It didn’t register until late last night that a notable absentee from practice yesterday was Jonathan Diaby. As it would make sense, now that he is back to game fitness, he has been reassigned from the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) to the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL).
Diaby’s season has seen just the worst luck on the injury front. The 21-year old was caught by a skate that was nearly an inch away from cutting his femoral artery earlier this season while playing for the Cyclones. The cut that came from that skate required an initial surgery and a follow up surgery to stop further bleeding that was taking place. As Diaby was trucking along in his return to the ice he was brought up to the Admirals where an upper-body injury has sidelined him for the past nine-games and over a month’s worth of hockey. Should Diaby play in tonight’s game for the Cyclones it would be his first taste of game action since 1/8/16.
Hopefully tonight will be a little more flash and a little less grind… but that’s just me. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
After what has felt like a month’s worth of sleep inducing “wait a week, play two games, wait a week, play two games” cycle the Milwaukee Admirals schedule is about to pick up. In the next ten days the team will play six-games including five on home ice. That outta wake people, such as myself, up after a winter’s slumber of a slow last few weeks.
Yesterday I attended practice to get another look into what the Admirals were up to leading into this game. Good things that I did as well because Max Reinhart, who has been away from the team for nearly two solid weeks due to personal reasons, returned to the ice. His inclusion made for a quite stacked looking forward group as everyone right now is healthy.
The fourth line paring had Adam Payerl and Joe Pendenza rotating a bit but it would be a safe bet to assume Payerl gets the nod. What’s pretty incredible is that group that Reinhart now joins which has two other centers. I suppose that’s what you’re going to get when the depth down the middle is this healthy.
On defense the Admirals are probably keeping things as they have been lately which would mean: Oligny-Elliott, Näkyvä-Mullen, Alm-Aronson. Trevor Murphy was rotating in groups with Stefan Elliott and Patrick Mullen so it will be interesting to see who ends up being the odd-lefty out of the defensive group tonight. The pairing of Johan Alm and Taylor Aronson was the only one at yesterday’s practice that never changed.
~Oink Oink~
The Rockford IceHogs enter tonight’s game with a record of 27-11-4-4 (62 points). Their 0.674 points percentage has them sitting on top of the Central Division and in second place of the Western Conference standings.
When comparing these two teams they are really well matched. The IceHogs have played a game more than the Admirals but their goal differential is nearly identical: Admirals, +14 (133 GF, 119 GA)… IceHogs, +13 (133 GF, 120 GA). Their penalty kills are closely matched: Admirals, 84.6%… IceHogs, 83.3%… and both have scored 8 goals while shorthanded.
Where things differ might be the difference in tonight’s game. The IceHogs have 146 more penalty minutes on the season than the Admirals. Should their inability to stay out of the box be a factor the Admirals fourth best home power-play in the AHL (22.8%) gets to match-up against the IceHogs twenty-second ranked AHL road penalty kill (78.5%).
~Them Again~
The IceHogs leading scorer is first-year pro Vinnie Hinostroza who has produced 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 40 games. The bulk of Hinostroza’s points total came from the IceHogs month of January where he tallied 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) in 12 games.
Hinostroza is followed in scoring by AHL All-Star Ryan Hartman who has 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 41 games. Hartman also appears to be inventing a really cool game called “penalty minutes versus shots on goal” and is currently up +21 shots on goal (114 SOG, 93 PIM).
Both Hinostroza and Hartman are part of a group on the IceHogs active roster in the 20+ points club which includes: Jake Dowell, 25 points (7 goals, 18 assists)… Ville Pokka, 24 points (6 goals, 18 assists)… Mark McNeill, 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists)… Pierre-Cédric Labrie, 21 points (13 goals, 8 assists)… Bryan Bickell, 20 points (8 goals, 12 assists)… Marko Dano, 20 points (4 goals, 16 assists).
Former Admiral Mike Liambas finally picked up his first point as a member of the IceHogs. He scored a shorthanded goal against the Grand Rapids Griffins… who then proceeded to score nine unanswered goals in a 9-1 throttling. IceHogs fans had about 3:31 of joy followed by 56:02 of sheer horror. [pause] How delightful!
~On The Brink Of History~
In net for the IceHogs should be Michael Leighton. That should also mean there is a chance that AHL history could be made if he happens to shutout the Admirals tonight. The veteran goaltender is currently sitting tied at 45 career AHL shutouts with Johnny Bower for the most ever in league history. Bower set and has held the record since 1957. The AHL already saw one record fall this week. Another could go down tonight (preferably not).
Leighton has shouldered darn near all of the load in net for the IceHogs this season – playing in 76.1% of their games played. That workload hasn’t fatigued the 34-year old quite yet as he has a record of 23-5-6-3, a 2.22 goals against average, 0.926 save percentage, and a total of four shutouts this season.
With Mark Visentin banged up once again, making Mac Carruth the back-up, it’s likely Leighton will get the start. Against the Admirals this season he has made five appearances, four starts, 3-0-0-1 record, a 1.99 goals against average, 0.925 save percentage, and has yet to record a shutout.
Expectations for tonight’s game? Will the Milwaukee Admirals and their 100% healthy lineup be able to run through the Rockford IceHogs?
I’m not sure what has progressed more this season. Kevin Fiala’s demeanor, his hair flow, or his stick tape which now actually covers the full blade – based on what I saw at yesterday’s practice. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
The feature series Fifteen has leaned on fan suggestions as to who should be heard from next. For a good while Kevin Fiala‘s name was on top of my check list but I couldn’t get to him due to (1) he was with the Nashville Predators right around the time he was next to be interviewed and (2) the Milwaukee Admirals were on the AHL All-Star break and then in California last week.
With that all done and dusted the 19-year old from Switzerland was free to chat after practice yesterday and we were able to kind of sort of pull the interview off. I say, “kind of sort of,” because there were some blank spots to questions and some freedom on my part to Fiala to not get a migraine thinking up certain stories if they aren’t right off the top of his head. Not to mention, this is another one of those casual language barrier interviews where – yes he speaks English – but it’s not his language of choice. His English is still rough. Certainly better than my second language at his age… much less his fifth language that he can speak.
That all said, I’m hoping Fiala’s personality comes through here because I’ve noticed him looking far and away more relaxed than he was even at the start of this season. It’s as if someone reminded him that he is a teenage kid and he’s playing a game that he should try to take less seriously and just enjoy it. He seems loose around the rink and in-game action. I think a year into Fiala’s North American journey has seen an amazing maturation process in that respect. Enough of me saying as much, though. Let’s let him have his own say so.
~Fifteen~
Admirals Roundtable: What I’ve been doing is basically asking every player like fifteen questions and the day that I was going to do that with you – you got called up. WHich is a perfect segue into: how was that time in Nashville? You ended up getting a goal in your first shift.
