Favourite NHL team?

Growing up, the Montreal Canadiens you know, because being from Montreal… if you don’t like the Canadiens it’s almost a sin. But now I just watch hockey. I just like watching a good game so I don’t really have a team.

Favourite player?

I really like defencemen like Drew Doughty in LA, (Erik) Karlsson in Ottawa is unbelievable too. They skate so well and make so many good plays. They’re just so talented. As a D-man it’s pretty fun to watch them play.

What got you into hockey?

I think I started to skate when I was three or four. Everyone back home plays hockey. My dad played, my uncles. Everything was around hockey. Video games was hockey. It was always hockey.

What do you do when you’re not playing hockey?

Well here, go to the beach and surf. That’s the best. Other than that read book, play video games.

How do you think you would fair in a zombie apocalypse?

I’ve never thought about this. Try to.. guns and everything to defend myself with. I don’t know. I would probably die. Depends how many zombies we were talking about. I’ve seen the Walking Dead and they’re scary.

What bucket list items do you want to tick off during your stay in Australia?

This week I’m going to the Gold Coast. I’m pretty excited about that. I think for most of us we want to see as much as we can. Go to different places, surf, beach, explore. It’s a beautiful country.

Do you have a pre-game ritual?

I guess I have a routine. For me, I’ll usually try and eat the same thing just because I’m used to it and at the rink just play a little two-touch, just stretch a little bit, get ready for the game. I feel like it’s more of a routine, stuff I don’t think to do because I just do it now.

Any superstitions?

No, not really. I used to be pretty bac. But I just realised it wasn’t benefitting me. The only thing is, during the national anthem, I talk to my grandpas and tell them to protect me. But other than that, nothing really.

What would you say to someone who had never seen a game to get them interested in hockey?

I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it. I think most people, when they see a hockey game for the first time, they’re not impressed, but they think it’s really cool to see us skate, that it’s fast.

We’ve been skating for so many years that now it’s just pretty much like walking. For some people who try and skate, it’s hard for them, the see us they appreciate it. It’s fun. The atmosphere. There’s hits. There’s some fights.

What has been your impression on the rinks you’ve visited in Australia so far?

I thought the rink in Sydney, in the mall there, was pretty nice. And the ice was pretty big. Other than that, Canberra. It’s small but I like playing in there. It has good atmosphere and it’s a good game. It’s really emotional. I think we have the best one. The best ice, too.

Favourite hockey movie?

Mine’s Youngblood. For sure.

What has surprised you the most about Australia?

I didn’t expect beaches to be that nice. And to have so many of them. And the water is so warm. It’s paradise.

Did you know much about Newcastle before you came here?

No. Not at all. I had a friend that played last year or the year before in Adelaide. I just started to talk to him about the league, if it was fun, a good experience.

My agent got in touch with some of the teams including Newcastle. Frij (coach Andrew Petrie) is one of the big reasons why I’m here. Just from talking with him and the way he presented the team, the city.

Talking to Garry (Dore, Northstars general manager) I just felt comfortable right away. Sometimes you talk to people and you can feel it’s not genuine. I looked Newcastle up and was just like “absolutely”.