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FuzzSHL · 12-21-2018, 04:49 AM

Ready to grade - 1129 words - 2x media bonus for draft week

The S45 SMJHL Entry Draft concluded earlier this evening with 117 rookies being drafted in what was regarded as one of the most stacked drafts in the league's history. We had a chance to sit down with Michael Fox and talk about this past week's prospect showcase, draft night, and his thoughts heading into the season.

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Tripp Forslund: Congratulations on being drafted Michael. 27th overall in a draft of this caliber certainly must feel like an honor.
Michael Fox: Thanks again Tripp, it's been a pleasure this week with everything going on. Hectic for sure, but it's been nice to play some competitive hockey again. I certainly wasn't expecting to be picked at 27th, and from some of the thing I heard I almost went earlier, so I know I have some high expectations heading into my rookie season, but I don't have any doubts about how I'll do.

TF: Could have gone earlier?
MF: Whoops. I don't think that was something I was supposed to mention. Before the draft, there was one GM who said that if I was available in the 3rd round their team would snag me, but I ended up getting picked up by St. Louis instead, and the locker room already has exceeded all expectations. We're gonna be a team to look out for this season for sure.

TF: Well it's certainly good to hear that your new team has been a welcoming place for you so far. Any familiar faces from this week's showcase?
MF: Some familiar faces for sure, but I'm still getting names down so I can't quite name everyone just yet. A few friends from the showcase squad ended up on other teams so it's gonna be fun to have a little friendly competition around.

TF: Friendly competition is always nice, but is there any not-so-friendly competition out there?
MF: Well I'm sure you've already heard about the Evans - Zheng rivalry going on, but there really isn't anyone out there that I think has any beef with me personally. I've been trying to keep my nose clean throughout this week, just trying to focus on getting better as a player. I took a few hard-headed penalties just from not having enough control over my stick, but with some work those minutes will go down.

TF: It's surprising to hear you say that seeing as how you only logged 14 penalty minutes in 44 showcase games.
MF: Well I'd honestly would have liked to get that number under 10, but even taking one penalty is too much. On top of that, no one wants to see anyone get hurt, and penalties often lead to goals in this league so the less time I spend in the box, the less the opposing team scores, and the more we win.

TF: Talk to me more about draft night. Were you with a group of other rookies celebrating the draft or were you with close family?
MF: I actually was with a group of other rookies celebrating the draft. We had some of the Smeb brothers hanging around, Cas Stevens stopped by for a while, as did Cloutier, Hasek, and O'Koivu. We were all pretty stoked for the draft, and they all went pretty high as they were all expected to. Things kind of hit the fan when I went though, I don't think any of us were expecting me to go that high. My man Monks [Monkey Luffy] was there too and he went a few spots after me so we were pretty stoked. Monks turned on the afterburners in the showcase playoffs and that probably helped put him up a bit higher on some draft boards.

TF: It's always nice to see everyone having a good time together. What about the GM's, did any of them reach out to you the day of the draft?
MF: A few did, but there were two that spent a little more time talking with me about the draft and about life in general. Not quite as many as I had hoped but at the end of the day I'm happy about where I ended up and I'm looking ahead to the season. I'm putting my nose to the grindstone now and while it was nice going pretty high up in the draft, its not the draft position that matters, its the results at the end of the season. I'm here to help the Scarecrows as much as I can and to become a better player by the end of it all.

TF: Do you have any idea where you'll be in the lineup or who you will possibly be on a line with?
MF: Honestly Tripp, I have no clue. We have an amazing coaching staff and I'm sure they're gonna put me where not only I'm going to succeed, but where I will help benefit the team the most. I'm looking forward to finding out my linemates and getting to know them better as well.

TF: Just one more question and I'll let you go. I'm sure you've had a busy night and you're looking to get some rest. What is one part of your game as a whole that you feel you need to improve upon the most heading into your rookie season?
MF: Oh my positioning for sure. I wasn't quite keeping track of my +/- but I'm sure if you look at it, it isn't going to be too impressive. I've seen some of the guys already in the J and even a few up in the SHL and some of their positioning is off the charts. I personally feel like I've got a pretty solid offensive game already, so unless the coaching staff tells me otherwise, my defense and my positioning are going to be my main focus heading into the season, however I have been told that they go hand in hand.

TF: Okay well thank you again for your time Michael and good luck with the Scarecrows.
MF: Thanks again Tripp, it's always a pleasure.

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You can catch Michael Fox moving forward with the St Louis Scarecrows in the SMJHL. We will continue to follow Michael throughout the season and throughout his journey from the SMJHL into the SHL.

Aleksi Kettu

Blastmeaway · 12-21-2018, 05:42 AM

Looking forward to see what he can do in the great crows sweater!

Shout out to ml002, schultzy, slashacm, tedward!
[Image: blastmeaway.gif]

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09-05-2018, 10:04 PMBeaver Wrote: Wow look what the PT affiliation has done to our pristine league.

12-19-2018, 12:31 AMBeaver Wrote: I personally blame the PT affiliation for handing out massive amounts of free TPE to all these players, inflating the TPE they're at when they get called up.