Kevin Fiala: Yeah, it was a great time there. Obviously I could score. That was really nice to make my first one. Hope so. I hope it’s not the last one. Yeah, it was just a great feeling. (AR: It’s a shame that you scored in-and-out so fast that you didn’t get a time to celebrate it. They didn’t even know it went in.) No. I mean it went so fast. I looked back and I was like, “It didn’t? No, it went in.” I just played again.
AR: What were your inspirations to play hockey?
Fiala: My father plays hockey – or, played hockey. He first, so he took me on the ice and he.. I never wanted to go off the ice, he say. And that’s why. I like it. I love it. (AR: Did he play professionally?) Yeah, in Switzerland. [Editor’s Note: Meet Jan Hans Fiala.]
AR: When did you realize you were going to be playing hockey for a career?
Fiala: All the time. Every time when we were in school and the teachers asked us what did we want to do. Everybody was talking about like a job but I was always like, “I want to be a hockey player.” [laughs] Always, like every time. I don’t know what I would do if I don’t play hockey. (AR: I was about to ask. Did you even have a Plan B or was it just hockey?) No. No Plan B. I hope it will be good career so I can have some fun and make some money.
AR: Who was the first famous player that you met?
Fiala: I don’t know. My first? I played against [Alexander Ovechkin]. I never went to an NHL game or anything like that. So I never saw in [real] life. Like, the best players on the ice I just play against them. I mean, Ovechkin was actually the first one – I think. I’m not sure about that. (AR: When did you guys play or was that like a practice thing?) No, in World Championships two years ago. So, I think he was the first one but I’m not sure.
AR: What is your greatest hockey moment so far? Would it be that first NHL goal?
Fiala: Yeah, probably. [laughs] Yeah. (AR: Even though it was a blur?) Yeah, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. (AR: Even for [Viktor Arvidsson‘s] when he scored his first NHL goal.. it’s not the style of goal that he scores.. but it counts.) Yeah. It counts.
AR: What’s the strangest game that you’ve played in?
Fiala: Straightest? (AR: Strangest.) Strangest game? What do you mean? Like, I’m never going to forget or what? (AR: Like, just odd. Even playing the AM games here this season were–) Weird? Probably the first game here. The most weird was probably here. The first game – my first AHL career game because it was so different. (AR: And that’s actually a fun point to bring up because it’s basically been now a year since you arrived here in this country. How has that been and how difficult was that first taste of the North American game?) Actually, if I’m honest with you, when I came here it was so different – the hockey. So much more North-and-South. You don’t drop here. You just play North all the time. It doesn’t matter if somebody is open or not you chip it out or something. You don’t do that at home. You always want to make a play if it’s North-or-South or East-or-West like it doesn’t matter. I think I did a pretty good job to take to it. I really like the game much more here than at home because you have a lot of more opportunities to score, too. Because everything is faster. (AR: The pace is overhwhelming. Even when you compare it to the Olympic style of the game it’s incredible.) Yeah, I mean also you have to have heads-up because everybody is coming. In Europe we don’t because it’s so big. You have a lot of time there.
AR: What is your most embarrassing hockey memory?
Fiala: [Editor’s Note: Kevin made an initially funny face because he was surprised by the question – so I laughed.] I don’t know, actually. [pause] Embarrassing.. [pause] Ask me something else. I can think about it and tell after.
AR: What is your most painful moment?
Fiala: Painful? (AR: I don’t know if it was necessarily painful but there was a perfect image last year of when you took a skate to the face. That’d be up there as far as scary but that’s not so painful.) Oh, no. That was not painful. Because I was in a game I didn’t feel it. The most painful maybe I think when we went out of the playoffs last year… or to block a shot probably, too! Painful. But, yeah, I don’t know. (AR: You’ve never had a significant injury?) No, actually not. Thank God. [laughs] Knock on wood, but I was never injured before. (AR: Because asking a question like that to Dean and Stan they both give me horror stories. The amount of times they’ve had their noses broken.) Oh yeah? No.. no. I didn’t have anything broken yet just my elbow once when I was young. Maybe that? I don’t know. (AR: Let’s keep it that way?) [laughs]
AR: What are your favorite uniforms in hockey?
Fiala: Uniforms? Now Admirals and Preds. (AR: Just those two?) I mean, no. Also at home-Sweden – HV71. And my first team at home, Uzwil, you don’t know – my first team. (AR: I was going to say today you looked like you were adopted by the Swedes. Is that a thing? Are you becoming more Swedish?) We don’t have a Swiss guy here but I can speak Swedish, too. So, it helps me a lot. I like everybody. I mean, I’m with everybody but right now on the ice I was with the Swedes. (AR: How many languages do you speak?) About five. [pause] (AR: I can barely speak one!) [laughs] You can. (AR: How do you find the time to do that?!) No, I mean I had in school like three languages. I had one language because of my parents and the one language in Sweden because I was in Sweden.
AR: Who are the funniest players that you’ve met in the game?
Fiala: Met in the game.. funniest.. (AR: There’s a lot in that locker room.) Oh, in our team too? (AR: Yeah, anyone you’ve played with.) [Trevor Murphy] is pretty funny. I mean, Murph probably. I’m always laughing when I see him skate or stuff. [pause] But in a positive way! Not in a negative. (AR: It’s important that you brought that up.) Yeah, not in a negative way. Like I laugh with him because he like smiles at me and stuff you know? (AR: Last weekend there was a moment where I was expecting – we’re going to be laughing at Trevor Murphy playing as a forward not on defense… he scored a hat trick and three assists in his first game!) Yeah, I mean in a positive way. He’s a great player. Like you said, six points in one game. He’s a great player but he’s the way he is. He laughs a lot and it gives me a smile back. He’s not the funniest like I don’t [expletive-ing] make fun of him. You know? No, I just laugh with him. Most funniest guy? I don’t know. I’m 19-years old I don’t know. I never had a funny guy yet. But, he’s probably the most guy I laugh with in the team because he’s fun – or Pontus Åberg too but it’s in a positive way.
AR: So, you’ve been here basically a year. What has been your favorite part of Milwaukee?
Fiala: I like the beach, actually. Very much. When we came here it was pretty warm actually in October. So, I just like to be there to throw the ball to my dog and be with my girlfriend there. Or here in the arena. I like the malls, too. Yeah, it’s pretty cold here but the city is good. (AR: How does it feel to go from San Diego to this?) Yeah.. [laughs] It’s bad! (AR: It’s got to feel like a slap in the face.) Yeah it was cold. When we came from the airport outside it was like, “oh my god.”
AR: What is your favorite food?
Fiala: Fondue. Do you know that? Cheese fondue. Yeah, from Swiss. [Editor’s Note: Fondue video because of reasons.]
AR: What is your favorite non-hockey hobby?
Fiala: Soccer, tennis, golf. Those three. (AR: Do you have a favorite soccer team like in Europe or anything?) Yeah, maybe Barcelona or Bayern München. Those two. (AR: As long as it’s not Chelsea…) No! No, no no no. [laughs] (AR: We’re good then.)
AR: What is your favorite non-hockey memory?
