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***FuzzSHL*** · 12-19-2018, 11:36 PM

Tripp Forslund: We're back with rising star Michael Fox to talk about his journey to the draft. Thanks for taking the time again Michael, it's always a pleasure.
Michael Fox: Thanks for having me again Tripp.

TF: So we've already talked about how you got into hockey in our previous interview, I want to ask you about something maybe a bit more personal: your family. How did your family react to you wanting to transition to hockey instead of soccer?
MF: Well they were a bit shocked at first. They had tried to get me into another sport from the beginning and I didn't want anything to do with that idea.All it took was going to a game and I was hooked. They were a bit reluctant because of the price of all the equipment at first, but once I got on the ice and started training they were all in on it.

TF: How does a guy from a small town in North Carolina not only find a team to play for, but also an trainer good enough to get you junior-ready in just over 3 years?
MF: Well like I said before, I got really lucky. We were in a hockey shop and got to talking to one of the guys in there and it happened to be "Rod the Bod" and he happened to have some extra time and offered to help if I was serious. It was truly an honor and I've learned a lot.

TF: What about your amateur team, how did the coaching staff there influence you to keep pushing forward? How did they feel about you training with an NHL legend outside of the team?
MF: Well they weren't too stoked about it at first, they thought I was messing with them when I showed up to the first practice. But for our first league game, Rod, Kuokks, Seabass, Marty Nachos, and Turbo all showed up to the game and the coaching staff didn't question it from there on out. They actually encouraged it from then on, and when the points started coming they knew it was paying off. They've done everything they could to make sure I keep my head where it's supposed to be and I credit a lot of my mindset to my LAWL coaches.

TF: Who do you credit your playstyle to? You have been a pass first guy from the beginning, yet you've obviously had the talent to be the guy to score more. Why pass?
MF: I actually credit my best friend for that. When he took me to my first game, he sat and explained everything to me: the penalties, positions, strategies, everything. There were a few guys who kept trying to do too much and it ultimately cost their team the game. However, there was this one guy playing for the Checkers who kept dancing around his opponents, just to pass to one of his teammates who was standing still. My best friend told me that not everyone has an amazing shot, and some have enough to make space for their linemates to put in easy shots. I'm a big competitor, I love winning, and I found that I could be that type of player from the get go and I haven't looked back. I'm gonna keep trying to set my team up until someone stops me.

TF: One last question and I'll let you go so you can prepare for the Stingrays. If you had to pick one current SHL player that helped gain your interest in the SMJHL and SHL, who would it be and why?
MF: Oh Tripp, I honestly don't know if I can answer that. There really wasn't a player that got my interest in the league. I saw a flyer one day, looked deeper into it, and decided to try to see if I could make it. I've paid a little bit of attention to Sophia Bennett out of LA. She's one of the league leaders in assists, but still has a natural ability to find the back of the net. I'm doing everything I can to be able to produce at that kind of level one day.

TF: Well thanks again for the time, Michael, and good luck against the Stingrays.
MF: Thanks Tripp.

Aleksi Kettu

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