We recently caught up with Eric Roy of the Brandon Wheat Kings! He’s eligible for this year’s draft and is projected to go in the first three rounds. Just a little fact about him that shows his dedication. He’s from a remote town named Beauval, Saskatchewan. In Beauval, there isn’t a hockey rink. So as a result, his family would have to drive him 300+ KM Round trip for practices and games. Talk about dedication! You can follow him on Twitter: @Royzy07 . You can follow me on Twitter: @HkyBlogger. You can also “like” us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/notyouraveragehockeyblog

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As per usual we are in bold.

So what’s a day in the life of Eric Roy?

I get up and usually eat about 7 meals a day, hang out with friends, watch some NHL hockey. I also workout twice a day during the off season.

So we know your name, but nothing really cool, what’s something really cool about you that I won’t find by Googling you?

I’m a prankster, friendly and I get along with everyone.

Do you feel like you have to play a leadership role on the team since there are players who are three years younger than you?

Yes, I did take on a leadership role. Obviously we had a younger team this year but it was up to me to show them what it takes to play in the WHL.

What kind of defenseman do you consider yourself?

I consider myself a two-way Defensemen.

Would you consider this season an off-year? 

We had our ups and downs but I feel we got better as the year went along.

It is your draft year, if I’m a GM and ask you to tell me why my team should draft you, what would you say?

You should draft me because I love to play the game and I’m willing to work hard and do whatever they want me to do for my development.

You were selected to play in the CHL Top Prospect game, so can you tell me a little about your experience there?

It was exciting. I felt very honoured to be there to represent my team. I also learned how to deal with the pressure. There was over 10,000 people there.

Is playing with the Top Prospects different from playing in a regular WHL game?

It was a little bit different. The prospects game was fast and intense and there are lots of good players at it. It was a lot of fun to play there.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

If I get drafted, it will be the highlight of my career, can’t wait till the day.

What has been your lowlight so far? 

My plus minus this year.

How did you persevere from it?

Just work extra hard everyday to improve it.

We’ve interviewed your teammate, Nick Walters, are there any secrets you could expose about him?

He’s a good guy not many secrets about him.

The next part is a “lightning round”, are you ready?

Favourite food?

Steak and potato salad

One thing you can’t live without?

Music

How do you kill time?

Fishing, playing softball

Best buddy on the team?

I like everyone

Every team does pranks, what’s the best prank you’ve seen?

Sticks and equipment taped together

What’s on your iPod?

Rock

Pet peeve?

Slow drivers

Final Questions:

Any advice for aspiring hockey players?

Never give up, Keep pushing yourself harder everyday. 

Who should we interview next?

Ryan Pulock

Thank you for your time. We wish you the best of luck in the upcoming draft.

Photocredits: Twitter.com

As suggested by Tyson Baillies, we caught up with Myles Bell of the Kelowna Rockets! After going undrafted twice, he’s hoping the third times the charm! He’s currently ranked 46th at the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s final rankings. After playing the past few seasons as a defenseman, he converted in to right wing, and boy was that as good move. In his first season a a right winger, he racked up 93 points, good for 6th in scoring. He was an important part in the Kelowna Rockets’ 52 win season.  He’s a good follow on Twitter: @My_Ohs29. You can follow me on Twitter: @Hkyblogger and you can “like” us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/NotYourAverageHockeyBlog Got an opinion? Let us know! I read all of the comments!

We are in bold.

So first things first, how has your day been?
It’s been good so far, gonna go enjoy the lake soon.

So what’s a day in the life of Myles Bell?
Not a whole lot, head to the gym in the morning and either head to work or the golf course in the afternoons.

So would you say that the offseason is a lot chiller than the season?
Yeah a little bit, the offseason is as chill as you make it, right now I’m trying to stay busy as much as possible.
 
So how old were you when you first started playing hockey?
My first organized game I was about 6 years old. But I have been playing on the pond for a couple years prior.

Did you play any other sports growing up?
I golfed a lot; I also gave baseball a try but had some accuracy issues so I stopped playing.

So would you say you’re the best golfer on the team?
I’m up there, wouldn’t say it’s much of an accomplishment after seeing a few guys golf.

Haha! On to your career, what type of player do you consider yourself?
More of a shooter than anything else, I have the ability to run a power play from the back end and I don’t shy away from the physical stuff.

So you sort of do everything?
As complete a player as I can be.

You started as a defenseman and now you’re a forward. Ever thought about playing goalie?
Can’t say I’ve ever wanted to get pucks shot at me 

Why did you switch positions, and was there a reason why you chose left wing?
It was just a move that my coach felt would help the team and it seemed to work. I’m actually right wing, not sure why I’m left wing on the website.

You were 6th in scoring with 93 points. Was there something that really helped with your performance this year?
I think being on a 52 win team really helps with individual stats, but I feel like I was getting shots on net regularly. Whether they went in or created a rebound.

So you’ve played multiple positions, what’s your favourite position to play?
So far I’m enjoying the wing a lot. Don’t see myself going back to defence.