Fiala: Non-hockey memory. [long pause – followed by a cameo from TREVOR MURPHY as he went to go play basketball on the Milwaukee Bucks setup inside the BMO Harris Bradley Center] (AR: He just picked you as the funniest person he’s ever played with.) (Murphy: [laughs] Yeah! I’m going to play ball, bro!) …the best memories non-hockey. I don’t know. Seriously, I don’t. No idea. I have a lot of good memories so I don’t know the best one.
AR: What are your plans after hockey?
Fiala: After hockey? [laughs] I hope.. (AR: This is why I ask it last.) No job. I hope. I hope I don’t have to work, of course. I don’t know yet where I’m going to live. I don’t know yet. I haven’t been in Uzwil in so long – far away. But, I hope to have a house in Switzerland. House in Sweden, maybe.
AR: Back to the embarrassing question.
Fiala: [laughs] Embarrassing. I don’t know. I don’t know. (AR: You had a near embarrassing moment today in practice but I think you can blame that on your skate more than anything. You went flying into the boards.) Yeah, but that wasn’t embarrassing. (AR: The pass was brilliant. [pause] But your skate gave up on you.) Yeah, skate was bad. Sharp today. Bad. But, it was not embarrassing. (AR: We’ll have to come up with another question on the spot then to fill that.)
AR: What’s your favorite thing about Nashville?
Fiala: I was there the whole summer. In the summer it was very warm. It was hot. That was the best thing I think. I’m not old enough to go out so I don’t know how the bars are but the weather was awesome. Every day was hot. And the people are nice. That’s what I remember in the summer. The people were awesome and the summer was great because the weather was nice.
Massive thanks to Kevin Fiala for taking the time for this interview. Reminder, my check list of players you’ve suggested is pretty much at an end so please comment down below with more suggestions!
REJOICE. Vladislav Kamenev returned to full-practice today. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)This morning I made the trip into practice to give a look at what’s what with the Milwaukee Admirals following their California road trip. There was plenty of good news on the injury front as everyone that was banged up participated for the full-length of practice.
Vladislav Kamenev returned to the ice for practice today. I kept watch of him a fair bit and, for someone who has missed the last four-games (and the AHL All-Star festivities he was selected for) due to a lower body injury, he looked great. His skating looked sharp and he appeared to be moving around with ease. It looks like he will be on-track to return to game-action on Friday.
Cody Hodgson was also active for today’s practice after having missed this past weekend’s games in California due to illness. The added numbers to the forward group meant nudging Trevor Murphy back to the defensive group where he is expected to remain.
Another notable participant in today’s practice was Jonathan Diaby who has been sidelined with an “upper-body” injury for over a month’s time. I’ve caught him skating lightly in previous practices but today he went full throttle and lasted the entire duration of practice. Should he be cleared for game-action I would suspect he be assigned to the Cincinnati Cyclones faster than you can say ECHL. I’m just hoping he can get some proper playing time down there because he has had the worst luck on the injury front this season and it’s made a sputtering season even harder to ever get corrected. The Admirals defense is pretty set as it is and will soon need to decide how it slots Murphy back into the picture with left-shooting defensemen Jimmy Oligny, Johan Alm, and Kristian Näkyvä all performing well lately. This should mean having Diaby log minutes in the ECHL where Garrett Noonan is currently enjoying the bulk of his sophomore pro playing season.
~An Update on Max Reinhart~
For those keeping a close eye on the Admirals forward groups lately a key name has been absent for some time now. Where is Max Reinhart? The lone note that had been given in connection with his absence has been that he’s dealing with personal issues. That can mean a wide variety of things but the idea that it can sideline him for effectively two weeks worth of action does start to cause the rumor mill to stir. Is it something family related, health related, between the ears related, or what? After practice today I asked Milwaukee Admirals head coach about the current status of Reinhart.
“Max is taking some personal time,” commented Evason. “I think that’s all people need to know. He’s on his way back to us. When he gets in the lineup? We’ll see. But he’s worked through some stuff – some personal stuff. We expect him back and we’ll welcome him back when he gets here.”
I followed up by asking if it was a physical or health related issue.
“It’s just personal time,” responded Evason. “I don’t want to go into too much more extended than that. It’s something that players go through every now and then. You see it on different teams. He’s working through it now.”
If speculation is anything to go on you could probably take that in a further million different directions. To me, I still don’t know what has exactly happened to Reinhart but there appears to be some sort of a disconnect between himself and the game of hockey right now. Is that disconnect down to him feeling stuck in the AHL? Is it a Nashville thing? Is he looking at Cody Bass and thinking that could be him? Who knows. There is more to speculate on than actual concrete answers. No matter what the case is Reinhart is the Admirals fifth best scorer and second best goal scorer on the roster: 20 points (11 goals, 9 assists) in 42 games. The only games he hasn’t played this season have come in the last three which were due to these personal reasons. If not for that he’d have played every single game for the Admirals this season – something only Félix Girard and Kristian Näkyvä have been able to do so far.
~Mini-Mailbag~
Early this morning I thought it would be fun to have another mailbag with you readers. I did get a few Q’s so now I think you can have a few A’s.
Justin: What is the most recent update on Kamenev? The new Roscoe jerseys look neat. It didn’t appear that this was one of the original events promo events. Is there something this is tied to? I’m surprised Cody Bass is still up in Nashville. Are you surprised they haven’t swapped him out with another “style” winger?
The most recent update on Kamenev is an awesome one. Luckily I went to practice this morning to see firsthand. Also, and I don’t have the full-details, I spotted him wearing a #42 David Lee Boston Celtics practice jersey after having joined with a group of Admirals who went out to play some basketball on the Milwaukee Bucks court following practice at the MSOE Kern Center. I quipped to him, “you defected.” And the group said he won it. I definitely want more to that story but if Kamenev beat someone in basketball after pulling off the Forrest Gump table tennis beat down on Noonan on Media Day it would be amazing.
The special edition Roscoe jerseys will be auctioned off to benefit the American Cancer Society.
I’m not sure if I would say I am surprised Bass is still up. My feeling with players in the role or area of the lineup that Bass finds himself in for the Predators has always been to recall the veteran in the AHL to log minutes you can depend on rather than force a skill forward prospect to slow down and play defensively. Bass is dependable. He’s experienced. He can rotate to center and win face-offs if need be. With all due respect to someone like a Pontus Åberg, Max Görtz, or Frédérick Gaudreau – you call them up and you’re left with an unknown variable of whether or not they’re going to play their assignment well while adjusting to the NHL game. Is less than ten-minutes a game of those three better than what Bass can provide? Possibly. But what is more reliable? And that’s why Bass is still there and, quite honestly, why Austin Watson is playing out the entirety of his two-way portion of his two-year contract in Nashville this season.
Jamie: Most surprising Roster moves this season? Out of any PTO in the past 3 years who do you think was the best one to sign?
