By Jeff Copetas, VP of Marketing & E-Commerce

Joining us the second time for an interview on our blog is the Nashville Predators defensamen Hal Gill, now an NHL veteran of five teams and 10+ years in the league. We talk with Hal about playing in Nashville vs. the more pressure packed cities he's played in, what he might do after his hockey career is over and what series/games he'd like to have back. This interview was conducted on Saturday, one day before the lockout ended. Here we go.....

This will be the only lockout question: It's safe to say the lockout sucks on many levels, but let's try to spin it positive. Besides the obvious answer of getting to spend the extra valuable time with your kids and family, what other positives have you been able to wrestle out of this lockout? 

I guess I get some rest. Maybe I can add another season to my career. Really not much good comes from any of this CBA foolishness.

We are on the cusp of another hockey season for pretty much all players now. Except the NHL, of course. While the NHL and NHLPA are entangled in their complicated web of dollars, all other professional organizations are ramping it up and getting ready to press the GO TIME button. So we thought it made sense to check in once again with Todd Skirving, forward for Sioux Falls of the USHL. In our last interview with Todd, he walked us through his typical offseason, among a few other things. This time around we're talking about getting prepared for another season and some memorable games from past seasons. 

A few of you have asked how we found Todd. Simple answer. We don't have any endorsement deals or any kind of contract with Todd. Our Marketing team simply found him on Twitter and sent him a DM! He was a willing participant and is clearly a well-spoken, intelligent kid. Here we go.....

Many hockey players and fans who live in New England remember the name Bobby Allen. A local kid (Hull, MA), Allen is among a long line of locals over the years who had the privledge of playing for Jerry York at Boston College, where he won a National Championship in 2001. For a lot of the Division I college players, that's the crown jewel in their hockey careers. Making it to the NHL is a hard road to hoe. Some do end up with solid careers in competitive and excellent leagues like the AHL, ECHL or over in Europe. A select few, like Bobby Allen, get drafted into the NHL. A subset of those drafted guys get to actually fulfill their dream and play NHL games. Bobby is one of them. While his career was cut short by injury, Bobby tasted the life of an NHL player with the Edmonton Oilers and played his last NHL games in the 2007-08 season as a member of the team he grew up rooting for, the Boston Bruins.

We caught up with Bobby recently and had this chat below. Bobby is now a regular in our stores because his little boy is just starting his career, so we talked about that, dealing with early retirement and the excitement around playing for the local, iconic organizations. Here we go....

By Jeff Copetas, VP of Marketing & E-Commerce

As we march through the offseason, here's another NHL player interview for you. Pascal Dupuis is currently a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins and rides shotgun alongside none other than Sidney Crosby (when Crosby is healthy). Born in 1979 up in Laval, Quebec, Dupuis is another one of those feel good stories you run across with certain NHL players - he went undrafted, but ended up being signed by the Minnesota WIld and played his first NHL game with the Wild during the 2000-2001 season.

Minnesota's talent evaluators couldn't have been happier when he notched 20 goals and 28 assists in his second full season in Minnesota. Dupuis then went on to play for the New York Rangers briefly, the Atlanta Thrashers and then, during the 2007-2008 season, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where his game has flourished and he won a Cup in 2008-2009. This past season (11-12) was his personal best, with 25 goals and 34 assists. 

We asked Pascal these five questions.....hope you enjoy them!
 

1. What is one thing that the general public would never guess about you?
That I used to be a defenseman until midget AAA!

2. Being a gear store, we are well aware that all athletes are different with how they choose their gear - which piece of equipment are you the pickiest about?
Definitely my skates. My summer house up here in Quebec is close to Bauer factory, so I make a couple trips every summer to make sure my skates are all dialed up for the season!

3. Tell us what has changed the most for you regarding hockey equipment since you were a kid?
Sticks for sure! When I broke into the NHL, I was playing with a wood stick! The good ol' Sherwood PMP was my go to stick back then!

