Interview with North Bay Battalion Captain Luke Moncada

I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to do an interview with Luke Moncada. Moncada is a 20-year-old center on the North Bay Battalion of the OHL. Moncada has a breakout season, scoring 34 goals and 26 assists for 60 points in 62 games. That was 54th in Points, 21st in goals, and he also led in Short-Handed Goals. On his team, he was 1st in goals, points, and second in assists. 

Here are the questions I asked Luke:

Question 1: What attribute do you feel is the best part of your game?

Luke: “I would say my defensive side of things and the way I see the ice.”

Luke is known as one of the best and smartest two-way players of the league. If the league had the equivalent of the Selke Trophy that the NHL awards yearly to the best defensive forward, Moncada could easily be a candidate.

Question 2: As the captain of the Battalion, what leadership skills do you bring to the table, and how do you describe your personality?

Luke: “I think My best leadership skill is my work ethic and consistency. In the locker room I’m vocal and supportive of my teammates but can be lighthearted and loose when the time is right.”

After the Battalion traded former captain Brad Chenier, Moncada was promoted from the “A” to the “C” on January 10th, 2020. The LA Kings’ Mike Amadio and Tampa Bay’s Barclay Goodrow are the two current NHLers who were previously North Bay captains.

Question 3: What NHL arena(s) are you most looking forward to playing in?

Luke: “Scotiabank and Madison Square Garden.”

   

Luke Moncada is from Markham, Ontario, part of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). The furthest point in Markham is less than 30 miles from the arena. As for MSG, the building is simply so iconic that I imagine many young players are excited to play there.

Question 4: What is your favorite memory so far in your hockey career?

Luke: “Too many to choose from, but one is getting drafted into the OHL to the Guelph Storm in 2016.”

Moncada was the first player drafted in the third round of the 2016 OHL Draft (42nd Overall) After a goalless 37-game season, he was dealt to North Bay and had massive improvement.

Question 5: If you had to compare yourself to one player in the NHL, who would it be and why?

Luke: “Ryan O’Reilly. He’s responsible defensively. Good in the face off circle. And has an offensive side.”

This makes total sense as someone is a mature two-way player. If he were to be a bottom-6 forward in the NHL, he’d likely remind me of a Casey Cizikas or an Andrew Copp; a defensive center who can score goals and specializes on the PK. If he were to breakout and become a first-liner in the NHL (which who knows) the O’Reilly comparison makes perfect sense.

Question 6: What part of your game do you plan to improve on in your coming years?

Luke: “My skating and shot.”

The special thing about a two-way player is that they seem to be good at everything. Still, Moncada improving his all-around game now at a young age can go a very long way in his future.

I’d like to thank Luke Moncada for taking the time to answer my questions. I wish the best for him and his future. He told me he is unsure if he will be in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, but I hope he makes his way to the NHL one way or another.

 -  Ben Kule