The most surprising roster move of the season for me was seeing Viktor Arvidsson go up and Kevin Fiala remaining down with the Admirals after the NHL All-Star break had ended. I was completely under the assumption Fiala was here for the one weekend game before heading back to Nashville. I even had a story pre-written the moment that news was to go official because I thought it was a lock. Instead, Arvidsson went up and proceeded to prove the move right. Just watch the last Predators game highlights before they play tonight. Arvidsson was his ol’ brilliant self.
There are two great cases to be made for best PTO signings over the last three-years on the Admirals roster right now – and both did so well they were signed to full deals to remain with the Admirals. Adam Payerl has been a superb addition to the team. He’s well-rounded and has been a great depth signing that has contributed very well offensively. Matt White worked himself up from the ECHL ranks to finally get into the AHL with the Admirals and is now going to be an Admirals until the end of next season. He’s fit right in and shown he has belonged at the AHL level. I also of course have a soft spot for Gary Steffes because he, like White, was a hard worker in the ECHL who I just felt needed the AHL outlet to show he belongs. It blew me away that after the season he had for the Allen Americans in 2014-15 that not one AHL team offered him a contract. It’s a shame.
How nice is it to see Kamenev back healthy again? Are there any concerns on your part for wherever Reinhart’s head is at right now?
This weekend in California, Milwaukee Admirals rookie defenseman needed to help out the team by playing on the left wing for two games. He scored a hat trick and totaled up four assists on the weekend. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
The Milwaukee Admirals lost 4-1 on the road against the San Diego Gulls Saturday night at the Valley View Casino Center.
This was a far cry from the Admirals previous performance last night. It was once again played under difficult circumstances for the forward group playing a man down with defenseman Trevor Murphy acting as a left winger. He did tack on a primary assist to go with his six-point performance last night but that was it tonight. The speed of the Admirals offense was neutralized by the strength of the Gulls who took and held a lead after a stretch of three-minutes that saw them score three goals.
Scoring wouldn’t factor into this game until the second period but, when it did, it came in frantic fashion for the home-side. Kyle Bonis, Chris Mueller, and Kyle MacKinnon all scored within a span of 2:35 for the Gulls to give them a 3-0 lead. In the second period they only had five shots on goal – three of them beat Juuse Saros.
The Admirals finally gave Anton Khudobin something to think about following a slashing call against Stu Bickel. Trevor Murphy patiently waited for an opening as he passed across the mouth of goal to the left wing backdoor where Stefan Elliott was able to bury his fourth goal and fourth scored on the power-play this season.
With 2:56 remaining in regulation Antoine Laganière slashed the stick of Frédérick Gaudreau to give the Admirals a last dash chance to draw back into this contest. Saros made his way to the bench at 2:29 remaining and, not long after that, Bonis pushed the puck away into the empty net for his second goal of the game to make it a 4-1 Gulls lead.
Khudobin stopped 30/31 shots on goal tonight. There were many quality scoring chances that he needed to deny so credit the Gulls defense, especially their physicality through the neutral zone, in slowing down the Admirals tonight. Saros takes the loss in net for the Admirals. It’s his sixth loss from twenty-one starts. He stopped 20/23 shots on goal tonight as the Admirals six-game point streak came to an end.
Ramblings: For the second consecutive night the Milwaukee Admirals played without two forwards, dressed Trevor Murphy as a left winger, and started the contest down a skater. Tonight’s line combinations were: White-Sissons-Görtz, Murphy-Gaudreau-Payerl, Devane-Girard-Pendenza, Fiala-(No Forward)-Åberg, Oligny-Elliott, Näkyvä-Mullen, Alm-Aronson. Tonight’s scratches were: Cody Hodgson (illness), Max Reinhart (Personal Reasons), Vladislav Kamenev (lower-body), and Jonathan Diaby (upper-body). Tonight’s game saw the return of Juuse Saros in net for the Admirals after Marek Mazanec started the last four-consecutive games. The last time Saros started in net was 1/16/16 in San Antonio where he made twenty-two saves and allowed three goals en route to his fifteenth win of the season.
What’s your reaction to this game? Can you give credit the the Gulls defense tonight or were the Admirals forwards gassed after playing effectively two-men down in two-days?
The Milwaukee Admirals defeated the San Diego Gulls 3-1 back on November 21, 2015. Not only that but former-Admiral Chris Mueller met Colton Sissons. How cool is that? …well I think it is. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Before even approaching the enemy tonight I feel as if some Milwaukee Admirals recapping is in order. The team is currently on quite the run these last six-games going a cool 5-0-1-0 in that window. That span started after the team received a well needed rest after a marathon run of the December schedule spilling into January had them on a winless skid of four-games. They’re rested now. And I believe the offense has reflected a team that has its batteries recharged.
During the Admirals last six games they have outscored their opponents 25-11, outshot their opponents 179-137, they’ve gone 6/27 on the power-play (22.2%), and a ridiculous 18/19 on the penalty kill (94.7%) – which includes an active run of twelve straight successful kills.
~Joe Piskula & Friends~
The San Diego Gulls enter tonight’s game with a record of 20-18-1-1 (42 points). Their 0.525 points percentage has them in fourth place of the Pacific Division and tenth in the Western Conference standings. In their last ten-games they have rattled off a not so hot record of 3-6-1-0 which includes a 4-2 win over the Stockton Heat last night on home ice.
~Recapping~
This will be the second and final meeting between these two teams this season. The first came in Milwaukee back in late-November when the Admirals won 3-1. That night saw Kevin Fiala finally get to drop his shoulders and squeeze that stick a little less tight thanks to scoring his first goal of the season after having gone eleven straight games without one. Frédérick Gaudreau had the game-winner with what still might be the best goal scored this season. The game would be sealed by an Adam Payerl empty netter. Also of note, Nicolas Kerdiles of the Gulls was just an awful human being – dogging Vladislav Kamenev and Trevor Murphy most of the night – and shooting on net after whistles. He earned seven penalty minutes that night including a fight attempt, that earned a roughing minor, and a tilt with Conor Allen – who now plays his trade with the Binghamton Senators.
~Special Teams~
If you’re looking for a high intensity match-up between these two teams tonight it will come on special teams. The Gulls have the third best home power-play in the AHL going 19/73 with the man-advantage (26.0%) while the Admirals road penalty kill is the second best in the AHL killing 66/75 (88.0%). The Gulls are a team that heavily lean on their power-play to do the damage as 33.98% of their goals scored this season have come on the power-play.
~The Old Guard~
The Gulls have a few familiar names floating around on their roster. It starts with their captain and former captain of the Milwaukee Admirals, Joe Piskula. He played 163 career games for the Admirals. Then there is Chris Mueller who played 262 career games for the Admirals and is the team’s third all-time scorer in the AHL history of the team with 173 points (87 goals, 86 assists). Then there are two former members of the Nashville Predators on the squad. Shane O’Brien played with the Predators during the 2010-11 season. Brian McGrattan was part of the Predators organization from 2011-13 and did play six-games for the Admirals before being traded to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Piskula.
