[b]Word Count: 3,041.
50% to IncorrectAtlas.[/b]

Welcome to this season’s edition of ‘Get To Know The Rookies’, where we take a look at some of the newest additions to the Prince George Firebirds’ roster during preseason and, as the name suggests, get to know them a little better. Of course, Prince George drafted a number of players during this past draft but today we’ll be looking at their first two picks: Eoin MacGregor and Scott Robertson, who are already starting a productive defensive partnership despite it still being early in the season. We here at the Firebirds Headquarters are keen to find out why these two are clicking and what, in fact, makes them tick.


<div align="center">
Eoin MacGregor</div>
First of all we’ll be looking at first-rounder Eoin MacGregor, who was recently made an alternative captain – alongside talented send down DJ Stanley – and will be playing his first season in ice hockey this year as a ‘true’ rookie, having only recently converted to the sport. The Irishman has never ceased to amaze from the moment he arrived on the scene and seems to be an almost mythical figure with a reputation that precedes him and, everywhere he goes, seems to be recognised as the ‘facebiter’.

Can you share with us a bit of information about your family?
‘It was always just me ma, da and me in a two foot square foot box in the middle of a busy motorway. Me da worked twenty-five hours a day, eight days a week, as a gold miner outside of Cork. They kept telling him there wasn’t any gold but he never gave up looking, all the way until his death in a tragic cauliflower accident. Me ma worked in a sewing factory and, like da, worked long hours. She said she wasn’t very good at sewing and often stitched herself to whatever she was making and had to have skin cut off to separate them. I just like to think of it as a little bit of her out there for everyone else to enjoy.’

Do you have a favorite number? Why is it your favorite?
‘Five, it’s the number of fingers on one of my hands so I can always remember it. Although sometimes my other hands pops up and it confuses me.’

Do you know what number you will be wearing with the Firebirds?
‘Five, I hope. I’ve always worn that number when playing sports.’

Do you have any nicknames? If so how did you get it?
‘Most people call me Eoin. My parents started that, I think. I’ve also been called ‘that big red Irish git’ but it didn’t really stick.’

Who is your all time hockey idol?
‘I like the guy that turns up for every game in the striped shirt. He’s always there, regardless of who is playing. It’s just a shame he doesn’t try to get more involved and overcome his fear of the puck. He’s always jumping over it and running away. I’ve tried passing it to him a few times but he’s too scared.’

Could you share with us one of your best hockey memories?
‘Being drafted? I only started playing this recently. Also, one time, I scored. Twice.’

When did you start skating? Or did you skate when you were a baby?
‘Recently. Yeah, recently…’

Do you have a favorite actor or actress?
‘I like that guy from Gammy Thrones. You know the guy, the one with the ginger beard. He reminds me of someone I know.’

‘Me. He reminds me of me.’

What kind of music do you like?
‘Acid reggae jazz. You should look for it on t’internet, it’s amazing.’

Do you have a favorite singer or group at the moment?
‘Me ma’s a pretty good singer. They use her at the local pub when it’s time to close.’

If you could eat a meal with anyone alive or dead who would it be?
‘Michael Flatley. I can only imagine the wild stories he has about being on the road.’

What is something people don’t know about you and would be surprised to find out?
‘I’m Irish.’

What is the person you admire most throughout your hockey career?
‘My manager, Mr David Shifty. He’s helped me get this far and made sure I have no worries, including kindly handling my money, so I can focus on what’s important to me: hockey.’

Is there something you have with no monetary value, but has the most value to you?
‘My beard. It’s nice and warm.’

Is there any chore that if you could you would never do again?
‘I really hate having to clear out owls from the basement. I wish I didn’t have to do it but no matter what I do, even concrete outside of the walls, they still manage to burrow in.’

If you could do any other job aside from professional hockey what would you do and why?
‘Nothing. This is all I want to do. Well, that and be a binman. They look like they have fun but when I tried out they said I wasn’t qualified to throw rubbish in the back of a truck. It broke my heart but I’ve settled on hockey now.’

What is your favorite place you have ever visited?
‘Anywhere in Cork such as the Airport Business Park, the Business and Technology Park… beautiful places.’

What is a place that you want to visit, but have not been to yet?
‘The dentist. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it.’

Do you have any hockey superstitions or pre-game rituals?
‘I always put my left skate and glove on first. It makes putting the rest of my uniform on difficult but it’s been pretty lucky so far so I’m sticking with it. As me ma always used to say: “If it ain’t broke, don’t go hitting it with a feckin’ hammer you little bollock!” ’

What was your favorite toy as a child?
‘My old toy Switchy. It was an old rusty switchblade that I cut myself on a number of times but I still have it to this day. Still cut myself on it sometimes when I forget where I’ve left it.’