4. During the offseason, are you given a very specific workout program by the team, or is it just basic guidance and it's up to you to structure the specifics?
I have been working out with the same strength coach for the past 17 years, his name is Stephane Dube and I always use specific training put in place by him.  (ed. note: more on Dube here). 

5. Up to now, what is your most memorable goal that you've scored as a player?
I would have to say my double overtime goal against Ottawa in game 6 last year,  we were up 3-2 in that series and that goal I scored won the series for us!

Pure Hockey note: here's the goal:

Thanks to Pascal Dupuis for taking to time to have a quick chat with us! Stay tuned as we interview more professional hockey players during the offseason.

By Jeff Copetas, VP of Marketing & E-Commerce

During the offseason, we here at Pure Hockey are still uber-focused on hockey equipment. The season truly never ends for us. While less hockey is certainly being played during the summer months, we are focused entirely on getting ready for the next season; what will we buy? what is the demand for? what changes do we make to the stores or the websites? how will we advertise? We ask oursleves these and a truckload of other questions. But the offseason also allows us to go out and talk to players who are too busy during the season to do so. 

Our interview today is with Todd Skirving. He's not an NHL player or a professional hockey player. Yet. Todd is a 20-year old kid who plays for Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL, one of the elite breeding grounds for the NHL and for NCAA Division 1 schools. How impactful has the USHL been, you ask? Well, a total of 28 USHL players were selected in last year’s 2011 NHL Entry Draft and more than 165 of the USHL's alumni are currently under NHL contract. 

One of our goals with this blog is not only to review hockey product for you, but for you to also gain an understanding of the sacrifice, culture, hard work and yes, fun, that goes into being a hockey player. This is the first of a series of interviews that we'll have with Todd as we follow up through the offseason and through the course of a USHL hockey season. Todd, in turn, is well spoken, educated and clearly is a person who knows what we wants. We sincerely hope you enjoy the series....here's part one:

1.  As a 20 year old playing in the USHL, hockey is obviously one of the main priorities in your life and takes up a great deal of time. Now that it's the offseason, what are some of your hobbies and what do you generally do?

For sure hockey is definitely one of my top priorities all year 'round.  It’s not just a way of living, it's also like a job.  You have to put continuous time and work into bettering yourself not only as a player, but also a person. I find that the way you carry yourself off the ice leads into how you perform on the ice, whether it is your determination towards general tasks or your tenacity towards wanting it more than the guy beside you.  Now that it’s the offseason, it gives me the chance to improve my skills and strengths and better myself in different assets of my game.  The offseason is also a chance to relax and reflect on the past season.  I encourage all players to get away from the rink and the gym once the season is at an end.  It’s healthy to give the body a rest and let it rejuvenate after a full, gritty season of hockey.  It will only benefit you when you get back after it in the weight room and out on the ice.  Personally, now that we’re midway through summer, I like to get a well-balanced healthy breakfast in me and also a lunch before I head to the gym.  I train in the early afternoon with a few of our local pro and college guys.  It’s nice to train with guys above my level as it pushes me to be the best I can be and also gives me footsteps I can follow.  They’re already at a level where my standards and goals are set for.  I do, however, like to hang with the guys, catch a local baseball game or head out to the lake to do some fishing.  I take the chance to visit with friends and family and let the body and mind recuperate.

2.  What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on the ice?

I don’t have too many embarrassing moments, but during my senior year of high school when I was playing for the Thunder Bay Kings (AAA), I broke my stick on a play.  I went to the bench and received a stick from another player, only to find out that it was right handed and not left!  I picked the puck up from the half wall and only then did I realize it. Once I got closer to the net, I just shot a backhander, thinking it would be my best opportunity to make something out of nothing.  As embarrassing as it was, it ended up going in!  Not so much embarrassing I guess, but definitely a funny highlight in my career that I look back on.

3.  A lot of hockey players can be wild and adventurous… Is there anything wild and crazy that you have always wanted to do at least once in your lifetime?

