Congrats to Jodi Stringer-Webb!!

I was lucky enough a few weeks ago to be able to interview Nathan Beaulieu of the 2011 Mastercard Memorial Cup Champions, the Saint John Sea Dogs. I was embarrassingly nervous to meet him. It was probably the combination of having to go through a media representative to set up the interview, having a “time limit” and the fact that it was my second ever recorded interview.

I met up with Nathan a few weeks ago after a practice at Harbour Station. He is such a kind and polite guy. I was happy to have met him.

The first half of the interview was more like a conversation, so I’m posting it verbatim. If a word is in italics in the middle of a sentence, it indicates that I was likely laughing at one of my own jokes or Nathan was cracking a smile… talking about his upcoming NHL hockey career!

Enjoy!

{ Nathan Beaulieu, Photo by Me }

Barb: What’s a typical day like for you?

Nathan: I usually wake up around 9 or 10…
Barb: You’re kidding me, I’m jealous.
Nathan: Eat breakfast, maybe play some video games. And then head to the rink usually around 12:30. Practice at 1:30. Usually do a work out after practice. And then we have the rest of the day. We usually go to the movies, or go to the mall. Just hang out. And then do it all over again. Tough life.
B: Tough life is right! (laughs).
N: Yeah it’s tough.

B: What’s your dream day?

N: I think that’s my dream day.
B: Livin’ the dream?
N: Yeah, I’m living the dream. You could say that for sure.
B: Maybe in Montreal though?
N: Yeah, maybe. Maybe one more step up.

{ 1st Round, 17th Overall. Montreal Canadiens Draft Pick }

B: You were 17th overall, Montreal Canadiens draft pick. I’ve heard the draft can be a stressful place. Tell me about that day.

N: It was a very stressful day. I didn’t get much sleep the night before. So I remember I just spent the day with my parents. I had a lot of interviews and press conferences and stuff like that. It kept me busy which was a good thing, so it got my mind off it a bit. I headed over with Jonathan Huberdeau, actually we had to do an interview together, so we did that. And then it started happening, picks were going and my name got called.
B: Could you have picked a better team that the Montreal Canadiens?
N: Nah, It just kind of happened I guess. Kind of surreal. My dad’s a French Canadian and they were his favourite team growing up. So that was kind of a cherry on top. It was crazy. It still hasn’t really sunk in.

B: So you went to the Montreal Canadiens training camp.

N: Yeah I went there in August and September. I played three games with the team and then they sent me back to juniors.
B: So what was it like in the dressing room with famous hockey players? Has it sunk in?
N: No it hasn’t. You always dream or think about that one day it’ll be cool to sit in a hockey room full of NHL superstars but when you do it… you just don’t believe it. (smiles) You can’t describe it.
B: So you played three games?
N: I played my first game at the Bell Centre against Buffalo. I played my second game at the Bell Centre against Dallas. And we flew to Halifax and played a game against Boston.
B: In the training camps do they tend to sit the all stars and try to play the new guys?
N: No. Actually. All the big guys played when I was playing, so, it’s kinda just seeing who fits where, kinda rotating. I was young, I wasn’t expected to make the team. It’s kind of an experience thing for me.
B: Who did you share the ice with?
N: My D partner was Josh Gorges for almost the whole time. He’s played 8 years now in the NHL. So, yeah it was pretty cool. It was something special. I’ll never forget that.

B: I hear that you guys are in NHL12.

B: You, and Jonathan (Huberdeau) and Zack (Phillips). All first round draft picks.
N: I think we were in the last one, too. Actually for prospects. So it’s our second video game. (laughs)
B: Do you play yourself or do you play someone else?
N: No, I don’t usually play myself. It’s cool having it in there. My buddies will text me every now and again if they score with me or something. Just to let me know, just to remind me. But no, I stick with the NHL teams mostly.

{ 2011 Mastercard Memorial Cup Champiosn, the Saint John Sea Dogs }

{ Photo from theHockeyNews.com }

B: Let’s talk about winning the Memorial Cup.

N: My dad won it too, actually, with the London Knights in 2005. So he has a Memorial Cup ring. We’re both on the cup, which is kind of cool. That was a thing in the back of my mind for sure. We’re only the second family to ever do that… father son… in 90-some years. That was pretty cool. Actually, the other people that did it is my dad’s best friend. He was a coach at the same time and he coached his son when they won it. We both have rings. It’s the Junior Hockey Stanley Cup. It’s something I’ll never forget.
B: Who was the first person you called?
N: It was in Mississauga. So it was only an hour and a half away from my house so all of my Family was there. So I didn’t need to call anyone. They were there. They were right up in the stands, which was nice cause they don’t get to see me play much. So the only thing that really mattered they got to see., so that was special for them.

{ Photo from the “Nathan Bealuieu” Facebook fan page }

B: What kind of trash talk happens on the ice?

N: It’s tough for me because there are so many French people in this league. So when people want to trash talk me, half the time I don’t even know what they’re saying. Trash talking is just the first thing that comes to your mind. It usually doesn’t make sense or it’s just something stupid. A good part of the league is French, so when you go to Montreal or Quebec and people are yelling at you, you have no idea what they’re saying so you just kind of laugh it off.
B: Would trash talk ever take you off your concentration?
N: No, I love it. I feed off it. We were in Moncton a couple days ago and the whole crowd was booing me. I like those things. I feed off it. If people aren’t talking to you then you’re not doing something right. They obviously want your attention for some reason.

B: Game winner in overtime on Saturday (December 3rd)

B: For a defenseman, that’s kind of a big deal.
N: Yeah, I know, that was cool. I actually stayed on the ice for almost 2 minutes and the coach was yelling for me to come off. So it was either score or get in trouble. I didn’t have much of an option. It was a nice pass by Danick Gauthier, and I saw a lane, so I shot it. And it went in, fortunately.
B: How long would you normally stay on the ice?
N: You’re supposed to be around 45 seconds. Defenseman usually stay a little bit longer. You should be tired. If you’re not tired you’re not working hard. At least that’s what a coach would say.

B: What is the most frustrating penalty to get?

N: Probably high sticking. Cause high sticking is like, you’re digging for the puck and you’ll accidently hit his chin and he’ll fly back and it’s like… “Are you kidding me?”. Or the little ones. Like tripping. Where you know, he steps on your stick and he falls. Those calls are the worst.

{ Photo by Marc Henwood, Isurus Photography }

B: How do you lose a fight? Do you just go down first?

N: No. The spectator would think that whoever tackles the other guy wins, but it’s more or less punches landed. I’ve fought a lot this year. My knuckles are pretty bad and my Memorial Cup ring doesn’t fit on my hand anymore.

B: What was your most embarrassing moment as a hockey player?

N: When I was a kid, I drove to the rink without my gear. I didn’t put my gear in the trunk. My mom had to drive all the way home. Fortunately, nothing too bad.

B: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?

N: I’m not a superstitious guy, at all. But, I pick up Danick before every game and we go to Tim Hortons. He always gets a large double double and I always get a medium double double. And that’s about it.

STOCKING STUFFER GIVEAWAY NUMBER 28 –
2 Tickets to a Saint John Sea Dogs Hockey Game

Here’s how to enter:

+ Leave a comment below telling me about your favourite hockey player! (It doesn’t have to be current!) (1 Entry)

Hand down, my favourite hockey player is Ian Gordon. He was a goalie for the Saint John Flames during my prime crushing years. When I was 12 years old, he was 21. Totally my future husband.

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Have your entries in by Wednesday, December 28th 2011 at NOON!

*The fine print, the winner will receive two complimentary tickets to the game of their choice. Sorry, no playoff tickets.