Who is your biggest cheerleader?
‘Are you trying to say me ma is fat?’

Do you do anything to stay busy when travelling between games?
‘I like to collect penny sweets, stickers of clowns, and to meet raccoons. There’s a nice one that lives near me house that I’ve called Dave. He’s bigger than the other raccoons and likes to bark a lot but is friendly – you can go right up to him and stroke him. Some bloke always shouts at me when I do that though.’

Do you have any favorite quotes or mottos?
‘ “Feck the gobshites” from Oscar Wilde. It’s always stuck with me.’

Have you always played the same position you currently play throughout your life?
‘I always play defensive if possible. My strength is in stopping others. And stomping on them. And biting them. Just anything to hurt- I mean, stop them. I like stopping people.’

If you could choose anyone to be your hockey spirit coach, who would it be?
‘Bob Geldof. His positive views on life and cheerful music would be a great influence on me.’

Do you have a favorite TV show?
‘I like the Phil Mack Country Show. Countless hours of entertainment and high quality production. Great music too.’

Do you already know anyone on the Prince George Firebirds?
‘I know Scott Robertson. Just between you and me, I wish he’d grow some kind of facial hair – I’m tired of being the only good looking bloke on our line. Luke Fleming I’ve talked to a few times and he’s been nice, although he keeps telling me to do things.’

Do you know anyone else in the SMJHL?
‘I’ve met a few people but don’t really know them. Cody Black used to be my friend until he left for Wales. Why would anyone want to go there?’

Do you have a rival?
‘Everyone. Except for my teammates. Depends if they’re in my way or not. There’s also that bloke in Asda car park back in Cork. He knows what he did.’

How do you play with your teammates?
‘With Lego, mostly. But others keep walking on them when we’re playing in the locker room.’

What would you describe your play style as?
‘Painful and bloody. Very bloody.’

Do you play any other sports other than hockey?
‘I’ve played rugby, football, and Gaelic football but now I’m focused completely on hockey.’

Outside of this time, have you ever been to Prince George before?
‘You can’t go to a person. And I’m pretty sure you aren’t even allowed near him.’

Do you speak any other languages? If so what?
‘I speak English.’

What was the biggest contributing factor to your decision to choose Prince George?
‘I didn’t choose them, they chose me. I’m very happy to be here though.’

What is your pump up song?
‘ “My Lovely Horse” by Father Ted Crilly (and Father Dougal McGuire).’

What do you think about the current competition around the league?
‘I’m not too familiar but from what I’ve seen so far it’s looking pretty good. It’s very open this year, it seems.’

Do you have a special someone out there currently?
‘They aren’t really out there, just in my basement.’

What are your goals for this season?
‘To hurt a lot of people, stop the puck going in our net, and to hurt people. Also to help the Firebirds do well during my time there and to, hopefully, win something shiny. I like shiny things.’

What are your future goals?
‘To hurt even more people, stop the puck going in our net, and to hurt people. A lot. Hopefully I’ll get a lot of shiny things as well. I really like shiny things.’


There you have it: a fascinating insight into the mind of one of the most enigmatic members of the Firebirds roster and, perhaps, the entire SMJHL.


<div align="center">
Scott Robertson</div>
Following this is none other than the recently appointed captain, Scott Robertson, as chosen by his peers from the locker room. This young, modest man has stepped up to the role with gusto and is quickly proving himself to be a steadfast and influential leader both on and off the ice despite his rookie status. Early signs show him to be just as reliable when playing on the ice with some solid numbers that will undoubtedly improve as he gains experience. So let’s find out what drives our captain.

Can you share with us a bit of information about your family?
"I guess you could say that I'm part of a standard nuclear family. Dad, Mom, older sister. They've been supporting me so much, and I couldn't be more grateful. My dad plays in local beer league games sometimes, he and my uncle are how I got into hockey when I was a kid."

Do you have a favorite number? Why is it your favorite?
"7, probably. It's just lucky for me. It's the most likely number to show up when you roll two six-sided dice. It's the most common number chosen when a person is asked to pick a number from one to ten."

Do you know what number you will be wearing with the Firebirds?
"I always wore number 2, so hopefully they let me keep it. If they gave me something else, I wouldn't complain, but I'd like to stick with it."

Do you have any nicknames? If so how did you get it?
"Scotty. I was and am a big science fiction buff, and I'm sure you know the character from Star Trek. Kids in middle school used to call me... other things, but that stopped real fast after I got good at hockey."

Who is your all time hockey idol?
"Oh, probably my dad. He used to play when I was a kid, and I remember thinking he was just godly. I mean, it was just beer league exhibition matches, but I was so impressed at the time that it just stuck with me."

Could you share with us one of your best hockey memories?
"It was when I first was switched to defense after attempting to start as a forward, and I made my first shot on goal. It wasn't much, yeah, but it was really important to me at the time."