~Who What Now?~
The Gulls leading scorer is defenseman Brandon Montour who has 32 points (6 goals, 26 assists) in 40 games. His assists total is the third most among AHL defensemen this season.
Montour is followed in team scoring with a tie between two forwards. Nick Ritchie leads the Gulls in goals and has 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 31 games. He’s tied with former-Admirals center Mueller who has 27 points (7 goals, 20 assists) in 39 games.
Sometimes it takes looking at a team like the Gulls to realize you might be taking things for granted. The Admirals have only utilized two goalies this entire season. The Gulls have used six different goaltenders throughout their 2015-16 season and we’ve just entered February. That’s plenty of time to add another name on the goaltending yule log going on in San Diego.
In camp right now are three “once upon a time” NHL’ers: Matt Hackett, Anton Khudobin, and Dustin Tokarski. It’s unclear which one is inactive but, in order of their last appearance, the list goes: Khudobin (2/5/16), Hackett (1/29/16), and Tokarski (1/19/16). The latter of the names, Tokarski, was actually part of a trade in January that saw him arrive from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for left winger Max Friberg.
Expectations for tonight’s game? Can the Milwaukee Admirals once again use their speed to beat an opponent’s size? Would it be smart for Juuse Saros to finally break Marek Mazanec‘s string of four-consecutive starts despite Mazanec having been the goalie of record against these Gulls earlier this season?
The Milwaukee Admirals won 7-3 on the road against the Bakersfield Condors Friday night at the Rabobank Arena.
Make it back-to-back games for the Admirals in which they have won by a 7-3 final. Tonight’s story came from defenseman turned winger by necessity Trevor Murphy. The Admirals were without Vladislav Kamenev due to a lower-body injury and had a late-scratch tonight for Cody Hodgson due to illness. Murphy was pushed on to the left wing tonight and all he did was notch a six point game and a hat trick. Perhaps this might be the first of a few games Murphy sees action as a forward? Why not?
“It’s just all coaching,” joked Milwaukee Admirals assistant coach Stan Drulia of Trevor Murphy’s switch to forward in his post-game interview with Aaron Sims after the game on 105.7 FM The Fan. “He’s been out of the lineup. Our six [defensemen] have done a real good job. We thought that the way [Murphy] skates – the way he handles the puck that he’d be able to deliver a little bit offensively. I don’t think anybody counted he’d go three-and-three and really lead us offensively today but he played real well.”
The Admirals had some early adversity to get through with thirty-eight seconds of five-on-three penalty kill to battle through. Through the penalty kill the Admirals actually managed to create two odd-man rushes included a great near chance with Félix Girard on the five-on-three.
On the flip side of the penalty killing it would be the Conors scoring shorthanded to notch the game’s opening goal in the first period. Jujhar Khaira beat Matt White down the left wing with speed to win a footrace to the puck, held backhand on his approach to Marek Mazanec, put the Czech down and out, and lifted a backhander up and over him to record his fifth goal of the season.
As always, there is a downside to scoring a shorthanded goal which is that you’re still shorthanded on the opposite end of the goal. The Admirals scored just as Philip McRae’s hooking minor had expired when Trevor Murphy laid off a pass to the front of the net for Colton Sissons to snap a quick shot from point blank range to score his sixth goal of the season and tie the game forty-seconds after Khaira’s shorthanded goal was scored.
With 2:10 remaining in the first period Murphy continued showing well in his debut night on the wing by adding a goal to his earlier assist. Joe Pendenza battled behind the net but lost the puck as he attempted to swing in front of the net. Murphy followed in and was able to cradle the puck and rip a shot off of Laurent Brossoit on the near post that banked off of the Condors netminder and go in for Murphy’s sixth goal of the season.
It didn’t take long for the Admirals to score once the second period started up. Murphy raced down the right wing an spanked a shot far post 1:18 into the frame for his second goal of the night and seventh goal of the season. That was the end of the night in net for Condors All-Star goaltender Brossoit as he was replaced by Eetu Laurikainen after stopping 5/8 shots on goal from 21:18 of work.
Laurikainen was given a heck of a welcoming to the game from Matt White who scored what might go down as the best goal of this Admirals season. White blazed past a stationary Khaira with speed and skill before whipping a forehand shot against the grain to beat Laurikainen high blocker side. The goal for White was his sixth of the season.
Following a holding minor against Kyle Platzer the Admirals scored on the power-play for their third goal scored in the second period. Some point to point work between Taylor Aronson and Stefan Elliott ended with a one-timed howitzer for Elliott who scored his third goal of the season. Picking up a secondary assist on the play was Murphy to become the first Admiral this season to notch a four-point game.
Bakersfield finally ended the Admirals run of five-unanswered goals after a loose puck scramble in the third period. A point shot hit net-front traffic and was gathered up by Josh Currie on the backhand who deposited behind Mazanec for his fourth goal of the season to make it a 5-2 game.
Murphy’s amazing night would keep rolling forward at the forward spot as he completed his hat trick with a low wrister that blazed past Laurikainen. That made it three goals on the night and eight goals on the season for Murphy.
This was followed by a tap-in goal for Adam Payerl on a rebound to make it back-to-back games for the Admirals to score seven goals in a game. Payerl’s tally was his eighth of the season but it was that kid named Murphy getting in on the damage once again. Murphy had six points tonight – three goals and three assists. His six-point game tonight was the first by a member of the Milwaukee Admirals since Alexander Radulov scored a goal and five assists on the road against the Grand Rapids Griffins back on 11/14/06.
Call it a late consolation goal or a sympathy tally but Matthew Ford managed to score from a near impossible angle to make this a 7-3 game. The Condors forward was far away from the net along the right wing wall and nearing the end of the faceoff circle when he opted to throw a puck high to the net. Mazanec ducked and the shot managed to squeak in for Ford’s eighteenth goal of the season.
The Admirals have gone 5-0-1-0 in their last six-games. With the results around the AHL tonight the team has put a small cushion between themselves and third place in the Central Division all while reeling in the division leading Rockford IceHogs – who were walloped 9-1 on home ice tonight by the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Admirals finish off their lone California road trip of the season tomorrow night against the San Diego Gulls.
“These teams out here are big strong teams,” commented Drulia of the Californian clubs the Admirals have faced this season. “They play a real heavy game. We found that out with San Diego when they were in our building. They have a real good power-play. They really rely on their special teams. So, we’re going to have to be detailed in all areas of the game, get on the bus here, and enjoy this four-hour ride we have through California and get ready to play again tomorrow.”
Ramblings: Since the Milwaukee Admirals last played the Nashville Predators opted to recall forward Viktor Arvidsson from the Milwaukee Admirals and keep Kevin Fiala at the AHL level. Tonight’s line combinations included Trevor Murphy, a defenseman, playing on the wing: Fiala-Sissons-Åberg, White-Gaudreau-Görtz, Murphy-Girard-Payerl, Devane-(Rotating)-Pendenza, Oligny-Elliott, Näkyvä-Mullen, Alm-Aronson. Tonight’s scratches were: Cody Hodgson (illness), Vladislav Kamenev (lower-body), Jonathan Diaby (upper-body), Max Reinhart (personal). Aaron Sims made the great observation that tonight’s game in California for the Admirals was the organization’s first since 4/1/00 when they played against the Long Beach Ice Dogs in the IHL. Tonight’s Admirals win in California was their first since 12/9/95 against the San Francisco Spiders – that game ended as a 3-1 final.
