Los Angeles Kings' defensemen at the EA NHL 09 Launch Event just weeks before his rookie season started!
Simon: Who did you idolize growing up in London, Ontario, Canada?
Drew Doughty: Wayne Gretzky, he was my favorite player growing up and I idolized him.
Simon: What do you like to do on your downtime?
Drew Doughty: Gaming. I like playing NHL 09 and other games like that. I like doing everything. I love sports, I pretty much play any sport there is and just hang out with the guys, go to movies, whatever.
Simon: While you were growing up you were playing the games, now you are in the production of NHL 09. How does that feel?
Drew Doughty: Yeah it's kind of cool. I always wondered growing up how they did it, now I know. They put all these little balls on you and kind of just do it through the computer and stuff so it's really cool. And like I said, I was a big fan of the game, so taking part of it is pretty sweet.
Simon: Does it all make sense to you or did they just say 'Put these balls on you' and you just rolled with it?
Drew Doughty: Yeah, it really doesn't make sense to me at all. You know, I just throw the suit on and just go on the ice and do my thing (laughs).
Simon: So what would be some of your best advice for kids growing up and trying to set goals?
Drew Doughty: Ah, just work hard and never give up. As long as you're doing both of things and set high goals for yourself and try to meet them, I think good things will come to you.
Simon: Speaking of goals, what are your goals for the season?
Drew Doughty: Well right now, I'm really just hoping I can make the NHL this season. I played in the OHL and CHL for the last three years and just got drafted this year, so it will be a hard jump to make it there. But I'm really going to try my hardest and do the best I can in camp and hopefully get a chance to make that team.
Simon: On another topic, did you get a chance to watch the Summer Olympics?
Drew Doughty: Yeah I did.
Simon: What was your favorite event?
Drew Doughty: I liked the running, I was pretty impressed with Usain Bolt setting those two world records it was pretty sweet to watch. He did it so easily, it was unbelievable.
Simon: What do you think was a crazier athletic achievement. Usain Bolt's 100 and 200 or Michael Phelps' eight gold medals?
Drew Doughty: Oh boy. That's hard to say. Phelps, that was unbelievable too. I can't even compare those two, they're both unbelievable.
Simon: What is the adjustment like moving from the small city of London, Ontario to the fast-paced city of L.A.?
Drew Doughty: I'm pretty excited about it. I've been there a couple of times this summer. It's a great city, it's a lot of fun. It's quite hectic and stuff and as you said, so much bigger than my home town of London. But it's going to be a lot of fun, I'm really looking forward to it.
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