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JLysohirka · 08-24-2015, 04:33 PM

Johnny Cahill Presser: Second Season

We here at the St. Louis Sun caught up with the Scarecrows sophomore defenseman after his final preseason game. Hello Johnny, how are you?

I am alright thank you Amanda, but always looking to do better. I am looking forward to another season of showing the people of St. Louis what I can do for this great franchise. As well as another fun season mucking about with the lads of course.

You say you are only alright. Does that have anything to do with last seasonâ€™s playoff collapse and your relatively mediocre performance in this yearâ€™s preseason?

Oh for sure. I was rather disappointed in last season crash out of the playoffs. Being swept is never fun, and to lose it all in a game where we had such a lead was heartbreaking. Especially considering the fact that I was largely to blame for the game winning goal being scored, due to the fact I didnâ€™t really give our goalie a chance to see the puck. As for this preseason the team has been playing great and I have been playing alright, but I know I can do better and that is what I am going to focus on in the coming weeks.

Since we havenâ€™t talked to you since before the SHL draft tell us about that and how it felt being drafted by the Jets?

Itâ€™s rather surreal. Everyone here in St. Louis knows my story and knows that I havenâ€™t been playing the game for very long, and especially not competitively. So to get drafted by such a great Canadian franchise as Winnipeg was a dream come true that I never really knew I had. It was great to meet a new group of guys and training camp was amazing. I feel that it made me work on more specific facets of my game than those I maybe would have worked on had I not gone. I do look forward to playing for them one day and helping them win some silverware, but for the time being I am very focused on the â€˜crows and winning the cup this year
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What exactly do you hope to accomplish this year that you didnâ€™t last year?

Well on an individual level I am hoping to provide a bit more going forward. As I have mentioned in previous interviews I want to be not only solid defensively but also be able to help the team score goals. This will most likely come from tallying assists with good passing as I am not a natural born scorer. As such, this is part of my game I will be focusing on training as well as in actual games come the beginning of the season. I also want to be more of a physical presence on the ice. This league is full of large people but I am always willing to land a crushing hit or drop the gloves if it will be beneficial to my team. From a team standpoint what I want to accomplish this year is simple. I want to win everything possible. From each game right on through the playoffs and eventually hoist the cup.

You mention the playoffs, how do you think things will shape up this year with the new teams recently being added to the league.

I think that new competition is always healthy and that it will provide more opportunities for us here in St. Louis to go up against different types of competition to better prepare ourselves for the playoffs. I am not sure yet how the system is going to work come playoff time, that being said, I am confident that we will be high up in the standings and have a great run come playoff season.

Now to step away from the game a bit, what can you tell us about how your relationship has developed with the team as well as management and the franchise as a whole?

I love it all, the lads, the coaches, the other management, and especially the fans in the city of St. Louis. Both Cuffy and BBP have been great in helping me acclimate to the league and lifestyle of a professional athlete, and have been listening to my opinions on matters. Whether this is because they value my tactical insight or simply to placate me who knows haha. Seriously though, I couldnâ€™t have asked for better management in my first experience in the league. It also looks as if the trend will continue with Winnipeg when I make my way there, if my few interactions with the GM are anything to go by. As for the team for the most part they are a great group of guys, there was a little bit of hurt feelings after we were swept in the playoffs last season but that was dealt with and those people are either no longer here, or have changed their tune. The new draftees are also looking to mesh well with the rest of us, and personally I canâ€™t wait to begin the hazing in earnest. It was also bittersweet to see a few of the boys leave for the SHL and not be sent back down because I am happy for them, but at the same time will miss their presence on the ice and in the locker room.

Well Johnny thanks a lot for your time and try not to let it be so long before you come back and speak with us(me) again. Before I let you go though is there anything you would like to say to your fans here in St. Louis?

Yeah definitely, I just want to say thank you for being so supportive of me and my dream in the last year. I also want to sincerely apologize for the role I played, or didnâ€™t play, as some may view it in our playoff collapse last season. Finally I would just like to echo my sentiments from last season that I will try my hardest to bring a championship to this great city, and at the very least when the fans come out to watch us the lads and I promise to play some entertaining hockey. Thank you.

Word Count: 1037

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