Yeah there are a few things I have wanted to do.  I’m not the biggest fan of heights, so you won’t catch me riding around the roller coaster at any Six Flags Parks, but I would however, love to take another ride up Toronto’s CN Tower.  They have recently added the CN Tower Edge walk where you walk around the top brim of the structure while being strapped in by a few belts.  It’s about 356m/ 1,168ft above the ground and about a 30 min walk around, so I’m sure that would be quite the experience and a view from up above!  It would be a huge adrenaline rush for me from doing something like that.  I’m also a big animal fan -  I would like the chance to be around a tiger, which is my favourite animal.  Just to be around one for a bit would be a cool opportunity.  Something else I would like to experience outside of hockey would be to swim with the dolphins.  I have had many friends that have experienced such a thrill, but it’s something I’d love to do and I think it would be a fun getaway and surreal experience.

4.  What is one thing that people would never guess about you, just from going and watching you play hockey?

There are a few things I could touch on here, but I would have to say my game day routines - or the fact that I am very superstitious.  It’s not even just on game day, but also in the days leading up to a game.  The way I prepare myself is different obviously from what others do, but in my case or even last year the guys saw it as quite superstitious.  It’s less superstition and more of just a routine for me now.  I used to call them superstitions, but I have carried almost all of them with me for the past several years now that it really is becoming a routine and just an everyday thing for me.  I really do have some crazy and funny superstitions.  However, on days where I might forget something, it won’t get to a point where it affects my one ice play.   It is almost like another way to push my game to another level because I feel I have to prove the “superstition” wrong.  So I would have to say I’m a pretty superstitious guy if one didn't know me.  My team and fans as well could probably agree that it’s almost like another side of me when it comes to something like this!

5.  Being a gear store, we are well aware that all athletes are different with how they choose their gear… Which piece of equipment are you the pickiest about when playing and why? 

Growing up over the years it sure has changed in what equipment I am pickiest about.  Starting out, when it didn’t even matter what you wore, to now having sponsors for equipment and having it profiled to meet my (and other athlete's) needs. I can’t pick just one here so I’d have to go with skates and shoulder pads.  With today’s technology in building skates, players can get their full output and power within their stride.  I like my skates to have a solid and comfortable fit.  I have wide feet, so I go with a wider boot.  I get my blades profiled at an 11’ radius and ¾ skate sharpening, which allows me to stay on top of the ice more and not dig into the ice, thus keeping my stride quick and powerful.  I recently got a pair of the new TotalOne NXG skates.  I went up from the previous TotalOne’s as it is a skate that I can literally put on and go.  I do, however, also get my skates molded so it gives me that nice tight and comfortable fit on my feet.  Another piece of equipment I’m picky about is my shoulder pads.  I like the smaller, tighter fit when it comes to shoulder pads.  I don’t like them bulky and that’s why I wore the Bauer Vapor XXXX shoulder pads this past year.  I have looked into new pads for the upcoming season and I like the new Bauer Nexus shoulder pad model that Bauer is bringing along.  It’s a nice, snug fit that isn’t too bulky at all.  It’s like a blast from the past, too, with the colours and the way it’s designed.  It looks like the new equipment is bringing back styles that were in the older days of hockey and it’s really starting to grow on young athletes and even the pros.

6.  We assume you live with a host family during the season – what is it like adjusting to that type of situation?

Yes, I live with a housing family back in Sioux Falls.  Usually for the first day and night it’s a little different from what you have back home.  You get the tour of the house, the rundown of the rules and you usually meet your roommate and siblings for the season.  I can say from experience it has been fantastic.  Other players should be so lucky to get billet parents like mine.  You have to go into it with an open mind and be open and accepting towards the family as they are of you.  They’re doing what they’re doing because they love to take players in and they do a great job at it.  I was fortunate to live with a housing family this past year who always went above and beyond.  They were always there for my roommate and I, cooking us 3 meals a day and much more.  When they had to work overtime or when they wouldn’t be home for dinner, they would have something cooking up for us in the oven when we got home from hockey and workouts.  I think it’s great for hockey players that get a chance to live with a housing family.  I think it gives us the opportunity to learn different values and life lessons that build and shape who we are as people.  It’s a great learning curve for young athletes - they want you to succeed just as much as your real parents do.  They’re only going to assist you along into your journey and future endeavours!

