<div align="center">Interview with Eoin MacGregor – Prince George Firebirds


Most players in any league want to be known for scoring beautiful goals or saucing passes tape to tape. But for Eoin MacGregor, he wants to be known for bringing pain and creating fear into his opponents with every hit. Last season MacGregor had 107 hits in 50 games. He even found himself on the score board adding 17 points. He is a true defensive defenceman who will lay the body and sacrifice himself every game. The scouts have said sometimes he can be over aggressive, but his defence ability certainly makes up for over playing the body.</div>

***Please distribute 60% of the earnings to SethTrollins and 40% to myself***

RaiN - Good evening, I am here with Ireland native Eoin MacGregor of the Prince George Firebirds. Thanks for the opportunity to interview you!

SethTrollins - Thanks for having me.

RaiN - So Eoin, you left your home of Ireland to come play hockey in North America. What led you to make that decision?

SethTrollins‘I was in a rut after being expelled from playing rugby, football, and Gaelic football, when I came across a magazine that had a cover of an ice hockey player and an article about the sport. I spent hours reading it and looking at the cover and fell in love with the sport immediately. Something about the reckless abandon and opportunity to actually hit people and not be punished for it appealed to me.’

RaiN- Describe the path that brought you to North America in the first place.

SethTrollins‘I’ve been advised to say that I had a ticket booked for me and it was on a plane. Unless you expect me to say something about arriving at New York on an old, broken door? Because my lawyers will have something to say about that kind of insinuation. I’ll have you know that I actually arrived at Larry’s River and it was in a bathtub.’

RaiN- You are strong defensive defence man first. Your play certainly speaks for itself. Some however are concerned with your lack of offensive ability, what do you have to say to those who may question your offensive side of the game?

SethTrollins‘Fifteen assists and two goals speaks for itself. I’m a force to be reckoned with on offence so I’m not sure what the issue is. Do I need to break more opposition’s bones? Because I’ll do it if that counts as being offensive enough. How about jokes about minorities? I have loads of them. What did the judge say to the Mexican?... Wait… why are you turning the recorder off?’

RaiN- What has your experience been like so far with the Firebirds. Have there been any moments that stand out to you? If so, what were those moments?

SethTrollins‘The Firebirds have been great from day one. I’ve been appreciative of them for drafting me and given them my all in every game, which I hope has shown. Our general performance in the season was good but far from enough to be satisfied with. I think us pushing the Kelowna Knights in the playoffs was probably the standouts. Everybody expected us to be wiped out, especially after those trades, but we’ve proven we have enough to push for next season.

RaiN- You registered a total of 107 hits in your first junior season. You are arguably one of the most intimidating players on the ice. Aside from your scary presence and checking ability, what else do you bring to the table that would make an SHL team want to draft you?

SethTrollins‘The finest beard and accent combination in hockey. Beyond that, rock solid defensive play and selfless offensive play that allows teammates to shine and not have to be concerned with the opposition all the time. I’ll deal with that for them.’

RaiN - Are there any SHL teams you'd like to be drafted to over others? Could you possibly provide a list of your top 3 teams you hope to be drafted to?

SethTrollins‘There are a few teams that stand out to me but it’s changed over the past few weeks and is open to further alteration. I like what I see and hear of the Winnipeg Jets, and I’m interested by the Portland Admirals, but I’m mostly open to where I end up. I’d like to hear from more teams as I head into the draft because I’m can’t be even slightly sure as to where my future lies yet.’

RaiN - You managed to notch 2 goals and 15 assist in your rookie season. For a defensive type of player, that is still pretty impressive. Do you plan on focusing on your offensive skill set in the near future? Would you say you are a pass first or shoot first kind of guy?

SethTrollins‘Pass first, always. I take a few shots but, usually, I’m just not interested in scoring myself. I don’t know what it is but it isn’t often I feel confident in front of goal so I’d rather pass it to somebody in a better position or more confident than I am when they’re in that kind of situation. So far it’s worked for me but I know I’ll be expected to work on that as I advance up to the SHL in the future.’

RaiN- Any plans for the off-season prior to the draft and post draft?

SethTrollins‘Get drunk, probably. I don’t really need an occasion or reason, I just like to drink. Water is, after all, just fish piss, so I’d rather not be involved in that kind of thing. I’m not into it. Other than that, maybe I’ll be adding to my collection of penny sweets and, from time to time, improving my hockey skills. I’ve been told I need to be better with my passing so I’ll be trying to sharpen that up and maybe a couple of other things.’

RaiN- Which round do you project yourself being drafted in?

