McCoshen had butterflies for Combine interviews

Ian McCoshen, No. 24 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of the top draft-eligible North American skaters, completed his third season with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League. The 6-foot-2.5, 207-pound defenseman had 11 goals, 44 points and a plus-35 rating in 53 games this season. Boston College bound, McCoshen has agreed to submit his thoughts during the 2013 Scouting Combine in Toronto this week.

Hello all!

If you can believe it, I don't have a roommate here at the Scouting Combine. Out of the 101 players invited, I was the one going solo. But it's actually good because I don't have anyone to wake up in the morning and I can watch television whenever I please, so I'm fine with that.

I had meetings with 11 NHL clubs today, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until 7 p.m.

I felt more and more comfortable as the day went along with the interviews. There were no questions that really surprised me, and that was nice, but the butterflies were definitely there early on in the morning. You never really know if you did good or bad in the interview, but I guess if they smile, that would mean you're doing all right.

There are certainly common questions, like the type of defenseman I am. They'll ask if I'm a stay-at-home, shut-down or two-way type defender. But then there are some that were tricky.

The most difficult one for me was, "If you didn't make it to the NHL, what do you believe would be the reason?" I was stuck on that one for two minutes, and said I seriously can't think of anything because I want it so bad. That might have been the hardest of the day.

I'll be taking my fitness test on Friday. I worked on a few of the fitness tests with Cal Petersen [of Waterloo]. We worked out in Waterloo and did the tests there, including the bikes. They're pretty hard.

On draft day (June 30 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.), I'll be joined by my mom and dad. I don't have specific expectations at the draft. I don't think it would be a disappointment if I weren't selected in the first round. I do think when a team picks you it's going to make your day, your year, and your life. The number where I'm selected is not the end goal; the end goal is to play in the NHL.

Follow Ian McCoshen on Twitter: @ijmccoshen3