Today Pure Goalie has hijacked the Pure Hockey blog to interview the Senior Buyer of Pure Hockey (and Pure Goalie), Rob Howland. Rob has been with Pure Hockey since its inception in 1994, so he's pretty much seen it all, from the stores to the arenas to the corporate office. His knowledge of gear is second-to-none! Rob grew up in Massachusetts and was a goaltender for the University of Maine in the late 1980s and early 1990s, at a time when the Black Bears had a dominant presence on the college hockey scene. Let's go for a ride as Rob talks about the opening of the brand new Pure Goalie stores in Berlin and Braintree, MA......

1. So…..why a Pure Goalie store? Why now?
It was time – time to show to our goalie customers that we are back in the goalie business.  There is no question that Pure Hockey took some time off and left some goalies without a great local store to shop at.  It was time to bring it back for them 

2. How will this be different than the goalie sections at Pure Hockey before?
The Pure Goalie stores are going to be exactly that – nothing but goalie.  The first real Pure Goalie concept store is now open in Braintree, MA.  There is over 4,000 square feet of only goalie products, and we were fortunate enough  to team up with the leaders in the industry, Reebok, Bauer, Vaughn, and Brians to bring this idea to fruition.  It will be a place that goalies will just want to hang out, and the best part is that there are many more ideas that we have to make the experience even better – so keep an eye out.  The Pure Goalie stores will be filled with all the latest products,  a massive amount of inventory and will have a huge array of colors to choose from.  There will also be some products that will be exclusive to Pure Hockey - products that we made some modifications to in order to try and improve what already exists – and if there is something that the customer is looking for, we would be happy to hear their ideas.

3. As a goalie yourself, talk about how much has changed on the gear side for goalies since the ‘80s and even the ‘90s
hen I was playing, the products lacked a lot of protection, and everything was so heavy compared to today.  Growing up, my chest protector was only that, a chest protector, and I had separate arm pads.  My pads were filled with deer hair, and other stuffing, and they were water logged after each game.  It wasn’t until I got to college in the late 80’s/early 90’s that the equipment started to get to where it is today.  Even colors weren’t around when I was younger, it was what everyone calls "vintage" now - and that was the choice.  With today's game, the products are bigger, lighter and in most cases more flexible. 

4. What’s the last thing you laughed really hard at?
Everyday with my kids, especially my 2 year old daughter – she cracks me up with some of the things she will come out with

5. As a buyer, what do you consider to be the driving  factors in what goalie gear Pure Hockey decides to carry?
First of all is the product, does it have shelf appeal – is it cool looking?  Does it have the features that it needs for the price points that we sell it for, is the quality of the product where it needs to be, and if it is not, can we change it to make it better?  I look at prices of the products, I look at history of certain products and vendors.  I travel to the manufactures to see how things are put together, and that gives me a better appreciation of what actually goes into making a pair of pads.  I ask our goalie employees their opinions and to get their ideas on trends.  I am in rinks most of the winter with a 7 year-old playing and I watch what people are wearing and I ask questions.  There are so many factors that go into it, but ultimately, the most important one is – will it sell??

