Tell us a bit about your playing career, Charlie

I started playing in Perth when I was younger and then I finished up high school years 11 and 12 in Ontario at the Ontario Hockey Academy and then from their I played juniors. Three years of Junior A and between their seasons I would come back to Australia to play. I bounced around America; New Hampshire, St Louis and Bozeman. I played for Perth Thunder against New Zealand and practiced with them a lot when I was growing up. Then a full season with Adelaide and then full seasons with the Ice Dogs.

Favourite NHL team?

I wouldn’t really say I have a favourite team, I more follow the goalies on each team. So right now Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators. I don’t really like Pittsburgh because I’m not a Murray fan but I’m a Pekka Rinne fan so …Go Preds!

Any players that you admire and try to model yourself after?

Carey Price, literally everyone says that. Oh and Frij!

What got you into hockey?

I have three older brothers and when we were younger we watched Mighty Ducks. Pretty typical Australian ice hockey start, then we bought skates and wooden sticks playing on the basketball courts at Primary school.

Why a goalie?

Under 11’s I didn’t make the national or state team for inline hockey and then South Australia needed a goalie and I thought ‘I could do that’ and turned out I was pretty good at it. Here we are 11 years later.

Biggest practical joker on the team?

I would say Zaner.

Favourite city to visit and play?

I enjoy going back to Perth to play. All three years that I’ve gone back I’ve been lucky enough to have a bye the next week. So I get to stay and see my family and friends

Most memorable rink?

Lake Placid. When I was playing second year in Ontario we had a road trip down to New York state, played Lake Placid where Miracle was played, the Olympics

Favourite hockey movie?

I would say Miracle, but it’s really the only hockey movie I’ve watched.

Favourite movie?

V for Vendetta.

Really?

Yeah, it has Natalie Portman... but she did shave her head in it.. Step Brothers is a close second.

Weapon of choice in a zombie apocalypse?

My F1-50 truck.

Any pre-game rituals?

There is a way you do your routine. Like I warm up the same way like I know how too.

Most memorable moment in hockey career?

The year I played under 20’s for the National team in Spain. That was a good year and I think I played pretty well that year.

Apart from the Northstars, what other team have been the most comfortable for you as a player?

I had a lot of fun in my first year playing for Adelaide. They have much of the same set up as Newcastle where it’s really big on community around the rink.

What do you think about the Ice Hockey classic coming to Newcastle? What do you think it will do for the sport?

It’s big. It will get word out about the sport. I’m sure people who come to watch a game are sure to want to come back and watch another. I just hope they don’t use our locker room, I don’t want to pack my gear up.

Tell us about your goalie training?

Frij has been working with us quite a bit, really focusing on the mental side of the sport. Which he is right, there is a hug mental side to being a goalie. We do a goalie warm up at the start of every practice. We always stay at a high tempo during practice, then when it comes to the game, he (Frij) wants us to keep a level head and is really supportive and helps us a lot with that. We also watch videos of ourselves to try and fix up the things we think we are doing wrong.

Hardest thing about being a goalie?

It can either be the best job in the world or the worst. There is really no inbetween. You can be pretty heavily criticised, but at the same time you can sometimes receive praise when you haven’t really done anything

Tell us about yours and Nick MIzen's friendship

We started playing against each other in (2011) at Nationals which is when we first sort of met. Then we had National camp in the Summer. Miz and I on the same team and started practicing every day. That was at this rink and everything and now we are here.