By: Simon Drew Doughty was the second pick in the 2008 NHL Draft. Kidzworld was able to catch up with the 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 upcoming 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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