6. Tell an interesting, amusing or memorable story about your days as a goalie at UMaine
I think for me, a kid coming out of a small town in Central Massachusetts, then going to a school that, at the time, was ranked continuously in the top 5 in the country, walking on to  the team, being around such talent, going to practice everyday and playing with those guys was amazing.  I was a fan of the team, and then I am part of the team and skating onto that ice, coming out for games and how loud the Alfond Arena was, it was just crazy.  The fans up there were the best, the place was always sold out and teams hated coming up there.  So here's a story: during my sophomore year we were heading out the Frozen Four in St. Paul, MN, playing in the rink which at the time had those glass boards and the glass went all the way down to the ice, remember that place?  It was a rink that I always wanted to see and to skate in, and we were heading there!  On the way out to Minnesota, we had stops first in Manchester, NH, and then to Chicago, then on to Minnesota.  On the way out, I started feeling like crap – my stomach was killing me, to the point that I could no longer sit, so I just stood up in the back, bent over.  We finally landed in Chicago, where they had a wheelchair waiting for me. So they wheeled me down to where our connecting flight was  and I remember Coach Walsh yelling at the flight attendant that they gave me food poisoning, but I had to tell him that I did not eat anything on the plane.  They wheeled me down the walkway, where an ambulance was waiting and we went to a Chicago hospital while the team flew to Minnesota.  The next day I had my appendix removed, spent two days in the hospital and flew to meet the team in Minnesota. The problem was I met them at the airport there because they had lost to Northern Michigan the night before and I never did get to see that rink – which since then has been torn down.

In the latest version of the Pure Hockey Interview, we run New Jersey Devils forward David Steckel through the rapid-fire questions we've been asking many other NHL players. Steckel kicked off his career in 2005-2006 with the Washington Capitals, where he stayed for six seasons before being moved to the New Jersey Devils in the Jason Arnott deal during the 2010-2011 season. Steckel is a face-off specialist and terrific penalty killer, born in Wisconsin. And away we go.....


1. The people who play professional sports very often get cast as the people who truly "have it made." Good money, playing a game for a living, etc etc. I always think there's more to the story, though. The travel must get old pretty quick, for example. What's the most difficult or trying thing for you as a professional athlete?

I think the most difficult thing about being a professional athlete is being away from your family.  I mean the travel does wear on you, but you grow accustomed to it.  It's when you come home from a long road trip for one or two days and then leave again for four.  Now that I have a little girl I think it will be even tougher.

2. Could you tell us what your favorite or most meaningful goal was (one that was scored by you)?

It was my OT game winner against the Penguins in Game 6 of the 09' playoffs.

3. The Devils have been so good for so long, so it must be odd for you and the organization to have missed out on the playoffs. Have you watched any of the playoffs as a fan or does it sting so much that you focus on other things?

I definitely watch as many games as I can.  It's hard not too when you play against and know so many guys in them.  Plus, it makes you strive harder in the offseason so you're being the one watched next year.

4. With that said, the Devils put together a historic run in the second half of the season. Obviously it gives you hope for 2011-12, but can you describe what it was like for you to experience such a dominating run of games like that?

Those kind of runs don't happen often, so to be a part of that was special.  And like you said, when we translate that confidence and winning mentality into next year, it will be even more gratifying.

5. What is the last thing you laughed really hard at?

The entire movie, The Hangover, for the 20th time.

6. The move of the Thrashers to Winnipeg seems really exciting. There’s no danger of the Devils moving, but how do you think you would feel if you had to move from not just a different climate, but to an entirely different country?

I think it would feel like you are getting traded, except with your entire team.  I think there would be an adjustment period in the beginning, but like any good thing you settle down and get into a rhythm.

7. Who is the toughest player you know? I don't mean fighting, I mean what teammate or player you know is THE guy who would get hit by a truck in the afternoon and be in the lineup that night?

Quintin Laing.

8. Since we're a gear store, we have to ask a few gear questions. There are lots of NHL players who are VERY particular about their gear. How do you approach it? Are you more the type who just sticks with one set of pads until they're absolutely dead? Or do you always like trying different stuff or the hot new stuff?

I am usually a guy that sticks with equipment until the trainers tell me it's just not safe anymore.  I am always open to trying new equipment, but at the same time it better feel great and quick.