Thoughts on tonight’s game for the Milwaukee Admirals? What have you thought about the offense these last two games? Will Trevor Murphy be starting to transition from defense to wing after a night like this?
“Where the sun shines bright and our AHL hockey teams play eight less games!”
The Milwaukee Admirals, back in your life! It seems like these last few weeks in particular have been a bit of a blur with all the down time between games. This past week though that can be said league-wide because of the AHL All-Star break taking place. That break is over, now. It’s time to get back and rolling.
~California Love~
This will be the first and only California road trip of the season for the Admirals. First up are the Bakersfield Condors followed by Joe Piskula and his San Diego Gulls tomorrow night.
“Who are these Bakersfield Condors,” you ask. Well they are the new AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers which makes them none other than last year’s Oklahoma City Barons. The Barons are dead and the Condors are alive and well – as they should be as they play eight less games than the rest of the AHL.
The Condors enter tonight’s contest with a record of 18-17-2-2 (40 points). Their 0.513 points percentage has them in fifth place of the Pacific Division and eleventh in the Western Conference standings. Keep in mind, with points percentage being the standard of the AHL this season, the Condors are really a string of positive results away from getting back into the playoff discussion.
~Who What Now?~
When looking at the Condors things are very average. The team has an overall goal differential on the season of -2 (117 goals forced, 119 goals against). Their points percentage is hovering just above the 0.500 mark. And their last last ten-games have seen them rattle off a run of 5-5-0-0.
The Condors have three players with 20 points or more of offense on their active roster. Leading the team in scoring is winger Matthew Ford who has produced 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) from 35 games this season. Ford’s 17 goals leads the Condors roster and sees only six other players in the entire AHL this season with more goals scored on the season. He is followed in team scoring by: Andrew Miller, 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists)… and Brad Hunt, 27 points (7 goals, 20 assists).
In net the Condors are led by AHL All-Star Laurent Brossoit. This season he has played in 24 games, has a record of 13-8-3-2, a 2.61 goals against average, 0.924 save percentage, and has 3 shutouts. In Brossoit’s career against the Admirals he has played in 5 games, made 5 starts, has a record of 3-2-0-0 while stopping 133/145 for a 0.914 save percentage and a 3.42 goals against average.
Expectations for tonight’s game? How do you feel the Milwaukee Admirals will come off all of this off and vacation time?
Adam Payerl has done a proper job reminding the rest of the AHL that they should have signed him up last off-season. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Adam Payerl has been one of the quiet yet great stories to the 2015-16 Milwaukee Admirals season. When you look back to pre-season camp Payerl was an invitee from the Cincinnati Cyclones where he had signed in the off-season after his tenure within the Pittsburgh Penguins organization came to an end. No immediate AHL offers were on the table so he signed on with the Cyclones to an ECHL contract and accepted an invite to test the waters in Milwaukee.
It was apparent quickly that the coaching staff of the Admirals loved what Payerl brought to the table as a player and as an individual off the ice. After a solid start his PTO contract turned into a standard contract in mid-November. What has this guy that no other AHL teams were interested in been able to produce as a member of the Admirals? Payerl is fifth on the team’s scoring list with 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists) in 41 games. Not too shabby for a pre-season camp invitee, eh?
~Fifteen~
Admirals Roundtable: What were your inspirations to play hockey?
Adam Payerl: I don’t know. I think just growing up I think I saw kids on my street playing road hockey outside – just roller blades and shooting on a net. Decided I wanted to play and asked my parents if I could go sign up for hockey.
AR: When did you realize that you were going to play hockey for a career?
Payerl: Sort of when you’re playing junior hockey. You kind of see, as a young guy, you see guys around you getting drafted – and signing – and moving on to the next level. You can kind of see at that point it’s a possibility. As my junior career went on, when I was kind of eighteen to twenty, I kind of realized I could do this for a living. The opportunity worked out for me and I did.
AR: Who was the first famous player that you met?
Payerl: [long pause] (AR: It wasn’t Sidney Crosby was it?) Uhh, no. I played juniors with a guy. His dad was Shayne Corson. So that was the first kind of guy I met kind of personally, I feel like growing up, I met Wayne Gretzky getting an autograph and stuff like that but nothing – I didn’t have a conversation with him. (AR: So you were in line at like a thing or was that an actual skate meet and greet kind of thing?) It was like our team, when we were younger, he’s got a restaurant in Toronto – Gretzky’s – he was just there that night. Kind of came out and said “hi” to our team and signed a couple of autographs.
AR: What’s the greatest hockey moment of your career so far?
Payerl: Probably my first NHL game. That was in Colorado. It was a pretty awesome experience. (AR: Now, I always kind of ask this because it seems like this is always true. The game isn’t the thing you get nervous for it’s the pre-game skate where the nerves are really rocking. Is that true?) Yeah, kind of. I sort of had a travel day and I got to Colorado before the team did so I had that whole night. It was a pretty long night. Kind of had the jitters. Took me awhile to fall asleep. I was pretty nervous and stuff but it ended up working out that day. It was surreal. It was a great experience. I played well. And it was good. (AR: And that was with the Pittsburgh Penguins, yeah?) Yeah. (AR: I’m going to probably annoy all my readers, both in Milwaukee and in Nashville, by saying I am a Pittsburgh Penguins fan. So, talk a bit about that team and that locker room because it seems like such a fun group.) Yeah, it was awesome. So many superstars in that team. I mean you go through training camps and stuff so I had met most of the guys. So I already had that awe moment type thing. But, when I got there then, it was kind of all business. You kind of meet the guys, it was still a surreal experience, but there’s lots of good guys in that locker room.
AR: What was the most memorable goal that you’ve scored?
Payerl: Huh.. (AR: You have to think about that one?) Yeah, I mean.. most memorable.. [pause] Probably, it was a playoff game against Binghamton a couple of years ago. It was to tie the game. I just remember the play. It came down off the rush and I kind of shot through the screen – it was a big goal. Tied the game up.
AR: What is the strangest game that you’ve played in?
Payerl: Hmm. (AR: You have a couple of AM games this year to choose from.) Yeah, those 10:30 games – those were both a first. We played them both in about a week span. Yeah, probably those. (AR: How much of a jolt was that to the system? Because normally that’s like when you do a little bit of a practice.) Yeah, I mean it was definitely an adjustment. You got to make sure you get up extra early – make sure you’re ready for the game so guys were drinking lots of coffee and jumping in the cold tub to wake up in the morning. (AR: Was that harder or easier than what happened in Lake Erie where you’re basically playing two games in under twenty-four hours?) I’d rather play a morning game than two in twenty-four hours. (AR: Because when I saw the schedule push that far up on the Saturday with the 12 PM game I thought – well, that’s not fair.) Yeah it was definitely a quick turn-around but both teams were in the same boat. Everyone is grinding the same way.
