Radio Announcer intercut with music to generate hype: *You are listening to Latvijas Radio 2, the #1 source for Latvian News and music with no breaks*

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons: "Hello listeners, this is Goose Jansons of Latvijas Radio 2, we are back again with personal friend of the station Squidwardo Tentacles, Yukon Malamutes player and Seattle Argonauts prospect. We last checked in with him in the last offseason with an interview when his season was over. How are you doing this time Squidwardo?"

Squidwardo Tentacles: "Thanks Goose, I'm happy to be back and glad you'd have me! I'm doing good so far, the World Juniors has been great so far."

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons: "That is wonderful! For you listeners we are here at our live studio here in Riga, going over Squidwardo's most recent season and experiences in the far away land of Yukon. Squidwardo is not in the offseason yet, as we here in Riga are hosting the International Ice Hockey Federation tournaments, as Squidwardo is currently playing with team UCORCAL in the World Juniors."

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons: "After a tough season how do you feel about being able to come home to participate in the World Juniors tournament in your home town of Riga?"

Squidwardo Tentacles: "It is really something special, playing minor hockey here and growing up at the arenas around town make the return feel awesome. Seeing friends and family in the crowd at each game so far has been amazing, it definitely helps drive our squad towards our ultimate goal of winning a medal and it would be amazing to do it in front of our home crowd."

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons: "That's wonderful, we here at Latvijas Radio 2 have been cheering hard for UCORCAL and Team Latvia as they hope to bring home the Gold. We will be having a live radio broadcast for every game each night on Latvijas Radio 3 if any listener wants to tune in. Squidwardo, being back home in Latvia for this tournament what do your off days consist of? Have you been staying at home between games or have you been staying in a hotel with the team? How does that work?"

Squidwardo Tentacles: "I try to stay with the team as often as possible, you know building a bond with the players in the room is important and that starts off the ice. We've been staying in a hotel not far from the arena, we have seen a couple other teams there as well and there has been a bit of mingling from both teams but for the most part we stay as a group."

Squidwardo Tentacles: "Off days have been filled with practice mostly, we are really taking this tournament seriously and want to take home a medal pretty badly in front of our home crowd. But when we get a chance, a couple of the Latvian guys and I try to show everyone around town. Leo Roze, Dan Craig and I have been trying to show all the players different spots around town and see who has the best hidden gems and get the team to pick who has the best spots. I think Danny is leading right now."

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons: "Hopefully they are all enjoying our beautiful city during their time here! Squidwardo, 3 games into the tournament and the United Countries are currently sitting 4th with two wins and one loss. Eclipsing the tournament total from last year already, what do you think is different about the team this time around?"

Squidwardo Tentacles: "Honestly I think just a year of development has helped everyone a lot. We had a pretty young team last tournament and we were unable to get it done. With such a large pool of players trying to make the team, some good players were left off last season and some good players were left off this season. I think guys are taking it more seriously this time around as they try to seize the opportunity they were given and prove themselves. Working hard on and off the ice has been something the coaching staff has been preaching all through camp and playing in a system and knowing your role has helped us out a lot so far."

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons: "Hear that kids? Make sure you work hard on and off the ice if you want to make an impact for your team!  Speaking of working hard, what are your offseason plans once the tournament ends?"

Squidwardo Tentacles: "Oh you know me Goose, probably hit the ice a couple times a week and stay out here in Latvia as long as I can with some on and off ice work, I got a new skating coach that has been working with me and I'm hoping to build off my season and get better. I had a hitch in my stride that made me a bit faster in my rookie season but it would mess with my balance and edgework so with my new trainer we've been working that out of my skating form. My speed and acceleration has suffered a bit from it but as long as I keep working on my leg strength and stride I should be able to get back up to speed and even faster than I was before."

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons: "Was that hitch in your skating due to your skates or an injury? How did that come about?"

Squidwardo Tentacles: "It is a bit embarrassing but my buddies and I used to play NHL together and we would always try to make our skating styles look goofy, standing straight up, swinging or arms wildly that sort of thing. As a joke in the minors we tried to emulate that skating style for a couple games, I realized it made me a little bit faster and after trying to stop the hitch I ended up doing it more than I expected. Now I'm trying to stop for good because it isn't a good habit."

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons: "An entire offseason spent trying to fix your skating, was that mandated by your team or was that something you chose to do? Where else are you hoping to improve heading into your next season?"

Squidwardo Tentacles: "No, I ended up giving the puck away a bit too much for my own liking in my rookie season. I felt like I could give hits pretty well but when I am getting pushed over by players half my size easily, I was getting a little upset and hired a skating coach to work on it. Skating was my main focus this offseason, but heading into this next season I have plans on working on my defensive ability the most. I think I have most of the offensive tools in my toolbox already but I want to work on getting pucks back from the opponent more."