9. What stick, glove and skates do you currently use?

I use Easton sticks and gloves,  Bauer skates.

10. How do you think gear has evolved since you played as a child?

It's definitely gotten stronger, but lighter and a little more bulky.

11. Can you describe one specific memory (amusing, reflective, whatever) of your first NHL game that you will never forget?

I took a face-off against Peter Forsberg (Philly), was in shock and awe that I was lining up opposite him and don't even think I got my stick down to the ice before the draw was snapped back and they were heading up the ice. 

Starting last year in the NHL offseason, we did a bunch of cool interviews with NHL Players, equipment managers and scouts. Now that we're more or less in the offseason again, we're bringing that feature back. Today's interview is with Hal Gill, currently a defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens (or defencemen, depending on where you're from). Gill broke into the NHL in the 1996-97 season with Boston and has carved out a pretty nice 14 year hockey career for himself, with stops in Toronto, Pittsburgh (where he won a Cup) and now Montreal. Gill was recruited to college for both hockey and football, as his size (6'7) and talent in football was coveted by a lot of football programs out there. Gill obviously chose hockey. Good choice, we say. And we're off.....

1. The people who play professional sports very often get cast as the people who truly "have it made." Good money, playing a game for a living, etc etc. I always think there's more to the story, though. The travel must get old pretty quick, for example. What's the most difficult or trying thing for you as a professional athlete?

The grind is the hardest part. We have a few long trips a year, but the hard ones are the quick trips that include back-to-back games. When the schedule gets like that - even when you are home - it feels like all you do is sleep, eat and play games.

2. We can safely assume that the single most satisfying moment of your career was winning the Cup. But can you tell us what your favorite or most meaningful goal was (one that was scored by you)?

I honestly can't think of one. I guess I should score more, but most good memories I have are of a blocked shot or something.

3. OK, let's get back to the Cup. You got to hang out with it for a while. Do anything interesting? I don't mean photo opps in public, man,  I mean like at your house. Did you put it on the nightstand while you were sleeping or something? I'd never let it get outside 3 feet of me if I had it at my house.

I did sleep with it!!! I mostly drank from it, though. My daughters ate ice cream  and cereal from it. That was fun.

4. What is the last thing you laughed really hard at?

Everyday my daughters say something that cracks me up. I laugh a lot anyway, though.

5. Growing up in Massachusetts, I assume you were a Bruins fan. Playing for them must have been wild. But what was it like the first time you played against them? Was it weird? Not only are you playing the team you grew up cheering for, but there's a ton of guys there that you KNOW. Was that an odd game for you?

It's always fun playing the B's. I know all of my family and friends are watching so that's nice. Almost all of the guys that I played with have moved on as well.

6. Your path to the NHL wasn't entirely normal (though by no means abnormal, either). Is there one person you can point to in your career as a person who was instrumental in really turning you into an NHL-caliber player?

I should thank all my coaches that I had growing up but my mother was always the one pushing me to be better. The NHL was where Pat Burns and Jacques Laperierre really worked hard with me.

7. Who is the toughest player you know? I don't mean fighting, I mean what teammate or player you know is THE guy who would get hit by a truck in the afternoon and be in the lineup that night?

There are so many that I have played with. Rob Dimaio was nails. I play with Travis Moen now - he almost cut half of his face off with a skate and made it for the next game. That's nails!

7. Since we're a gear store, we have to ask a few gear questions. There are lots of NHL players who are VERY particular about their gear. How do you approach it? Are you more the type who just sticks with one set of pads until they're absolutely dead? Or do you always like trying different stuff or the hot new stuff?

I use the same stuff until it gets beat up. I use three pairs of gloves per game so I like to have new ones all the time.