When did you start skating? Or did you skate when you were a baby?
"I first started skating when I was about 8 or so. I didn't start playing until I was 10, so I've gotten a bit of a late start compared to the guys who have been on the ice since they were infants."

What kind of music do you like?
"Classic rock, classical, gregorian choir. And I guess alternative metal? I'm not really sure what the genre is called, let's just go with that."

If you could eat a meal with anyone alive or dead who would it be?
"Probably George Washington. He's one of the greatest people to ever walk this earth, if you ask me."

What is something people don’t know about you and would be surprised to find out?
"I like to play the euphonium when I have free time. Don't expect me to put on any concerts, but I could be convinced otherwise."

Is there something you have with no monetary value, but has the most value to you?
"The first time I scored a goal back when I was like 10, they gave me the puck. Still have it."

Is there any chore that if you could you would never do again?
"Chores build character, but if I had to pick a least favorite, I'd say adding mulch to the garden. Smells pretty bad."

If you could do any other job aside from professional hockey what would you do and why?
"I loved tinkering as a kid, you know, working with my dad on house projects. I guess a handyman or contractor or something along those lines."

What is your favorite place you have ever visited?
"Is this the part where I'm supposed to say Prince George?"

Do you have any hockey superstitions or pre-game rituals?
"I always cross myself right as the game is about to start. Uh, and I use the bathroom right before stepping on the ice."

Who is your biggest cheerleader?
"My sister. She drove me to my games, stayed to watch the whole thing, and drove me back

Do you do anything to stay busy when travelling between games?
"Well, I usually study the inside of my eyelids while on the bus, but I think that's going to change for the better now that I'm on the Firebirds."

Do you have any favorite quotes or mottos?
"There's an old Latin proverb that I like to refer to whenever I'm confused or angry about something. Derived from the slogan of one of Caesar's legions, 'Fuck it'."

Have you always played the same position you currently play throughout your life?
"No, I started as a winger, and boy was I awful. It was nothing short of miraculous when I switched over, because I was suddenly good at this sport."

Do you have a favorite TV show?
"Game of Thrones. I read the books too, hopefully some of the other Firebirds have so we can talk about it."

Do you already know anyone on the Prince George Firebirds?
"Macgregor and I talked after the rookie showcase games. He was a beast out there, it'd be nice to pair with him."

Do you know anyone else in the SMJHL?
"I met a bunch of people at the combines, but nobody really stuck out to me that I hadn't already met from watching the rookie showcase games."

Do you have a rival?
"That punk Cody who went to Vancouver. It's mostly friendly barbs, but now that he's a Whaler, I actually need to be better than he is."

How do you play with your teammates?
"It's all about being in sync with your partner and forwards. If all of us know what we're all doing as a collective, it cultivates success."

What would you describe your play style as?
"Not very aggressive. I'd much rather take the puck than check somebody to get it off of them. It's something I definitely will be working on, though, as my partner can't do all of the physical work."

Do you play any other sports other than hockey?
"I always used to play pickup basketball with my friends back in the day, when I wasn't practicing for my high school or college hockey games."

Outside of this time, have you ever been to Prince George before?
"No, to be honest."

Do you speak any other languages? If so what?
"Italian, a little. My family went on vacation to Roma when I was 9-ish, and I picked up the language pretty easily while we were there."

What was the biggest contributing factor to your decision to choose Prince George?
"I mean, it was the draft, so you chose me more than I chose you.

What is your pump up song?
"To Glory by Two Steps from Hell. It gets my blood pumping and body tensing up every single time I hear it."

What do you think about the current competition around the league?
"We're going to have to work our butts off if we want to go far, that's for sure. It really looks like everyone did well in the draft, so all the more work for us, right?"

Do you have a special someone out there currently?
"Yes, and her name is Hockey."

What are your goals for this season?
"Just to grow and thrive in Prince George, play some good hockey for a good team."

What are your future goals?
"Hopefully plentiful."


Another interesting glimpse into the mind-set of captain Scott Robertson, particularly his views on life and his dedication to the sport.

We thank you for joining us in this special look at just a small part of the Firebirds’ future and look forward to seeing these two continue to improve over the next couple of seasons and, hopefully, help bring success to Prince George. No pressure, guys!

S52 "A" Alternate Captain of the Calgary Dragons
"GM" - Former Prince George Firebirds and Regina Force General Manager
"C" - Former Captain of the Halifax Raiders
S48 Brandon Holmes Trophy Recipient - Top Defensive Forward
-  -  - -  -  -  -  -  -  - - 
Davos Otasrob Player Page
Davos Otasrob Player Updates

Originally posted by Rublic@Aug 31 2015, 11:37 AM

sigs by ToeDragon84

Good read buddy