|
LL
|
Ed,
how were you introduced
into the Ironmen fold
5 seasons ago? |
|
EK
|
I came across the Ironmen
(then Renegades) 5 years
ago in the summer by
chance. I had just started
playing hockey that
year, and baseball season
was coming to an end
and I decided that hockey
was a better game. So
I went to 8 Rinks to
try and get on a team.
I ran into Blake Vaughn
at the cashier's desk,
where he overheard me
asking about teams.
He immediately jumped
in (as he has become
famous for) and said
that his team was looking
for people. I warned
him that I had very
little experience and
felt that Division 1
(summer 1998) was too
high a level for me,
but he insisted to the
point where he told
the cashier to put my
deposit against the
Renegades team. My first
two games I had two
goals, I think that
was my longest career-scoring
streak. |
|
LL
|
Ed you are considered
to be one of the founding
members of the hockey
club. That is why I
find it difficult to
believe this. Is it
true that in the early
Renegades days you were
actually told that there
might not be a spot
for you on the team
for an upcoming season?
|
|
EK
|
I almost forgot about
that, yes it's true!
After a season of playing
with the Renegades I
was at Jerry Franko's
stag with a bunch of
the guys on the team,
in the summer and Roger
Lee (the guy that use
to run the team) told
me that he had all these
guys that were coming
out in the upcoming
fall. He felt that based
on this and the other
players that were returning
there may not be room
on the team. These guys
didn't show up, I made
the team, and that year
Roger wanted to pull
the pin on the team
mid season (not the
kind of guy you want
defending you in court!). |
|
LL
|
When
you first started you
were a self-described
"novice" to
competitive ice hockey.
In which area(s) have
you improved the most
from then to now? |
|
EK
|
I
thought I still was
a novice; I'll look
for another excuse for
my play. But seriously,
I am constantly trying
to learn from my teammates,
when guys tell me what
I'm doing wrong in my
play, I try and take
notice. I don't think
that I will ever be
a goal scorer; I think
that it is one of those
things that either you
have it or you don't,
and I don't. I think
that my passing has
come a long way, but
it's still work in progress. |
|
LL
|
Which
of your teammates, past
or present, have made
the most impact in helping
you along? |
|
EK
|
I
think it's been a combination
of both Steve Meadows
and Brent Kelly. Those
guys have supported
me from day one, they
are constantly trying
to encourage me (after
they have beat me down)
I think that they are
both nature leaders
on the ice. |
|
LL
|
As a player not counted
upon to carry an offensive
load for the team, what
ways do you try to make
an impact out on the
ice? |
|
EK
|
First
of all, I try not to
be a defensive liability.
I also have developed
a skill to annoy players
on opposing teams. Finally,
I try and contribute
where I can, by working
hard every night. |
|
LL
|
You
had yourself a nice
consecutive game streak
going until being forced
to miss what would have
been your 140th in a
row last year. How hard
was it for you to see
it end and do you see
yourself being able
to put together another
impressive streak like
that again? |
|
EK
|
I had 200 in my sight,
I thought no problem,
and it was tough to
see it go. It's been
harder to get a new
streak going, I seem
to getting pulled from
all directions these
days, I would like to
get a new one going,
I guess that we will
see how it goes. |
|
LL
|
Although
I haven't followed the
team since day one,
I'm told that you were
quite antagonistic with
the officials to the
point of complete distraction
in the past. This year,
however, you seem much
more controlled and
focused even when faced
with questionable officiating.
How have you managed
to morph into the saint
that you are today? |
|
EK
|
Saint
Ed? Not likely, I would
have to say that I've
only changed two things;
the first is don't let
the refs know that you
are even on the ice,
don't talk to them.
Second, this one has
stuck in my head, Brent
told me to forget about
"the game within
the game" so I
have. I've found that
most nights I get away
with a little extra
here and there. |
|
LL
|
How
would you compare this
year's edition of the
Ironmen with other Ironmen/Renegade
teams? |
|
EK
|
I know it's been said
in other interviews,
but this is definitely
the team that seems
to have the most potential.
