Q. How are you enjoying Dundee?
A. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time since arriving in Dundee, I find the people incredibly kind and welcoming to Americans like myself.
Q. How does it compare to other places you lived?
A. Dundee reminds me a lot of a city near where I grew up called Portland, in Maine, which makes it almost feel like home. The biggest difference is that I’m still adjusting to the slightly different accents.
Q. What’s the best part about living in Dundee?
A. Rain or shine I’ve always liked to get outside and walk about, Dundee is small enough
where I can go pretty much anywhere on foot.
Q. Do you have a second career for when you are not playing hockey?
A. Lifting weights and eating steaks.
Q. Is there anything you miss about your hometown?
A. Obviously being so far away from family and friends for the better part of a year can be tough but Dundee offers all the same amenities of back home.
Q. What made you want to play hockey?
A. My grandfather, Gene Hart, always had a great passion for hockey and used to build a rink for my dad and uncles to play on. Pretty soon my entire extended family was absorbed in the game and I never considered anything else.
Q. What is your pre-game meal and rituals?
A. I’m not the most superstitious player in the world but I like to make sure I eat a chicken/veg/rice meal 6-7 hrs before a game. Then a protein smoothie with fruits closer to game time.
Q. What’s the weirdest pre-game ritual you’ve seen?
A. I played with guy who used to clean weights between warm ups and the start of first.
Q. What do you do to drive yourself to get better every day/season?
A. Nutrition and rest are the two biggest factors that affect my performance on the ice.
Q. Who is the best player you have played with?
A. Jimmy Vesey – They played three years together at Harvard University and Vesey is now in his second season with New York Rangers after being drafted by Nashville Predators in 2012.
Q. Who were your hockey role models whilst growing up?
A. #88 Eric Lindros
Q. How does the Elite League compare with other leagues?
A. Biggest difference is the change in rink size coming from North America. I thought I was skating on the Atlantic first couple games.
Q. How do you deal with the long travel journey’s?
A. I’m starting to become a bigger podcast guy. My favourites being “Pardon My Take” and “Star Talk.”
Q. What was it like growing up with Kevin and Teddy, how competitive was it between you when it came to hockey? Is there a reason you and Teddy are forwards and Kevin plays defence?
A. We played each other non-stop whether it was pond hockey, Street hockey, or mini hockey but there was never any competition for who would be best or anything like that. Kevin is a simple guy who likes to make that 10 ft pass. I think Ted and I just liked to score goals growing up.
Q. You and your brothers have all played for some top colleges in the US, you went to Harvard, Kevin Providence and Teddy is at Yale, what does this say about your family?
has your family always been a good hockey family as well as strong academics?
A. Both my parents played sports in college and always encouraged us to pursue both, the college hockey system in the US seemed the perfect road to do that.
Q. What were your feelings after being drafted by Tampa Bay? And what was it like to play in the AHL?
A. Getting drafted was a special year especially since my grandfather lives in Tampa. The AHL is filled with a tremendous amount of great players and I just tried to learn as much as I could.
Q. What NHL team did you grow up supporting?
A. Boston Bruins
Q. What is your favourite moment from your career?
A. Winning a Maine High School championship with my older brother Kevin.
Q. Where do you want to be in 10 years?
A. I want to be 235 lbs and driving the long ball with my buddies.
Q. What’s the best thing about the Dundee Stars fans?
A. Loyalty hands down.