2011-2014
2014
2015
2016
2017
CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT FORMER WHEAT KINGS COACH , NOW GOLDEN KNIGHTS ASSISTANT GM KELLY MCCRIMMON BRINGS TO THE TEAM ? BL As basically everyone in Manitoba already knows , Kelly is just a great hockey guy . You actually don ’ t see a whole lot of Kelly around the rink as he is out scouting a fair bit . He is in charge of the American League team more , and he ’ s been an incredible part of this team , especially within the expansion draft . I think he ’ s a really big part of what helps make this organization seem more and more professional .
WHAT GOT YOU INTO HOCKEY AS A LITTLE KID ? BL Well I grew up in the River Heights area of Winnipeg , and there was an outdoor rink right there – River Heights Community Centre . When I was younger , my dad would just walk us out the back door and throw us on the rink there . That ’ s basically where it all started for me .
CAN YOU TOUCH ON YOUR HOCKEY-PLAYING SIBLINGS AND WHAT THEY ’ RE CURRENTLY ACCOMPLISHING IN THE GAME THESE DAYS ? BL Well my younger brother is still out playing with Portage . He had a great year last year and is trying to get off to another good start here this season to hopefully earn himself a scholarship . My sister was actually a gymnast , but now is just playing in the Manitoba Women ’ s Junior Hockey League in Winnipeg . Hockey definitely does run in our family , you ’ re right about that !
WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT VEGAS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN EXPECTING OR MAYBE SOMETHING THAT YOU ’ VE COME TO LOVE ? BL : I had never been to Vegas before , so getting down here I just kind of learned it on the fly . Where we ’ re living , it actually feels like a small town . We all know about the bright lights downtown , but it definitely can have that small town feel to it when you ’ re not on the strip – almost like Winnipeg a little bit . But it ’ s a great place to live , great people , and everyone here is really enjoying it .
LOOKING BACK ON YOUR VISIT TO WINNIPEG IN EARLY DECEMBER , WHAT WAS IT LIKE PLAYING IN FRONT OF THE WINNIPEG
CROWD ? BL It was certainly a dream come true for me . I guess I was about 16 or 17 and playing in the Western League when the Jets came back to Winnipeg . That was always kind of the vision I had in coming home to play in front of friends and family . Just seeing all of those familiar faces up in the stands while you ’ re skating around on the ice in warm-up was definitely my “ wow , I actually made it to the NHL ” moment for me .
IS THERE ANYONE YOU WOULD LIKE TO THANK FOR HELPING YOU OUT AS A YOUNG PLAYER IN WINNIPEG ? BL : Probably just my family and my mom and dad especially . Everybody sacrificed with me leaving home at such a young age . Certainly my close friends too , as it was really tough leaving them behind at times , but it ’ s always really fun seeing them when I can . ❍
2011-2014
Played 261 games with the Portland Winterhawks
2014
Played 47 games with the Milwaukee Admirals
2015
Played 65 games with the Toronto Marlies
2016
Played 6 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs
2017
Has played 40 games with the Vegas Golden Knights
REGULAR SEASON EDITION 2018 | GAME ON | 73