|
LL
|
Henry,
you've been with the
team for 7 seasons,
which is more than any
other player except
for Brent Kelly. What
keeps you coming back
each year? |
|
HF
|
I
come back to the team
because of the great
team environment. It’s
well organized, well
run and each person’s
role is clearly communicated
to the rest of the guys.
Having a good all round
game is stressed so
the encouraging of the
guys to provide advice
definitely helps to
improve one’s game.
That’s what I like
because at the end of
the day we’re there
to have fun. |
|
LL
|
Do
you think the team has
improved since those
early days? |
|
HF
|
Some
of those teams in the
past were not so much
teams but a collection
of individuals. The
current feel and leadership
is 180 degrees from
where it was back then.
The improvement has
been in two forms. First
is attitude. From the
top down we are now
a team that wants to
win first and play hard.
The second is the understanding
that you can always
improve your game and
so the ability to provide
helpful comments is
just fantastic. |
|
LL
|
I've
been told that during
your years with the
club, you've missed
long stretches of games
due to work commitments.
How do you stay in shape
when you're not able
to play? |
|
HF
|
When
I’m on the road
I try to find a gym
to at least ride a stationery
bicycle. If that’s
not available, at the
very least I’ll
try do some stretching
and I’ll go to
the gym as soon as I
get back. |
|
LL
|
How
have you been able to
maintain your offensive
prowess on the...oops,
sorry. That's one of
Granter's questions.
How have you adjusted
to playing defense full
time? |
|
HF
|
You’re
right, the coach has
had me play defense
a lot more this year.
I think that overall
its good for my game
because I can handle
the puck a little more
and get my confidence
up when moving around
my zone. My game plan
is quite simple. It’s
“Keep it simple”
so I’ll work first
to get the puck out
of the zone and then
think about the fancy
pass. If it seems to
be a fairly simple way
out then I’ll look
for the safe pass or
dump it in as opposed
to going for the highlight
reel. |
|
LL
|
Who
or what has helped you
most into your transformation
to playing defense.
|
|
HF
|
Since
the coach insisted we
all know the breakout
plans, that’s been
great because I know
where to find people.
|
|
LL
|
In
the past you've been
known as a gritty forward
who liked to get his
nose dirty in front
of the opponent's net.
This year you've had
to deal with the traffic
in front of your own
net. How do the two
situations compare? |
|
HF
|
I’ve
always liked the rough
stuff in front of
the net and a good
battle is always welcome.
I guess the biggest
adjustment has been
that I can’t
go out and just knock
everyone down, have
to be far more tactical
so that I don’t
over-commit to the
guy I’m covering
at the expense of
giving up a potential
shot on goal.
|
|
LL
|
You
haven't scored a ton
of goals over the years
but you must have one
or two memorable goals
to speak of. Which goal
ranks as your most memorable? |
|
HF
|
The
one that ranks as my
most memorable was when
I was in on a forecheck
a couple of years ago.
The defenseman went
for the pretty pass
across the front of
the net, I was able
to kick it up off of
my skate to my stick
and then backhanded
the puck over the goalie’s
left should for a shorthanded
goal that tied the game
for us. |
|
LL
|
Henry,
last year was a tough
one for the team as
far as finding success
is concerned. What's
your opinion of the
past season? Do you
like the direction the
team has been going
in the last couple of
years? |
|
HF
|
I
like the direction that
the team is taking and
no one ever said success
was easy. There is no
such thing as an ‘overnight
success’ as we’ve
all had to work hard
to turn this thing around.
I’ve liked the
leadership and the dedication
of the guys running
the team. |
|
LL
|
The
Ironmen have been involved
in a few overtime games
this past season. This
past year 8 Rinks has
chosen yet another method
of settling tie games.
Do you think the 3 on
3 is the best solution
they could come up with
to settle a tie? |
|
HF
|
Oh
boy do I hate that 3
on 3 overtime. If their
goal is to speed up
the overtime period
what’s wrong with
4 on 4? Particularly
since we pay to play
at this rink. Also,
what was so wrong with
having a tie at the
end of regulation play
in the first place. |
|
LL
|
Speaking
of league issues, as
a long-standing member
of the Ironmen, do you
have an opinion on the
state of the league
in general or on the
rules and officiating?
(Yes, I am fishing for
controversy here!) |
|
HF
|
First
off I think that refereeing
in any league is a tough
thing to do. That being
said, the biggest problem
in the league officiating
office is a lack of
consistency of calls…………
I think that if the
calls were consistent
for the same types of
infractions then that
would cut down on a
lot of the griping. |
|
LL
|
There
has been a lot of player
turnover on the Ironmen
throughout their history.
Would you say that you
now have the players
the team needs to be
successful or should
the revolving door keep
on swinging? |
|
HF
|
I
think that we have a
great core of players
to create a great team
and that we should be
in position for a solid
year this year. Definitely
should avoid the revolving
door as it’s better
to have good team chemistry
and eventually get to
know everyone’s
playing styles. |
|
LL
|
Is
it true that the letters
in "Toronto Maple
Leafs" can be rearranged
to spell "Satan's
Linemates"? Ha
Ha.... just kidding
there, Henry old chap.
But what about the Leafs
last year in the playoffs?
What happened? Can they
win the cup before half
the team is sent to
rest homes? |
|
HF
|
Hey,
ya gotta believe so
I’m calling for
the Leafs to make it
to the final 4 this
year. With the new GM
the son of a great scrapper
I figure that the whole
personality of the team
will change slightly
to give them that nasty
edge that they need
to go all the way. |
|
LL
|
O.K.
Let's go to the lightening
round. I'll fire out
the name of an Ironmen
player and you give
me a quick two bits
worth on him. Let's
start with Captain Brent
Kelly. |
|
HF
|
Tactitian,
leader and crafty in
the corners. |
|
LL
|
Steve
Meadows |
|
HF
|
Great
playmaker, comes through
when the going gets
tough. |
|
LL
|
Craig
Ahlstrom |
|
HF
|
Solid,
steady and a brings
a whole pile of attitude
when required. |
|
LL
|
Craig
Granter |
|
HF
|
Pure
goal scorer |
|
LL
|
Rick
Makarowski |
|
HF
|
Great
in both ends of the
rink, hard worker who
sets the pace for the
rest of the team and
is a crafty goal scorer |
|
LL
|
Jim
Defer |
|
HF
|
Has
a presence on the ice
and is great in front
of the net. Solid team
guy who can also put
the puck in the net.
Known for delivering
clutch goals. |
|
LL
|
Edward
Kouwenhoven |
|
HF
|
Solid
gritty veteran who has
found his scoring touch.
Plays a solid 2 way
game and can play either
forward or defense.
|
| LL |
David
Toyoda |
| HF |
His
cat like reflexes keeps
us in the game night
after night after night. |
| LL |
Henry
thanks for being a good
sport and answering
these questions. It
took you long enough! |
