook, Illinois, Compher played two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program before joining the University of Michigan, serving as team captain during his junior campaign in 2015-16. He accumulated 118 points in 106 games in three years with the Wolverines.
Compher spent the start of last season with the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League before making his NHL debut on March 2, 2017 and suiting up in the Avs' remaining games of the year.
The young forward talked with ColoradoAvalanche.com about his transition from college captain to playing in the NHL with a young Avalanche squad.
How did you start playing hockey?
"I didn't come from a hockey family. Both my parents played sports, but none of them played hockey. I had a friend in preschool that asked me to come try it out, and I guess I liked it."
How did your charity hockey tournament go this past summer?
"We did a 3-on-3 tournament for kids and the money raised went to a scholarship fund for my youth organization, the Northbrook (IL) Bluehawks. The scholarship is for kids who have trouble paying their hockey dues or getting equipment. I just wanted to make sure we keep kids playing the game of hockey."
How did your name J.T. come about?
"My parents named me J.T. first and then came up with Joseph Taylor to fill in the initials after the fact. They always liked the initials."
What was your experience like when the Avalanche acquired your rights in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres?
"I was excited. Obviously, it's a little bit of a weird scenario getting traded when you're not actually part of the team; you're not playing pro yet. So it didn't change a whole lot about my day-to-day when I got traded, but obviously I was excited to be a part of this organization and I still am. I think we're growing in the right direction, and we have a lot of good young talent that is starting to bond together."
What was it like being the captain at the University of Michigan during your final season?
"I loved it. I loved playing in Michigan and to be named captain by the coaches and my teammates there was an honor. I enjoyed it, and I tried to take advantage of being a leader everyday there. It was an exciting year for me. It was a fun year."

What is it like being a part of such a young team here in Colorado?
"I love it. I think that it's a little different than other guys I've talked to in the league on different teams. I think it helps us in terms of being close. A lot of guys have a lot in common--being new in the league, experiencing things together for the first time. It helps having guys to go through that with. And we have a good mix of leadership, guys that have been around for a while. Guys like Landy, E.J., Combs. To have that good mix of energy and to have guys with experience to get us up or calm us down, I think it's a really good combination."
How has it been living with fellow rookies Tyson Jost and Alexander Kerfoot, and how has that helped your transition to the NHL?
"It's been good. I think we all like the living situation. We don't cook as much as maybe other guys do, but it's nice to have guys going through their first full year in the NHL. You can bounce ideas off each other, or when one of us has a good game and two of us don't, we're there to pick each other up and kind of keep going in the right direction."
Who is the messiest roommate?
"I think it's honestly pretty even. Josty's room is the messiest for sure, and Kerf is probably the cleanest. He does the most dishes, but Josty is the best cook though."
What is your pregame routine?
"I nap for about 45 minutes and then take the early bus to the game, right around three hours before game time. It gives me a little extra time to get my sticks ready and get warmed up and do some extra stuff to get the legs ready to go and get the mind focused. I don't have any really bad superstitions, but I do tape my stick the same way and I have certain timings. I eat the basic pregame meal--pasta, chicken, salads--every game."

If you weren't playing hockey, what kind of career would you pursue?
"I studied business in school, and I love sports. I love the competitive nature of sports, so I think being on the business side of a hockey team would be really exciting--whether it be the actual business altogether, or doing the contracts and salary caps, or a PR thing or agent-type thing. I like the competitive nature of being around a group, which I think most teams have no matter what department you're in. So I think the business side of sports would be pretty fun for me."
Who were some of your favorite players growing up?
"Growing up near Chicago, I was a Blackhawks fan, so I was a big Jonathan Toews guy for a while. I just love the way he plays. I think before that, I was a big Mike Modano fan. I had a Modano Fathead in my room, and I used to play as Team USA in video games and he was always the best player."
What are some of your hobbies?
"We play a little bit of video games at the house. We've gotten into it just because a lot of guys on the team play so often. In the summer, I like to golf and just be outside, whether it's like pickup basketball or going to the pool. We're inside so much as hockey players that whenever you get the chance, whether it's here or back home for the summer, to be outside, I like to do that."