May
Did your experience in Germany developed you as a player?
It was my second year Bantam over there. It was a pretty good experience, its a very different style of play. I learned a different aspect of hockey. More of an offensive minded team. I really developed my skills a lot that year, like my stick handling, power skating and things like that. It was a good experience for me.
How does your size effect your game?
It obviously helps with my reach and for battles in the corners. I can use my weight, its easier move people off the puck or to protect the puck. You’re a bigger frame so people have to work more to get around me and in the corners.
How is it playing on a team with so many draft eligible players?
Pretty exciting for sure. I think we have 10 or 11 guys that could potentially get drafted. We don’t want to talk about it took much for sure, its all on the back of our minds. Its all just a source of motivation. It can help the team for the better
How do you guys push each other on and off the ice?
Yeah, whether its in the gym or in practice on the ice in 1 on 1 battles, we always want to beat each other and be better than the one next to us. Its a good healthy competition for us inside the team to help us all improve.
You say Max Pacioretty is your favourite player, what to you admire in him?
He plays for my home town, being from Montreal, so always been a Habs fan. I think I used to play a lot more like him than I do now. I was more of a goal scorer in my Bantam Midget days, and I felt we had a similar style. Also the Chara incident, he got injured and everyone thought his career might be over and he came back and fought back strong. That was also quite impressive. One of the reasons why he’s my favourite player.
What would you say is the biggest difference between this season and last season?
This summer was a big summer for me, I worked out a lot and just really tried to get stronger. Worked on my skills and this year I feel my control of the game is better. I feel more comfortable with the puck. I feel I can make more plays offensively than I did last year. Obviously I have more ice time this year than last year, so I feel like I’m playing a bigger role and I’m more important to the team. It helps for confidence and now that my confidence is up I just feel I’m playing better and better, all the time.
What did you focus on for your improvement?
You were captain of your Minor Midget team, do you try and put yourself in a leadership role on your team this year?
Yeah, in my Midget year before I got drafted I was captain and then this year at Christmas time our captain got traded and I ended up getting assistant captain, so obviously its something I can bring to the table. I don’t try to do anything special, its just something that has to come naturally. If you try too hard to be a good leader then it just not really going to work. The other guys are going to look and see its not Sam and not the way he usually is and that’s a bit weird. Its just something that’s got to be natural. I think everyone can be a leader in their own way and that’s what I try to be.
What has been your proudest moment in your hockey career?
So far I would have to say playing in the Q is my proudest moment. The first game was pretty special. I would watch the highlights growing up, of Q games. It was a big step in my career so it was pretty exciting making it here.
Who are the toughest players to play against in the Q?
Probably the best players I’ve played against in the past 2 years are both from Halifax. Drouin and Ehlers. Both very high picks in the NHL in the NHL draft and they can just change the game around on their own and they completely dominate the game. You always know when they’re on the ice, they always do something special every shift. I think that’s why they’re such high players and prospects for the NHL
What would you say is the strongest part of your game?
Probably my hockey sense. I play a smart game, smarter than the opponent. Its great to work hard and everything, but if you’re not working in a smart way, its not that effective. I keep my game simple and make the most effective play every time.
What’s been the biggest obstacle in your hockey career and how did you overcome it?
I think I’ve always flown under the radar. I’ve never really been recognized as a top top player, even in the Q I went in the 3rd round. I’ve always had to work hard. When I was a first year Peewee, first year Bantam every time I just barely made the top team and every year I was on the 3rd or 4th line and had to fight my way up and every year I would end up playing on the top 2 lines. I’ve sort of been the guy that isn’t that impressive at first but as time goes on I can prove myself to people.