CU: I kept busy this summer with work, keeping on the ice and working out
CS: It's a long trek from your home town of Grunthal to Swan River. Is it tough, yet exciting knowing you'll be away from home for the better part of 7 or 8 months?
CU: Of course it will be hard to be away from my family and friends, but I love the hockey lifestyle, so it balances out
CS: Let's talk about your rookie season. You started out in Winnipeg with the Blues, came to Swan and platooned with Charlie Pogue for a while, before Jayme Janzen came in and took the #1 job. What did you learn from Jayme and from your rookie season in the MJHL?
CU: Well it was great to get the opportunity to backup Jayme and learn from him especially in the playoffs. I really learned from watching the way he handled the pressure of big games and situations. I also leaned a lot about the style of hockey in the MJ and how to adjust to it coming out of AAA.
CS: How did you feel about your own play? I believe it took 10 or 11 starts for you to record a regulation loss.
CU: I felt really good about my play last season, and I guess I was able to adjust to the style of hockey quite fast. My team also helped me out a lot, always encouraging me and building me up which boosted my confidence level.
CS: This time a year ago, you were the odd-man out in a 3-goalie system with the Blues. How is your mindset different now, knowing the #1 job in Swan is basically yours to lose?
CU: I have a bit more security coming into camp but at the same time I have to still try my best every time I step on the ice.
CS: The Stampeders were one of the highest-scoring teams in the league last season, but a lot of the top players from that team have graduated (Stevens, Reimer, Riddell, etc). What does this "younger" Stamps team have to do to finish Top-4 in the Sherwood and bring post-season hockey to the Valley for a second straight year?
CU: Well like you said we are losing a lot of the top scores so that just means that our mindset will have to be more defensive and some returning players will have to step up into more offensive roles
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