Joe Veleno was drafted in the first-round, 30th overall by the Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-1, 191-pound center is one of four Red Wings' prospects writing a blog for our Taking Flight blog series, which chronicles the ups and downs of each player as they work their way to becoming Red Wings. Veleno currently plays for the Drummondville Voltigeurs, in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Here is his third blog entry of, 'From the Q to the D.'

From the 'Q' to the 'D' - Entry 3

by Joe Veleno

Hello everybody, I hope everything is going great for you and your family. It has been going well for me since I returned from the World Junior Championship. From my last entry, you may remember that my junior team, the Drummondville Voltigeurs, made a few moves as we prepare for a run at winning the President's Cup and the Memorial Cup. Each guy on our team knows that we have a real shot at being champions and since this is my last year in junior, I really want to make this season a memorable one.

Because of my exceptional status, at the end of this season I will have played a full four years in the QMJHL, so the rule where you have to be 20 to play in the AHL, I think that rule doesn't apply to me. I think I'll be able to play at 19 either in the AHL or NHL next year. Of course, I want to play in Detroit next season, but right now my focus is on Drummondville and leading my team.

This season I have become more of a two-way leader. I like to speak up in the room since I'm a four-year veteran in the league and I've experienced a lot, whether it's internationally or in the league, winning a President's Cup and performing at the Memorial Cup. I try to do a bit of both. I'm more a leader on the ice, where I like to lead with my work ethic and little habits that I do. But off the ice as well. I try to lead as best as I can and talk to the younger guys, speak up when I feel like something's wrong. I was once in their shoes as a younger player in the league. I would feel way better when someone would come up and tell me some positive things and try to encourage me in doing better. I try to put myself in their shoes. I always liked someone to encourage me, giving me help a little bit. I want to try to give them some positive feedback and just focus on what's ahead.

In the room, I'm more of a guy that likes to be loose around games, not get too serious but kind of have a good mood and make everyone feel comfortable, especially as a leader. I want guys to be loose in the room and not be stressing. I want everyone to have fun and we'll crack little jokes here and there. I'm more of a guy that likes to be loose around the room and likes to have some fun a little bit and not stress about too much, just try to be relaxed and just have some fun.

In my four years of junior hockey, I have come a long way in terms of maturing as a person, as a player. I think just seeing all the experience from the older guys and everything from the older guys, at Saint John there were a lot of veterans and people to lean on that are playing in the pros right now. They tried to help me a lot in terms of evaluating my game on the ice and for sure the coaches and staff and everything helped me develop a lot at Saint John and Drummondville. Still to this day, I'm still improving as a player and I think it's showing by the season I'm having, just getting better, trying to get better every single day and learning new things.

At Saint John I was one of the younger guys, playing with guys like Thomas Chabot, Mathieu Joseph, Matthew Highmore, the list goes on and on. These guys, they moved on and are playing in the pros now. If not, they're making a good career and slowly making their way up there but I think most of those guys really helped me when they were 19 years old and I was just 15 years old, trying to take me under their wing a little bit and showing me a little bit of the ropes. I really appreciate what those guys did for me and I try to be like them when I am talking to the younger players.

My season has been a good one, but it has had some challenges. For any top player in the league, you are going to be a target and this season, I have been targeted a lot. From getting maybe that extra slash or two in the corner after the play or getting into scrums, basically it's guys doing anything to try to throw you off your game and try to get you frustrated. I just try and keep my composure, not letting that get to me. I want to be a real good player, a good team player, I can't start taking penalties because guys are just doing their job trying to get me off my game. I realized how important composure is by seeing it at the pro level and seeing it at the international level, how discipline is a huge key factor in team success. That's something that I don't want my teammates to see, a leader taking stupid penalties where guys are going to slash and I retaliate. I have a lot of my teammates helping me with that, coaches as well. Guys challenge me sometimes but obviously I don't try to take them all on.

It's aggravating to deal with, but at the end of the day, you're going to get them back by scoring a big goal or by maybe finishing a nice, clean hit on them. Nothing dirty but just putting the body and being kind of in his kitchen all night. I know that from experience and I've done that a couple times this year where I might not have to take a penalty on them, I might not have to finish a hit but maybe to score a big goal while the other guy's sitting in the box, I think hurts more than getting back at them by slashing on the wrist or on the leg. I think emotionally it'll affect them a lot more.

My relationship with the Red Wings is really good. Shawn Horcoff and Dan Cleary are still very much present helping me out. I think Shawn and Cleary have been really consistent with talking to me and watching some of my games when they can. They realize that I'm going to be entering into playoffs soon and they know what I have to do, how I have to step up my game in those important games and be a factor every night in the playoffs. We haven't really spoken about the playoffs yet, but I think it's a no-brainer when the playoffs come that you have to bring your game to another level. Obviously, we're going to go over that and speak about that when the time comes closer to the playoffs. I'm sure I will talk to them about if there's something in my game that's not there and that they would like to be there during the playoffs.

I still keep track of how Detroit's doing and watch a couple of their games when I'm free. They work hard and battle every game. It's a hard-working team that looks to win and wants to win. My focus on making the Red Wings is going to be after I'm done here in Drummondville. Right now, I'm focused on winning the Memorial Cup and winning the President's Cup and having a good run in the series. Once my season is over, I'll start thinking more about playing in Detroit next year.

As the playoffs approach, I want everyone to know I love playing hockey and I want to play. I think I would love to play all year. Hockey's a passion and I love going on the ice every day. I honestly wish that we had more games to play - we play enough games but I love hockey so much that I could never have that attitude of saying I want to get through these games. I never really had that mindset. I have always wanted to be on the ice, whether it was practice or games. I love playing hockey games, the atmosphere, the enthusiasm that you feel, the competitiveness. I just love playing hockey.

My wish is for everyone to find their passion and it's as intense as my passion is for hockey because it's the best feeling in the world.

In 51 games played for the Voltigeurs, Veleno leads his team in scoring with 98 points with 40 goals and 58 assists. He is plus-60, and has scored six power play goals, seven shorthanded goals and eight game winning goals.

Veleno was named the Ultramar Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 18 - Feb. 24. In two games he netted two goals and notched 5 assists. It was the second time this season Veleno has been named the player of the week.