PHOTO CREDIT : TONY SARGENT PHOTO CREDIT : SCOTT WIGGINS
THE PUCK STOPS HERE that must mean that goal scorers are very valuable ... so what are your secrets to finding the net so regularly ? LF : A quick release is key . It ’ s not necessarily how hard you can shoot the puck but the less time it spends on your stick the less time the Goalie has to react and make a save . LH : I do a lot of work in training on my shooting and practicing scoring from different areas ! My shot isn ’ t the most powerful so I rely a lot on accuracy and also , like Luke said , shooting quickly gives the Goalie less time to set himself for the shot .
LEWIS HOOK
ML : Most of the players are huge , yet at 13 stone wet through you two are relatively small in comparison . How do you begin to be able to compete against the other players ? LH : Big things come in small packages haha ... LF : Don ’ t you mean ‘ good things come in small packages ’ haha ? Anyway , size isn ’ t always an indicator of strength , so a lot of strength training is key . Being fast and effective in other ways can counteract other people ’ s size . We have to be clever and more positionally aware which helps us massively . LH : I work a lot in the gym on my core strength so I ’ m hard to knock over on the ice and also make sure my legs are strong . But I rely mostly on my speed and agility to beat the opposition .
ML : Which player sends a shiver down your spine when you see his name on the team sheet ? LF : Cam Janssen is pretty intimidating . He played in the NHL for years and isn ’ t shy when it comes to a punch up . The guy has hands like shovels and hits you like a train ... he isn ’ t much fun to play against . I ’ m pretty sure I ’ ve been hit by him a few times ... which is probably why I can ’ t remember any of them haha . LH : Back when I was just 16 playing in my first year at senior level there was a couple of big tough guys who were always quite intimidating who I definitely didn ’ t want to go into the corners against . Players like Chris Wiggins or Andre Payette stand out . Even now playing in the Elite League there ’ s a couple of guys who were heavyweights in the NHL who have a presence out there which can be intimidating ... but I ’ m not stupid enough to name them in a magazine haha . LF : Oh Shit ... Cam Janssen is going to hunt me down isn ’ t he haha . Can we take that bit out ?
ML : Urmmm ... No . Who are you glad to have on your own team so you don ’ t have to play against them ? LF : For me that has to be Dannick Paquette , the Canadian import . He is tough and worryingly unpredictable haha . I don ’ t think even he knows what he is going to do next so the other team don ’ t stand a
MARCH 2018 / MUSCLE & FITNESS 125