Catching up with... Blake Biondi

MONTREAL -- Forward Blake Biondi is in the midst of his junior campaign with the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.

Biondi has six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in 12 games this season.
The 20-year-old Hermantown, MN native was a fourth-round selection (109th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Here are a few highlights from our recent conversation with Blake:
Biondi on participating in the documentary feature film "Hockeyland" showcasing the unique high-school hockey culture in northern Minnesota:
It really publicized the towns of Hermantown and Eveleth and just showed what we're all about, and it's an opportunity for viewers to see all the different things that have made us successful over the years from a hockey standpoint. You really get a feel for the outdoor rinks and that small town northern Minnesota atmosphere that's so prevalent in places like Warroad and Roseau, too. There have been so many players to come out of those towns, NHL players and Olympians. We just wanted to show what we have up here, and the film did a good job of that.
Watch: Youtube Video
Biondi on his genuine passion for the game, which comes through in "Hockeyland":
It definitely started really young, like when I was three years old on the outdoor rinks with my dad. Being in northern Minnesota, that's all you want to do, you want to be a hockey player. First, you want to play on your high school team. I always wanted to be a Hermantown Hawk. After that, if you're having success, then you start dreaming about playing college hockey, and if things are going well there, then you think about the NHL. I love the roots of hockey, just the innocence of going out and playing the game and just competing. That intensity is so pure. For me, everything started in Hermantown.

Biondi on playing collegiately less than 10 miles from home:
It's unbelievable that I'm still playing at home and on a really big stage in a really competitive environment. My dad played at UMD in the late 1980s and early 1990s and it was always my dream to play here, too, because I've been going to games forever. Now we're seeing guys like Neal Pionk (Winnipeg Jets) and Cole Koepke (Tampa Bay Lightning) in the NHL, and that's my goal, too. The fact that they're enjoying success gives me even more motivation to do it. I know there's still a lot of work to do, but it's doable. The biggest thing is sticking to the process and doing everything in my power to find a way to eventually be there. That's my path and my process, just competing with myself to try to get better every day - both as a player and a person.

Biondi on learning from hockey development guru Adam Nicholas at Development Camp:
Adam has such a different perspective on the game compared to so many people. It opened my eyes a lot. He discussed some things I never even thought about or heard about from any other coach. You just try to soak it all in. He was always talking about scanning the ice, scanning different areas and trying to be a step or two ahead of guys all over the rink, especially in different offensive situations. I love the different drills we did. There was also a real focus on capitalizing in the slot. When you get in that area, your odds of scoring are 50 percent higher if you just take an extra step or two across that middle line. He'd show us clips of that and I was like, 'Holy smokes!' Adam picked the game apart and it feels like he's figured it out. I definitely tried to take that back to UMD.

Biondi on his admiration for Josh Anderson's style of play:
I'm impressed by a lot of guys on the Canadiens, but I'd say for my game Josh stands out because of the compete he has. He's a big man, he skates, and he's super competitive and physical. That's part of my game, and the guy can score, too. That's also a key part of my game, so I try to model a lot of my game after him. I'm always watching different things he's doing. When I'm effective, I'm using my body, skating, protecting pucks, playing aggressive, and shooting a lot of pucks. He plays exactly that way. Obviously, he's a little bigger than me, but at the same time, I have that edge to my game where I know I'm playing better when I'm playing hard and aggressive and just moving my feet and using my body. He does that really well and it's really noticeable when you're watching him. I'm trying to translate that into my game.

Biondi on forging friendships in Montreal in July:
I talked with Emil Heineman a lot when we were at camp. We still stay in touch. Sean Farrell and Luke Tuch are great guys, too. Juraj Slafkovksy is a real character. He's so sick on the ice. It was fun being around him and picking his brain a bit. He's such a humble and nice guy who just loves the game. Getting closer with Jack Smith was good, too, since we're teammates at UMD. He loves to compete. We grew up playing against each other, so I've known him for a long time. It's cool that we're playing together in college and we were both drafted by the Canadiens. It's a special path for both of us.

Cover photo credit: Terry Norton