We've had guys that
could play, but this
group seems to be the
best group of guys we
ever had. |
|
LL
|
I see the Ironmen as
a team that can beat
any team in its division.
What does your team
need to do to ensure
playoff success? |
|
EK
|
We need to stop beating
ourselves; we are a
better team then any
other one in this division.
We need to stay out
of the box, we need
to support each other
and, most of all we
need play as a team. |
|
LL
|
Many
players that are on
the current Ironmen
roster probably do not
realize that in the
Spring of 2000 the hockey
club named you an assistant
captain. During the
2000-2001 season you
relinquished the 'A'.
What made you give up
the 'A'? |
|
EK
|
I
felt as if I had an
'A' for the wrong reasons,
yes I was there from
the beginning, but I
didn't feel as if I
was the right guy for
the job on the ice.
It was a tough decision
but I felt a load of
pressure lift off of
me when I gave it up. |
|
LL
|
Being
a founding member of
the Ironmen, do league
matters and mismanagement
(i.e. changing schedules,
missing playoff games
etc.) bother you the
way it seems to bother
Kelly and Meadows? Could
you actually see this
team jumping ship to
another rink eventually? |
|
EK
|
The
league's mismanagement
is a real problem, I
know that Brent is doing
everything to try and
keep it from being a
problem for the bulk
of the team. I am use
to dealing with people
that run their business
the way that 8 rinks
does, so I think that
it bothers Brent and
Steve more then it bothers
me. I know that there
is talk of relocating;
I'm not big on the idea.
I've played at other
rinks in other leagues
(as a spare) it's all
the same. I hope that
we can wait it out until
things improve. |
|
LL
|
Is it true you brought
your dog to the Whistler
tournament last year? |
|
EK
|
I
thought about it, but
I think he's a worse
player then I am. He
would probably get kicked
out of a game faster
then Steele for pissing
on the Ref. |
|
LL
|
I
threw that last question
in to break the tension.
You've played quite
a few games on defense
throughout your stint
with the Ironmen. What's
your favorite position?
(Don't flake out and
say it doesn't matter). |
|
EK
|
I have bounced around
positions, some nights
it's tough to switch
around. I like playing
the wing I get to skate
a bit more and I find
I get in the play a
bit more. If the team
needs a D-man and that's
where they want me I'll
do my best. Just don't
ask me to play goal. |
|
LL
|
Which
ex-Ironmen player, if
any, would you add back
into the fold if they
were to come back begging
to be on the team again
(of course, they'd beg!). |
|
EK
|
With
out any question, Steve
Van Os. A great player
to watch, just don't
expect a pass. |
|
LL
|
It's time to play word
association. You know
the drill. I'll give
you the name of a teammate
and you give me a brief
description of what
comes to mind first.
Or just tear a strip
off him. Let's start
with Brent Kelly: |
|
EK
|
Mr. Hockey's illegitimate
son. |
|
LL
|
Steve
Meadows |
|
EK
|
Plays
like Jovo, but is one
of the Sedin twins. |
|
LL
|
Craig
Granter |
|
EK
|
Brett
Hull meets Huggy Bear.
Nice Shot! |
|
LL
|
Rick Makarowski |
|
EK
|
Great
skater and a better
play maker. |
|
LL
|
Mark
Steele |
|
EK
|
Loose
the face shield, much
better player with out
it. |
|
LL
|
Craig
Ahlstrom |
|
EK
|
Much
needed defensive muscle
on the defense, nice
addition to the team! |
|
LL
|
Jim
Defer |
|
EK
|
Closest
thing the Ironmen has
to a power forward.
Not afraid to go to
the net. |
|
LL
|
Jeff
Meadows |
|
EK
|
The
other Sedin twin, good
to see him back. |
