How has it been for yourself this season, starting out in the ECHL with the Wichita Thunder then moving up to play with the American Hockey League's Bakersfield Condors?
"I think I just got a lot of confidence when I was in Wichita. It was something I didn't take lightly. I wanted to get better while I was down there and have a good attitude. It paid off. I didn't really think if I was going back to Bakersfield or not, I didn't really worry about it. When I got there, it was nice to be back there and playing some good hockey."
You had played in the AHL before. What was it like gaining that experience and then having to go back to the ECHL only to be summoned back to Bakersfield this season?
"It was nice that I got to play down there. I didn't play so much in my first two years in Bakersfield so going down to (Wichita) was nice to get some ice time, get some confidence, develop a little bit and work on my game a little more in depth. When I came here, I felt a huge difference from my first two years to now. I think that's a good sign and I attribute it to the work I put in this summer and the confidence I got in Wichita, which was huge."
You've got some time playing with Bakersfield forwards Ty Rattie and Joey Laleggia. How's that been getting an opportunity to play with some offensive-minded players?
"It's really fun. They're both really good guys off the ice as well. We get along and on the ice and it's really nice playing with skilled guys. Joey's really fast and Ty is very craft. He makes a lot of plays and I like to do that as well. You get three guys who do that and work hard down low in the process, it's a recipe for success."
You had a nice snipe in the Teddy Bear Toss game. What was that like?
"It's really nice when you can get a crowd like that. We had a lot of people there and it's really exciting playing in that atmosphere and the teddy bears were cool as well. That game was a good game, it was kind of back and forth and then we started to take over. It was nice to be a part of that and just really nice to score a goal at home in front of those fans. I wanted a goal all game pretty bad, I had a couple chances that didn't go in so when that one did, it felt good."
You're one of the few Bakersfield forwards that has been drafted with the Oilers. Have you noticed that and does it put your status with the organization into perspective?
"I definitely did not notice that. I've never looked at it like that but it's definitely interesting."
You have 14 shots on goal already while playing with the Condors. Was that something you were told to do or something you wanted to bring to the lineup in Bakersfield?
"Maybe subconsciously. I think I've always had a good shot and me going up and playing pro, I've always been told I hang on to it too long and maybe need to get rid of it a bit quicker. One of the coaches told me in my third or fourth game here, 'You're hanging on to it too long, just get rid of it.' I did that in San Diego on Friday and it worked out. Then when Ty gave me that pass on Saturday, I knew that wasn't a chance I wanted to waste and it worked out."
