Q: Congratulations on being named a recipient of the 2009 Lester
Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. You will be honored with Mike Richter and Detroit Red Wings Senior Vice President Jim Devellano at a special reception on Oct. 21 in NYC. What does this mean to you? What is your vision for the sport in the future?
A: I have to say it was a special surprise to me when I was told of the award. I really think the Cup in 94 had a huge impact on U.S.A. hockey. Having two American born players at the forefront of that team, gave children playing hockey in the U.S., incentive to keep working hard and it also gave them hope. It also captured the attention of many non hockey fans that were drawn into the story of the team and franchise as we closed in on the Rangers first cup in 54 years. It is an honor to be awarded the Lester Patrick Award. I believe, as players we have a responsibility to help grow and nurture our sport at the grass root level. As custodians of our game, it is imperative to monitor our sport at all levels to ensure Hockey remains a healthy, fun, and exciting game, that can teach many life lessons along the way.
Q: The Rangers have advanced to a 4-0 (its now 6-0) start so far this season with some impressive play. What are your thoughts on its performance thus far? In your experience, how can the team build on this momentum and carry it through the rest of the season?
A: There is a different feeling around the team this year. Right from the first day of training camp, you could sense a feeling of confidence that has not been there for a long time. John Torterella has done a very impressive job preparing the team to play physically, and emotionally. Getting off to a good start is always important, however, it is a long year, and we need to be diligent in our preparation on a day to day basis.
Q: With concussions already a factor in the early days of the 2009-10 NHL season, how will you continue to work with the League and its teams to educate players on the importance of better head protection and the mission of The Messier Project? To date, Edmonton, Toronto, Nashville, Philadelphia, have all been affected by concussion. In addition to better head protection, what sort of action can the teams and its players take?
A: I think one of the things we need to look at very seriously is the standards required for the certification of hockey helmets. It is obvious that the helmet from the past is not standing up to the rigors of the game today. In terms of what we can do now, it is also important to educate the players and parents to ensure protection becomes a priority when making decisions regarding helmet choices. In addition to a good fit, players and parents need to understand the impact performance of a helmet to help reduce the risk of concussion. We have talked alot about Seven Technology, the impact attenuation liner system of the M11 — but in my mind this is something players and parents need to know. In the CSA and HECC certification designed test, Seven Technology performs 26% better on first impact, 107% better on 2nd impact and 140% better on third impact than traditional EPP foam. Although 26% is significant when you are talking about protecting your brain, the real performance comes into play upon subsequent impacts. The reason behind this performance is the ability of Seven Technology material to return to its original shape almost immediately. Within 10 seconds of an impact, Seven Technology completely (100%) resets and is ready for the next impact. Hockey is a physical game- it is part of what makes our game so great- it is a multiple impact sport. But, having said that, we need to make sure our players are protected and ready. Better protecting our players will help to reduce the risk of concussion and this is crucial to the long term health of the game.
Q: ESPN recently premièred a new sports documentary series called “30 for 30.” The first episode, entitled “Kings Ransom,” focused on Wayne Gretzky’s trade from Edmonton to Los Angeles. Can you recall and share any of your own, personal memories from this time?
A: I was like everybody else. We could not believe that Wayne was going to be traded. When the news came out, we were all devastated. We were like brothers, and to see Wayne get traded was very tough.
Q: After playing so many years in Edmonton, you’ve talked about the transition to New York and how much you loved playing on Broadway. New York became your home very quickly. What advice can you give current players in the midst of a transition? For example, Marion Gaborik seems to be thriving as a New York Ranger; Phil Kessel is adjusting from a surprise move from Boston to Toronto.
A: When I came to New York, I was 30 years old and ready for a life change as well as a challenge professionally. I think for any player coming into this market, preparing yourself to play, both physically and emotionally is very important. There are many distractions that can take your concentration away from the most important task at hand. Preparation and discipline are critical.
