Foote, who was also quite an accomplished lacrosse player, noted, �I loved lacrosse. Lacrosse at that time was actually my favorite game. It was a lot of fun to play in the summer and I played in the junior leagues in lacrosse, also. But by the time I turned 15 or 16, I started to be more focused on hockey. I realized to go somewhere, it was going to be hockey that took me there, not lacrosse.� Oddly enough, although Foote has played defense throughout his entire hockey career, he played forward in lacrosse.

Foote went from the rinks of Whitby to one of Canada�s top junior leagues, the Ontario Hockey Association. He was an offensive star for the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds from the blue line, setting career highs with 18 goals and 51 assists for 69 points in his final season in 1990-91.

Foote vs. Lindros

Despite his offensive production, Foote was known more for his robust playing style, even back in his junior days, when he frequently paired up against Eric Lindros. �We were matched up a lot against each other in juniors, especially in the OHL finals one year.� Selected to the OHL�s first All-Star Team in 1991, Foote adds, �I�ve been matched up against him every game when my team played his, so we�ve had our battles. We�ve always played physical against each other, and I think he respects me and I respect him as a player.�

Since their junior days, Foote has had a chance to get to know Eric a little better. �We were teammates on the World Cup team, and we realize where we stand. He knows he can go hard on me and I can go hard on him. We won�t play dirty against each other, but we have to play tough against each other. If we don�t, he�ll score or I�ll stop him.�

Photo courtesy: Avalance.

Since graduating from the OHL to the NHL, though, Foote�s game has changed to more closely resemble that of a defensive defenseman. When asked to compare the difference in his offensive production from his junior days to the numbers he posted in his first six seasons in the NHL, Foote says, �I haven�t capitalized on some of my chances, but more than that, I know my place in the NHL right now is as a defensive defenseman. It�s a hard job, but it is also a fun job. I take a lot of pride in it. On this team, there are so many horses on defense that everyone�s got to have a certain job. Mine is to play solid D, and if the offense comes later, that�s great. If it doesn�t, it doesn�t.�

While playing on a team as talented as the Colorado Avalanche does have its many positives, namely winning the Stanley Cup, the other side is Foote would have a greater opportunity to display the offensive skills he showed while playing with Sault St. Marie if he were on a less talented team.

�I feel if I was playing on a different team, I would have more chances offensively, but it is better to win and share jobs (of defensive and offensive responsibility throughout the team),� adds Foote.

World Cup Stalwart

Foote, who has always played a physical brand of hockey, stepped it up another notch or two in the �96 World Cup tournament. �I think I�ve always been feisty,� says Foote, easily the most physical player on the Canadian squad in the World Cup. �I just like to play an intense game. If I don�t play intense, I�m not going to play good hockey and I�m not on my game. To play good, defensive hockey, you have to be intense.�

Foote learned a lot from his 1996 World Cup experience, largely because of two guys. �Crow (Avalanche head coach and World Cup assistant coach Marc Crawford) was good because he gave me the confidence. That�s what I needed there. Because at first, I didn�t know if I belonged there, or if I was ready to be there. I was a little shy and nervous being around the big guys. I didn�t know if I was at that level yet. Paul Coffey was also great to me. He was my defensive partner, and he made me feel like I was the best. He gave me all the confidence in the world. He is a smart and experienced player, and he realizes if he helps me out, I�m going to play better for him. I learned a lot off of him.�

Foote almost earned a place in Canadian hockey history, when his goal with eight minutes remaining gave Canada a lead in the third and final game of the finals against the United States, only to see the US go on to win the game and the tournament.

�I thought about it afterwards, but I kind of shook it off. It would have been awesome. It would have set me up forever, probably, and I�d be lying if I said I didn�t think about it. But I�ve been a dark horse all through juniors and into the pros, so it didn�t surprise me at all. I was just happy to be there and playing a regular shift.�

While Foote doesn�t need to be told to keep his physical game up, Foote adds, �Crow, every half a season, or so, will say �Keep it going. If you play physical, the team will play physical if you�re hitting.� I just play a solid game. If a guy gives me a cheap shot, I give him one right back.�

To be effective in defense at any level, Foote emphasizes sound positional play. �Positional hockey is the key if you are going to be a good defenseman. You always need to be between the rushing forward and the goalie, and even though that sounds simplistic, a lot of guys, even at this level, don�t do it. They find themselves on the wrong side and on the boards. If you�re in good position all the time, it will solve half the problems you�re going to have out there.

�Another important thing is to accept your role on the team. Sometimes it is hard to accept it, and sit on the back burner and not get the glory like some guys might every night scoring the goals. Playing as a defensive defenseman, I think, is the hardest position to play in this game.�

Solid words from one of the game�s top defensemen.