This is your draft year again and you’re ranked 46th in the Central Scouting Services. Are there any nerves?
There are always nerves, but it’s out of my control at this point so I’m just excited to see it play out.

So you we’re invited to the NHL combine, what was that like?
It was a good experience, pretty fun to be around a bunch of players of that calibre for a few days.

Did you learn anything you wouldn’t have learnt elsewhere?
No not really, kind of just get to see firsthand what the week is all about. Other than that you get to meet some pretty interesting people.

So what do you think is your biggest asset as hockey player?
I’d have to say my shot for sure.

Thing you need to work on?
Always need to improve on my defensive game, little things like picking pucks up off the wall give me trouble at time.

As you are aware, we interviewed your teammates Jordon Cooke and Tyson Baillie. And we were told that Jordon is pretty soft. On a scale of 1-10 how soft is Jordon Cooke?
At least 12, he’s probably telling girls he loves them on a 2nd date. Pretty fun to bug him about, he takes the abuse well.

Haha at least he’s a good sport! I tried to get Tyson to tell me something embarrassing about you, but he said you’d beat him up. Are you bullying Tyson Baillie?
Haha more of a mutual respect.

So if I give you the opportunity to embarrass either of them…
They were nice to me in their interviews so I think I’ll cut them a break this time.

So the next portion is a rapid fire round.
Ready?
Sounds good

Favourite food?
Sushi

What’s on your iPod?
Passenger

Starbucks or Timmies?
Timmies

Favourite donut at Timmies?
Honey dip

Backyard barbecue or Fancy dinner?
Backyard barbecue

Watch the movie or read the book?
Watch the movie 

Final questions:
Who should we interview next?
Jackson Whistle

Any advice for aspiring hockey players?
Make sure you’re always having fun

Thank you for your time
Anytime.

 Photocreds: ShootTheBreeze.ca

We had a chance to have a little chat with Tyson Baillie! He currently plays for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL. Drafted in the 3rd Round of the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft, Baillie has had to work his butt off to show that he deserved playing time. And he has shown just that. In the 2012-2013 WHL season, Baillie played 67 games and was good for 56 points. According to TSN.ca’s WHL Player Rankings, Baillie was ranked as the 48th best player, good for 2nd out of all 2014 NHL Draft Eligible players in the WHL. 

He’s a funny guy, and what he tweets is pretty funny too. Follow him on Twitter: @Bailout24! You can also follow me on Twitter: @HkyBlogger. If you like our site, share it with your friends! You can also “like” us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/notyouraveragehockeyblog

So no more rambling from me, without further to do…. 

We are in bold.

So how has your day been?

My day has been good, just finished working out at the rink with Myles Bell and now we are at our favourite place to eat, Momo’s. 

So what kind of food does Momo’s serve?

Sushi

So what’s a day in the life Tyson Baillie?
I usually wake up at 8 and go pick up Myles to go workout at the rink. Some days after the workout we go golfing or go lay by the pool. At night usually watch hockey or play Xbox.

Haha so you and Myles, is there a bromance going on right now?

Haha well we lived together throughout the year and we are the same person and now that all the boys are gone. We are the only people we know in town.

So you grew up in Fort Saskatchewan, were you a Flames fan or an Oilers fan?

I am a diehard Oilers fan.

Haha do you have a favourite player?

My favourite Oiler was Hemsky but my favourite player is Danny Briere.

So do you try to model your game like one of those players?

No, I model my game kinda like (LA Kings Forward) Mike Richards. A grinding offensive forward that’s smaller.

So what kind of player do you consider yourself?

An offensive player that likes to grind and hit.

 
What’s one thing that makes you stand out in comparison to other players?

My will to win.

You’ve played in the WHL playoffs twice is there something that you learn in the playoffs you just don’t learn in the regular season? 

Well you learn that you have to take your game to a new level and that anything can happen on any night. You always have to be prepared.

Can you give us an example of how you have to be prepared for anything?

You just have to be mentally focused and prepared, Can’t get rattled.

So what has been your highlight of your career so far?

My highlight would be this past playoffs being down 3-0 in the first round to Seattle and coming back to win it in overtime in Game 7.

What has been the lowlight of your career?

At the start of this year when I was getting healthy scratched and wasn’t playing much.

How did you persevere from this low point?

I just started working on little things after practice and working on my speed because skating is my downfall.

So as you know I interviewed Jordon Cooke. Is there anything embarrassing/funny about him? 

Haha I’ve known him for ten years and one thing that sticks out in my mind is how soft he is and loves to be romantic.

Haha! Cute romantic or just ew gooey romantic?
Just gooey. Haha takes it overboard. – I thought about asking for an example, but I thought elsewise. 

So the next part is a rapid fire round. Ready?

Yep

Favourite food?

Pulled pork

Favourite pastime?

Play road hockey at the tennis courts in Fort Saskatchewan.

One thing that bugs the heck out of you?

How soft (Jordon) Cooke is.