AR: What is the most embarrassing moment of your career?
Payerl: Hard to say. Can’t think of one off the top of my head. (AR: A guy like Scott Ford would come up with, instantly, falling down.) [laughs] (AR: A lot. Even [Dean Evason] said falling down.) Maybe in warm-ups if you fall down all the boys give it to you in the room after warm-ups. So I think everyone has done that once but it happened to me a couple years ago. (AR: Just blame the skate. Bad steel.) Yeah.
AR: What is your most painful hockey moment?
Payerl: I had surgery on my finger a couple of years ago. So the post-surgery was pretty painful. That was probably the worst. (AR: Was it a break or-) It was like a tendon ruptured. So I had to get the tendon repaired. (AR: Do you even know how you ended up doing that?) It happened in a fight. It was just kind of a bad bounce – freak injury that you don’t see very often. It was frustrating at the same time after the surgery, that was my first surgery ever, so the recovery was a little painful at the start.
AR: What are your favorite hockey uniforms?
Payerl: We have pretty sweet uniforms here with the Admirals. The new ones we got this year they’re pretty cool. I think I like the dark blue ones the best.
AR: Who is the funniest player that you’ve encountered?
Payerl: I’ve played with some funny guys over the years. [Tom Kostopoulos] was the captain in Wilkes-Barre my last couple of years and he was a pretty funny guy. He’d always be one to come up with pranks and stuff on the road that were pretty funny.
AR: What’s been your favorite part of Milwaukee since you joined the team?
Payerl: Aside from the hockey part I’d probably say we have a great group of guys in the locker room. Seeing how crazy everyone gets for the Packers is pretty awesome – pretty cool to see that. (AR: Did you become a Packers fan?) Yeah, I think I have. We went out to Lambeau Field earlier this season -we weren’t able to get tickets because it was sold out- it turned out to be like a 20 degree celsius day so it was a really warm day. We didn’t get tickets but we went all the way out there and had a blast. (AR: Celsius?) That’s probably like 75 or 80 I want to say?
AR: What is your favorite food?
Payerl: I mean you’ve got to say pizza. Pizza is always a pleaser but I definitely look forward to pre-game meals, just chicken and pasta, because you don’t really eat that most days but on game-days you eat it and it’s probably one of my favorites.
AR: What is your favorite non-hockey hobby?
Payerl: I watch a lot of Netflix. A lot of TV series and stuff like that. (AR: Now you have to say what shows.) Right now I’m in the midst of watching Lost and there are so many episodes! You have to put in a lot of hours to get through it. So, I’m kind of grinding my way through that. (AR: I’ve actually never watched Lost. It builds and it has an amazing finish, too.) Yeah, I was that guy until a couple months ago. I’m still working my way through it but I recommend it. (AR: And Netflix is getting rid of my show Doctor Who. So.. I can’t recommend Doctor Who anymore. They officially get rid of it in February.) Aww.
AR: What is your favorite non-hockey memory?
Payerl: Stick with the sports theme. I grew up playing lacrosse. I played junior lacrosse until I was twenty. Probably just in general playing lacrosse at a high level like that. Used to play in my hometown so that was a pretty cool experience.
AR: What do you see yourself doing after hockey?
Payerl: Haven’t thought that far ahead so.. (AR: This is why I always ask this question last.) Yeah. Take things as they come. Right now I’m focused on being a hockey player.
Thanks much to Adam Payerl for taking the time to do this interview. Five Days of Fifteen is officially done. Now Fifteen will be uploaded more casually here and there. The shortlist of players you’ve suggested is almost at an end so please comment down below with more suggestions!
As evidenced by this photo from Teddy Bear Toss Night: Milwaukee Admirals forward Joe Pendenza is one of the true good guys of the team. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
From the moment he arrived at the end of the 2013-14 season Joe Pendenza has been one of the more fun interviews to always do around the Milwaukee Admirals locker room. He’s honest, has a smart read of the game, and has no problem having a laugh at himself or, more often than not, those around him.
Needless to say, there is a lot of that which comes out during this interview. Especially laughing. Kick back, read up or listen in, as Pendenza tells some stories.
~Fifteen~
Admirals Roundtable: What were your inspirations to play hockey?
Joe Pendenza: My family was pretty big into hockey but my big inspiration was definitely my uncle. I used to go to his high school games growing up and I used to watch the videos of him playing hockey. The running joke through my family is that he was the first one that gave me a hockey stick when I was born. So, it was definitely him. He was a big inspiration of mine.
AR: When did you realize that you were going to play hockey for a career?
Pendenza: I had a really good junior year in college. We ended up going to the Frozen Four. I knew talking to my advisers at that point that it was a possibility. Then, at the end of my senior year, I had a couple offers. So that’s when it’s kind of like, wow, like.. this is actually going to happen. (AR: You say a couple offers. One of those being the Admirals. What made you end up going with the Admirals?) I went to Nashville’s development camp the year before. So I was already kind of comfortable with everyone else and knew the management, the coaches, and the players. The big thing was that I was comfortable with everybody so I felt comfortable coming out here. (AR: Any of those guys at that camp that are still around here by any chance?) [Colton Sissons] was there, [Miikka Salomäki] was there.. he’s up but he was there… trying to go through the locker room. A couple of guys are in Nashville now like [Austin Watson]… [long pause] (AR: Let’s just put it this way. Miikka’s English then versus where it is today is amazing.) A lot better! Yeah, a lot better.
AR: Who was the first famous player that you met?
Pendenza: I probably have to say Ray Bourque. I played against his son growing up and he was one of the coaches at the time. So I got to meet him then. And then I was like, eight or nine, I went to like an autograph session. Me and my mom stood in the line for like three-hours in a mall. [laughs] (AR: It was going to have to be someone with the Bruins with you.) Yeah! Absolutely.
AR: What is your greatest hockey moment?
Pendenza: Probably winning Hockey East Championships back-to-back years for UMass-Lowell.
AR: Most memorable goal?
Pendenza: [groans] Oh God. Most memorable goal.. I don’t even know. I’d probably say my first NCAA goal. (AR: Do you remember the breakdown of it?) Yeah. It started in our end-zone. I was playing center, got the puck in the middle like right around the blueline, just skated, and just threw the puck to the net – it went in. It wasn’t anything pretty but it was the first one! I cellied way too hard! [laughs] (AR: Speaking of celebrating way too hard. I recorded the videos of today’s shootout at practice. Félix Girard, first one… amazing.) Amazing! (AR: Jamie Devane… even better. Because he follow that the whole way in and seemed like he was the only one who knew it crossed.) Yeah, it was awesome. I’m hoping that Girard pulls that out in a game. That would be great. (AR: I couldn’t believe it. That was so out of character!) I know! (AR: But I got it! I have it on tape. So, that exists.)