8. How do you think gear has evolved since you played as a child?

It's crazy how light things are now. That's the biggest difference

9. What stick, glove and skates do you currently use?
I use Bauer for everything

10. I have to ask you about this past Boston-Montreal series. Was it as nerve-wracking for you as a player as it was for the fans of both cities? Or do you feel that players kind of get numb to the pressure of the playoffs after they've been in them for enough years? It's probably different for every player based on their personality, but I'm curious about your observations and feelings as that series went on.

I love the playoffs because every play could be the difference. Every game feels like playing 3 regular season games. There is more pain and you get exhausted but win or lose there is another game. Win or go home. That's fun hockey.


Big thanks to Hall Gill for participating.......good times.

Today we interview Scott Young, an NHL’er who spent nearly 20 years in the league, winning two Stanley Cups and playing in the Olympics on two occasions, in 1988 and 1992. Young was a first round pick of the Whalers (11th overall) and made his debut with the Hartford Whalers during the 87-88 season (Brass Bonanza playing in my head now!). He played the following two-and-a-half seasons with the Whalers before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Young helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 1991.

In 1991, Young was traded by the Penguins to the Quebec Nordiques. He played 3 seasons with the Nordiques and remained on the team when they moved to Colorado and became the Colorado Avalanche. He played 2 seasons with the Avalanche and won his second Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 1996. In the following years, Young played with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the St. Louis Blues and the Dallas Stars. The best season of his NHL career was during the 2000–2001 season with the Blues, scoring 40 goals and adding 33 assists for 73 points. Young retired from hockey after the 2005-2006 season, finishing his career with 1181 career NHL games, 342 goals and 414 assists for 756 points.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

I’ve always wondered about that first year after retirement for NHL’ers. It must be a hell of an adjustment. Of course, it’s different for everyone, but what about you – was it hard to watch hockey? What kind of mental adjustments did you have to make?

I helped coach my 2 boys youth hockey teams after retiring, which kept me at the rinks and really busy. This made the transition easier. I didn’t have time to watch a lot of hockey on TV, but the thing that brought back all those memories of playing was watching the game live. Until this day, being at the game and knowing what the players are going through makes me miss playing hockey. Mentally I think about the committment a player has to make every day to prepare his body and mind to play the game, and realize I was very fortunate to play for such a long time.

Is it possible to put into words the feeling you had when you played your first NHL game? Do you remember any one moment specifically?

My first game was in the old Chicago Stadium. I remember having to climb the stairs from the locker room in our skates to get to the ice. I remember Ron Francis and the rest of my teammates wishing me luck before the game, and warning me about how loud the National Anthem was in Chicago. The best memory was standing on the bench as the crowd cheered through the Anthem, which Chicago is known for, and the adrenaline rush that it gave me.

What was your most memorable goal as an NHL’er?

My first goal with the Whalers against Patrick Roy and the Canadiens in the playoffs. Also scoring in double OT against Roy and the Avalanche when I played with the Blues in game 3 of the conference finals.

Pure Hockey Note: here’s the video of that goal, fast forward to the 3:55 mark.



Since we’re an equipment retailer, I have to ask a couple of nerdy equipment questions. Here’s my first one: your first full year in the league was 88-89. How did equipment – for you – evolve from then through to 2005-2006, your last year?

The biggest change thru my career with equipment had to be sticks. I used a wood stick, then aluminum shaft with a wood blade, then aluminum shaft with a graphite blade, and finally the one-piece composite. I played as it evolved to what it is today. I love the weight and consistency of sticks these days.

Interesting. Did you stick with one brand for skates through your career? Sticks?

Although skates became much lighter over the years I stayed with my old Bauers with the ICM blades. Never changed. I used the old white Canadien sticks early on. After that I went with Easton – until Warrior made me a stick during my last season.

What was the last thing you laughed really hard at?

Hockey related – when I played I’d have to say on the plane and bus rides. Guys like Marc Bergevin and Doug Weight would have the back of the plane/bus laughing all the time.

What are you up to now? Are you still involved with hockey at all these days (playing, coaching, parents to young player, etc)?

