Five Qs with Monarchs center Marc-Andre Cliche

The Dossier: Just 21, Marc-Andre Cliche is in the second year of a three-year contract (and a club option fourth) with the Los Angeles Kings. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound center is becoming known for his defensive-minded aggressive play.

CLICHE

For the L.A. Kings, Cliche was the focal point of their deadline deal in 2007 that sent controversial agitator Sean Avery to the New York Rangers.

Cliche was drafted in the second round in 2005 (56th overall) by the Rangers. He played four seasons for the Lewiston MAINEiacs of the QMJHL. Cliche's teammate in Lewiston was current Monarchs goaltender Jon Bernier.

1. You've come back from shoulder surgery after missing more than half of this season. Do you feel pressure now to make this partial season look even better than you might have hoped for the full year?

Cliche: "It's like the expression 'start from scratch.' I think I just have to get back to the game I had last year. Play well defensively and go from there. I'm just trying to work hard out there. Shape-wise I feel I'm right there. Maybe just the timing or the poise with the puck or just relaxing on the ice a little bit more. That's going to get back to me as I go."

2. You hail from a town in northwest Quebec -- Rouyn-Noranda -- that has produced many great hockey players including the late Pit Martin, Pierre and Sylvain Turgeon, Jacques Laperriere, Rejean Houle and Dave Keon. With a Quebec League team in your hometown, how come you didn't play there in the hotbed of great players?

Cliche: "I didn't get drafted there (Rouyn-Noranda). I didn't want to play there anyways. I was ranked seventh in the junior draft and Rouyn-Noranda picked seventh but they needed a goalie so I went eighth with Lewiston. I didn't want to stay home because I played Midgets and AAA there, so I was used to it. I wanted to have the real junior life. I missed my parents but being on my own, I was more responsible. I think a grew up from that a lot."

3. What will it take for you to become an NHL player?

Cliche: "I think physically I'll need to be a little stronger. Keep it simple and not make the little mistakes I make here. Just try to be flawless. Make no mistakes defensively. I think that will help bring me up ... I think the big key for everyone who wants to go up is you have to play well defensively. You have to get your coach's confidence."

4. When you are not playing hockey, what do you like to do?

Cliche: "I'm a big gamer. Xbox and online computer games with my buddies. My favorite games are war games. I'm really not the sport guy. I just go for shooting games. My favorite is probably 'Gears of War II.' I play it online against other people."

5. Something people don't know about you?

Cliche: "My full name is Marc-Andre Claude Cliche Charette."