What’s on your iPod right now?

Don’t listen to my iPod but I had two favourite CDs. The Essential 80s and Johnny Cash.

Favourite TV show?

Trailer Park Boys

Every team does pranks and the Kelowna Rockets are no different, what’s the best one you’ve seen?

Probably my first year in Kelowna, Myles Bell and Kevin Smith went around putting toilet paper on people’s cars and no one found out who we doing it until the end of the year.

So your car…? 

No didn’t have one that year but my roomies’ car got it. 

Final questions:

Who should we interview next? 

Myles Bell

Advice for aspiring hockey players?

Keep focused on your goal and always work as hard as you can.

Thank you for your time.

Anytime. Take care!

Photocreds: Twitter.com

We recently had a little  chat with Jordon Cooke of the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL. He talked about many different things, from his jersey number, to having references with Tumblr! Jordon just completed his third year of WHL hockey. In his third year, he fully took over the role of starter, playing 54 of the Rocket’s 72 games, and winning 37 of them. He’s a great guy and a great follow as well! You can follow him @CookeMonster30! You can follow me on Twitter: @HkyBlogger. If you love your Facebook, you can “like” us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/notyouraveragehockeyblog. If you’ve got something intriguing to share, or just want to chat, just comment below, and I’ll get back to you ASAP! 

So without further to do, we are in bold.

How has your day been?

My day has been good. I had a nice flush ride with my workout group this morning and enjoyed some basketball afterwards.

What’s a day in the life of Jordon Cooke?

Nothing too spectacular. I wake up around 8:30 to head to Edmonton for workout with Your Hockey Gym for a couple hours and then come home to Leduc to either lay low for the day or head to work if I am scheduled in. It’s nice to a have a job where I can keep busy instead of bumming around. It’s also nice to have some money in my pocket.

What kind of goalie do you consider yourself?

I consider myself an athletic goalie now. I use my speed and flexibility to my advantage to try and make saves that seem to be sure goals. I am very athletic and never give up on the puck. When I was growing up I was trained to be very technical and fundamental but with the game changing, we goalies had to change the way we played too.

This year you’ve been playing more games and been given more responsibility, how has that affected you?

I quite enjoy it. I spent my first two years in the Western Hockey League backing up Adam Brown and could not wait to take over. I would examine how Adam prepared for games night in and night out and the ways he would handle certain situations. Taking what I saw from him, I applied it to my game and I believe it really helped me to handle more playing time and more responsibility in the future.

Of all the numbers, is there a specific reason why you wear 30? Or was that just a number given to you?

When I came into the organization and made the roster, 30 was the number given to me. I liked the number however because growing up I used the number 30 several times on many different teams.  To me though it’s just a number; I am more excited and proud to wear the logo on the front.

What’s it like playing with a backup goalie ready to take over as a starting goalie?

It has become a healthy competition. Jackson works extremely hard and pushes me to be my best every day. He makes me battle for the ice time I receive. 

While I was googling you to do some research, I noticed that Tumblr was pretty high up there. Do you have a Tumblr, or do you just have a lot of Tumblr fans?

I may have created a Tumblr in the past. With all these social media sites that became popular over the years, I may have tried Tumblr once or twice in junior high school. Just playing with the Kelowna Rockets, we seem to have a lot of fans all over the country and I think this is what triggers a lot of media posts whether it is the team and I or whatever it may be.

What has been the high point of you career so far?

The highest point of my career would have to be the first round comeback of the 2012/2013 playoffs.  Being down 3-0 in the series to Seattle, we managed to come back and win it in overtime in game 7. It was in our own rink and the atmosphere was so amazing. It was so incredible to be a part of the comeback and a part of history.

Lowest point?

The lowest point in my career must have been my first year of bantam when I was cut from the AAA team. It was the first time I was ever released and really didn’t know how to take it. I was so disappointed in myself for not making it after all the heart I put into making it. However it made me want that position so much more the following year and pushed me to become better.

How did you persevere from that low point?

It pushed me to do my very best in AA and to show they should have kept me. I knew that everything I did that year was going to lead into the next one and that’s where I would get another chance and do whatever it takes.

The next part is a rapid fire round, don’t think, just answer.

There are usually two types of goalies, the weird kind, and the quiet, mellow type. What are you?

Definitely quiet

Favourite TV show?

Rules of Engagement

Facebook or Twitter?

Twitter

Favourite NHL team?

Edmonton Oilers, hometown team.

Friday night with family, or Friday night with friends?

Friday night with family

Favourite movie?

Semi Pro

Best buddy on the team?

Tyson Baillie

Roomie on the road?

Tyson Baillie or Jackson Whistle

Final questions:

Who should we interview next?

I say Myles Bell; it is always a fun and exciting talking with him.

Any advice for aspiring hockey players?

You control your destiny and to never give up “It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, it’s about the size of fight in the dog.”

Thank you for your time.

Thank you very much for this; it was a pleasure to do this interview!

photocreds: Twitter.com