AR: What’s the strangest game that you’ve ever played in?
Pendenza: Strangest game.. [pause] We had a game growing up where the we started playing and then the ice started to melt. And that was it. We came back the next day and finished it. [laughs] Yeah, it was different. (AR: What the heck was wrong with the rink?) Oh, God I don’t know. It was just a Boston NBC rink. It was kind of old. I’m pretty sure they knocked it down and built a new one. But, yeah, there was like a big hole at the side of the rink so they were like, “Yeah.. We can’t do this anymore.” [laughs]
AR: What’s the most embarrassing hockey memory for you?
Pendenza: In high school. It was not during a game it was right after the game. I was sick the whole game, told my coach, played a period, came off the ice, and then my buddy opened the door and.. just.. puked all over him. [laughs] So the next day in school it was just a tough day for me! [laughs] He ended up having to get all new equipment and everything. [laughs] (AR: I love that you had one right off the bat. The last few I’ve had it’s a challenge.) Yeah, it’s because my dad makes fun of me for it all the time. Whenever I get sick he’s like, “just watch out for your teammates!” [laughs]
AR: Most painful moment in hockey injury-wise?
Pendenza: I hurt my wrist last year at the end of the year. But I’d say when I was like twelve I broke my collarbone [pause] and then decided to play for another two weeks. (AR: *proceeds to give Pendenza the stink eye*) Yeah. I refused to get an x-ray because I didn’t want to stop playing and then my mom eventually dragged me there and they were like, “yeah you’ve been playing with a broken collarbone.” I was like, “Ohh. OK.” I was like that’s why it was so hard. I couldn’t shoot or pass. I basically just skated up and down the ice. (AR: This isn’t exactly a sport where you’d want to play with a broken collarbone.) NO. No. It was definitely not a good decision. The doctors were very surprised.
AR: What are your favorite hockey uniforms?
Pendenza: Probably our’s for sure. The new ones. These are awesome. And then I’d have to say the Bruins one. Classic Spoked-B.
AR: Who is the funniest players that you’ve met?
Pendenza: [looks at the locker room] We’ve got some characters in there. Honestly, I just have to say the Frenchies. (AR: The French Fries!) Yes, the French Fries. [Editor’s Note: The French Fries was the nickname coined by Jonathan Diaby of his fellow French Canadian players and besties Félix Girard, Jimmy Oligny, and Frédérick Gaudreau.) They’re just hysterical. I can’t get enough of them. [laughs] They are way too funny! (AR: I picked up on them calling themselves the French Fries last year and, once, I arrived to the arena just as they did. I could have sworn it was Félix and Jo in the same suit. I was just, “Aww, you two good lil’ buddies!”) That doesn’t surprise me. That doesn’t surprise me at all. They’re comical. I hang out with them a good amount, too. So, it’s just way too funny. (AR: I love that they have a nickname for themselves.) Yeah, it’s great! It’s not just one of them it’s the whole group! (AR: Whenever I see Diaby come back I’m just, “THE BIG FRY is back! The Big Fry!”)
AR: What’s your favorite aspect of Milwaukee?
Pendenza: The food is awesome. I really enjoy, there’s a lot of different bar scenes and restaurants that I’ve seen. I’m a big foodie guy so I like that. Obviously there’s a lot of breweries around here so I like that, too. (AR: And because I can rope it back in because this wasn’t recording when we started this… bar scene… beer… tell me about the last Bucks game you went to.) Yeah, so I took my buddy from back home – he works out here. We were sitting at the front and he just got a beer, ball came flying, we weren’t paying attention, probably shouldn’t have been sitting courtside… beer just went everywhere. We were those guys that had to delay the game. It was actually a pretty hilarious and memorable moment, though. (AR: Was it a Bucks pass that went flying at you?) No, it was an Orlando pass. So, yeah, they were trying to take out the fans that game I guess. [laughs] Thank God no one got hit in the head though. (AR: It was either that or, not too long ago, like LeBron went full-bore into the crowd.) That’s honestly what I was more afraid of was one of those guys coming into you because -man- they’re enormous! And I was like, oh God! (AR: I finally did sit courtside for a game and you don’t realize how big they are. Because they make the hoop seem so tiny!) It’s crazy.
AR: What is your favorite food?
Pendenza: Anything Italian. Growing up in an Italian household it’s tough for me to go out to eat Italian with that. But, yeah, anything Italian.
AR: What is your favorite non-hockey hobby?
Pendenza: I’d say playing soccer or video games.. or just hanging out with my family. (AR: Do you have a favorite soccer team?) Juventus in Italy. (AR: Ah. [pause] Because if you said Chelsea I would have given you the stink eye.) No, I’m all about the Italian squads.
AR: What is your favorite non-hockey memory?
Pendenza: I am an older brother to two of my younger brothers. So I’d say both the days those two were born. I’m very close to both of them and I love them to death… even though they’re a pain in the ass. [laughs] (AR: I get followed by some of your family members because I’m always seeing on Twitter likes from them and stuff.) Yeah, I’m not on social media but God knows what they’re doing on there! [laughs] (AR: Which brings up a great point. Why aren’t you on Twitter?) I stay away from that stuff. Too much trouble happens! (AR: Too much of a vortex.) Yeah, too much of that. I keep to myself.
AR: What do you see yourself doing after hockey?
Pendenza: After hockey I have a degree in Finance. So it would probably be good to use that. If not I’d like to maybe do coaching. Nothing big. Probably the highest I’d ever do coaching is like midgets or something – stay with the younger kids. But I should probably do something with my degree – at least make it worth it for those four years of college. (AR: That was one of the first things I said when Eric Robinson was here last year. I said, why did you go the college route when you were drafted by a junior team? He said I wanted to get a degree. I was like, YOU GET IT.) Yeah! Definitely the degree. Not to mention – I remember that decision came actually and my mom was like – not a chance. I was like, ok. But I mean growing up in Boston it’s always college hockey so I always wanted to go there. Get a degree. Why not? It’s good to fall back on. (AR: That’s the other thing. I think that you get the degree and it makes something like this just a reward.) Absolutely. I want to play as long as possible, that’s for sure, but knowing that I have that degree – I have some connections in the finance world through Lowell that I met. It’s good to have those connections so I keep in touch with them. But, if it wasn’t for that, I’d honestly be clueless as to what I was going to do. (AR: You’re going to become like a mayor of Massachusetts one day aren’t you?) NO. [laughs] I’d rather just be a big wig at a financial firm somewhere running the stock market! [laughs]
Big thanks to Joe Pendenza to take the timeout after practice last week to do this interview. That has to be a record for the most laughter ever in an Admirals Roundtable interview, period. Five Days of Fifteen will end tomorrow with Adam Payerl. After that it will go back to a more casually presented feature. Speaking of which, who do you want to have featured in Fifteen next? Please comment down below with your suggestions!
Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.
News & Discussion Site For Your Milwaukee Admirals
Admirals Roundtable 