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons: " You probably don't have to worry about offense too much while playing with a line of Bobby Tkachucky and Langston Hardison-Laurent either I imagine! Heading back into the SMJHL draft this upcoming weekend, how were the Malamutes this season? What's the goal for your next season?"

Squidwardo Tentacles: "Not with those guys on my line haha. Langston has stepped it up a ton this past season, he got a new wardrobe gifted to him with Yukon themed Hawaiian shirts before the season started but I'm not sure if that has something to do with his scoring outbreak. Bobby has been all over the ice this season, if anyone tried to mess with a rookie Bobby or I would take care of it. Unfortunately we didn't make it out of the second round and were swept in a disaster series against Detroit. We can make all sorts of excuses but in the end Detroit was probably the best team in the league, winning the cup and beating other top teams is no easy feat."

Squidwardo Tentacles: "Our goal next season will be the same goal as every season Goose, win the cup. We were unable to go on a deep run this season but we are the only team in the SMJHL that isn't having players graduate to the SHL. So with our entire roster getting better and no subtractions, I think we have a solid chance at the cup again."

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons: "Speaking of graduating as a second year player on the Malamutes, you are no longer one of the youngest on the team. With new additions Slava-Ukraini Heroyam-Slava, Elly Snow-Leopard, Karter Mendenhall and Peyton Mcbride all stepping up in their rookie seasons, what are your thoughts on the Malamutes rookies this past season?"

Squidwardo Tentacles: "I think this was a strong rookie class. With all the rookies stepping up in their roles throughout the season, they contributed in big ways especially with our last set of Malamute graduates moving on to the SHL. A big surprise was Karter Mendenhall coming into camp and working hard to take the starting position of Jim Wen. At the beginning of the season our coach said the starting spot for the playoffs was up for grabs depending on how the season went, and Karter pushed hard and earned himself a shot at his first playoff run. Heroyam-Slava, Snow-Leopard and Mcbride were all solid additions to the roster and made an impact all season. I was paired with both Elly and Slava-Ukraini early in the season but we just weren't really clicking that well so we were split up. Florian ended up getting some chemistry with both of them and that line was really solid all season. Our coaches did say at the beginning of the year that no spot on the roster is guaranteed and we had to earn our spots and they weren't kidding. With the departure of fellow Season 74 rookie Fred Bread this offseason, and Tony Blundetto at training camp last season being replaced by Elly Snow-Leopard. Roster spots are always up for grabs. They're just waiting for people to seize their opportunities."

Squidwardo Tentacles: "I think we have one of the strongest teams on paper heading into next season, with a decently high draft pick in this upcoming SMJHL draft I am confident management brings in someone great that will make an impact. I am pretty confident our rookies from last season will train hard in the offseason and make improvements, especially after being drafted in the SHL draft this past weekend."

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons: "You had some personal success in the regular season and built off of your rookie season, gathering career highs in goals, assists, points and hits. What is the goal for next season?"

Squidwardo Tentacles: "I value team success over personal stats every time, but the goal in this upcoming season is to try to get Langston to break 60 goals, and possibly hit the league record which I believe is 61? On a personal note I'd like to see another step forward on my defensive game, I'd hope to hit higher takeaway numbers in the upcoming season with fewer giveaways. If I have a season like last year I am fine with whatever individual numbers happen. When I first joined the league I was hoping to eclipse the 300 point mark in my career but I believe I need around 80 points each season for the next 2 years which might be out of reach. If I hit it then I hit it y'know? But no big deal if I miss it."

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons:  "We only have time for one more question for today before you have to get going for team practice. After a strong draft from the Seattle Argonauts this season, how exciting is it for you knowing that they are making a huge effort to build up this franchise for the future using home grown talent?"

Squidwardo Tentacles: "It is very exciting, I am hoping to move up and start to contribute immediately at the end of my junior career. Getting my footing in the SHL will be great with the veteran roster they currently have, I am hopeful I can play a solid role for the squad when I graduate to the SHL and it won't be too long after that more young players will be coming up to contribute at the SHL level."

Gustavs "Goose" Jansons: "Thank you very much for your time Squidwardo, from all your friends here at Latvijas Radio 2. We hope to have another interview with you before the end of the offseason and you head back to Yukon. Good luck in the World Juniors and go win us all a medal!"

Squidwardo Tentacles: "Thanks very much Goose! I'll definitely try to come back and get that interview in! And I'll tell the boys you said good luck, hopefully we bring the gold home!"


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