I am involved in coaching with my two boys and also run a few hockey camps with Jeff Serowik and ProAmbitions. I’ve also been looking into the construction of a new rink in my area for a number of years. I skate at BU once a week and also with the Bruins Alumni team during the winter.

Our entrance into the world of blogging starts off with a bit of a bang! We managed to snag an interview with Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Mike Commodore. Mike is a nine-year NHL veteran who played his first game with the New Jersey Devils during the 2000-2001 season. Mike has also had stops with the Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators and most notably, with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2006. Many may remember him during that 2006 run for his outstanding playoff beard and the afro that took him one year to mold into the absolute masterpiece that it was.  Mike has made Columbus his home for the last two seasons, settling into his role as a sturdy defensive veteran. We’re totally psyched that Mike agreed to a Pure Hockey interrogation. Here we go:

You must still get all kinds of questions about the hair and beard from the ’06 run. Was that thing a nightmare to maintain or did you just feel incredibly liberated and let it run free every day?

I still do get a lot of questions about the hair and beard!  I didn’t mind growing the beard during the playoffs at all, I kind of liked it.  The hair was a year long adventure, and I didn’t do anything to maintain it other then wash it. I would say it only became a bit of a nightmare once the temperature got to 90 degrees and hotter in Carolina….then it was a constant battle to stay cool.

Obviously NHL players are compensated well. I always wondered – does the league and/or teams give the really young guys any guidance or access to money experts to help them along so they don’t spend it all on Red Bull and Enron stock? Was it really odd for you when you started in the NHL to go from nothing to……more than nothing?

The NHL doesn’t give any guidance, but the NHLPA is always available to help out in any way they can.  I would say most of the guidance on financial matters usually ends up being the responsibility of the player and his agent.  Lots of agencies these days offer “full service,” meaning that they offer access to money experts.  In my case, I found my financial advisor on my own.

Going from not much money to having money is an adjustment, especially when you’re young.  In my case I went from having next to nothing in college to having some.  I’ll admit it was a nice change.  But you need to learn fast how to handle your money.  With more money comes more bills and more responsibility – some guys learn quicker then others.

Aside from the real marquee, huge NHL superstars, which lesser known player or players do you have the hardest time defending against?

The first name that comes to mind for me is Dustin Brown from LA.  There are others though for sure.  The NHL is the best hockey league in the world, so no one is easy to handle.

I always wonder about all “other stuff” associated with being a professional athlete – for example, are there times, now that you’re a few years into your career, when the travel or rigor of life off the ice gets overwhelming? Or is that trumped by hanging out with teammates, etc?

Life as a professional athlete can be overwhelming at times.  Obviously it’s a great profession and it’s worth the hardship – and I’m going to do it as long as I can.  Travel can get a little tough.  Especially in the Western Conference.  There is a huge difference between playing in the East and the West travel-wise.  It’s a lot more demanding in the West.  Playing in Columbus can be tough because although we are in the Eastern Time Zone, we play most of your games in other time zones.  Trips can get long, especially when you’re flying from the west coast back to Columbus.  Another area of professional sports that is demanding is being traded.  I’ve been traded 4 times in 10 years….sometimes it’s hard up-rooting your life and moving to a new city.  I couldn’t even imagine doing it with a family.  It’s a big reason why I’m single.

What was the last thing that made you laugh really hard?

Tough question!  I laugh all the time.  But some recent laughs….I just went to the Kentucky Derby with a great buddy of mine that I played college hockey with…Matt Henderson…we had some good laughs….and I just watched “Chris Rock….Never Scared” on HBO and I laughed my ass off….black comedy is the best.

[Pure Hockey note: yes, we ask ALL the tough questions!]

Given we’re a hockey retailer, I have to ask – what are the skates and stick of choice for you?

I wear Bauer skates, and I use Easton sticks.

BIG thanks to Mike Commodore for taking the time to rap with us. We really appreciate it. Stay tuned for more interviews and information as we ramp up our blogging efforts.