SethTrollins‘There’s a lot of talk about me being a first rounder so there’s some hope, even expectation, that I’ll sneak it amongst the last few picks like I did in the SMJHL Draft. If I was in the first then I’d be over the moon but, failing that, I’d be happy as a second rounder. It’s more important to me that I end up at a team that I’m happy with and able to have a future at for a number of seasons.’

RaiN - What will it take to crack the SHL roster as a true rookie?

SethTrollins‘Commitment and a thin roster ahead of me. I don’t expect to be in the SHL for at least another season and wouldn’t be upset if I’m not involved for a couple. I’d rather come in ready to compete than be out of my depth for a season or two and look like a complete nobody. Besides, I’m in no rush to leave Prince George – unless, of course, the team that drafts me really needs me.

RaiN- Any advice you can offer to junior eligible players considering coming overseas to play hockey?

SethTrollins‘Guinness just ain’t the same. I don’t know what it is – the air, the smell, the time between transporting it over here – but it just doesn’t taste right. I still can’t adjust to it and I’ve been feeling down about it from day one. Scott Robertson’s tried to make jokes about it being in his moustache but it just isn’t enough. Be prepared to miss the things you love the most when you come over here. On the plus side, Canadians love putting maple syrup on everything and I can appreciate their desire for early onset diabetes.’

RaiN - What type of training do you do that allows you to endure the amount of impact you deal on a night to night basis?

SethTrollins ‘I’ve been throwing myself out of glass windows from the moment I could walk, so this is nothing to me. I often go to bars, get involved in fights, and that often toughens me up for the action on the ice – although it does seem to take all of my aggression out in the meantime so I might adjust that approach. I like to hit people with wooden sticks and slice peoples’ achilles’ with sharp objects a lot, which might explain the amount of penalties I get, but I can’t help that they’re just so inviting. Otherwise I do a lot of heavy lifting with solely my back and ignore any sudden cracks and aches I get. It’s got me this far so I’ve decided to keep with it until the bitter end – that’s the kind of advice me da used to give me – before he was confined to a wheelchair through a terrible back injury – and I’m not about to give it up now.’

Code:

1456

Andrey Barbashev II|| LW || Kelowna Knights || TPE 667
Son of North Star Great Andrey Barbashev
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Height: 6'0
Weight: 185
Number: 92
------------------------------------------------------------
Career Statistics:
SMJHL S49 Regular Season:
S49 | 50 GP | 6 G | 5 A | 11 P | -2 | 0 PPP | 6 PIM | 36 H
S50 | 50 GP | 17 G | 21 A | 38 P | +13 | 7 PPP | 16 PIM | 48 H
S51 | 50 GP | 20 G | 19 A | 39 P | +9 | 6 PPP | 24 PIM | 73 H
------------------------------------------------------------
Transactions:
S49:Drafted 32nd Overall by Kelowna
S49:Signed 1yr/$3.0M
S50:Drafted 15th Overall by West Kendall
S49:Signed 3yr/$12.0M
S51:Extended 1yr/$6.0M for S52 with WKP
------------------------------------------------------------
Accomplishments:
S49:World Junior Gold Medalist

 

S2, S5, S18, S22 Challenge Cup Champion
Hall Of Famers: (S7) Alex Reay | (S28) Daniel Merica

LW- Daniel Merica | Rage | Hall of Fame
REGULAR SEASON STATS:
S15 | SEA | 50 GP | 11 G | 9 A | 20 PTS |15 H | 2 GWG
S16 | SEA | 50 GP | 8 G  | 7 A  | 15 PTS | 9 H
S17 | SEA | 50 GP | 18 G | 17 A | 35 PTS | 20 H | 3 GWG
S18 | SEA | 50 GP | 17 G | 24 A | 41 PTS | 89 H | 3 GWG
S19 | SEA | 50 GP | 17 G | 33 A | 50 PTS | 23 H | 2 GWG
S20 | SEA | 52 GP | 24 G | 23 A | 47 PTS | 52 H | 5 GWG
S21 | MAN| 52 GP | 22 G | 31 A | 53 PTS | 41 H | 6 GWG
S22 | MAN| 52 GP | 23 G | 35 A | 58 PTS |154 H| 1 GWG
S23 | MAN| 52 GP | 22 G | 23 A | 45 PTS | 105 H| 2 GWG
S24 | MAN| 52 GP | 16 G | 21 A | 37 PTS | 95 H | 1 GWG
S25 | MAN| 50 GP | 17 G | 20 A | 37 PTS |92 H
S26 | TEX | 50 GP | 18 G | 20 A | 38 PTS | 37 h
AWARDS
S15 SMJHL MVP
S18 Challenge Cup Champion
S21 1st Team All-Star
S22 1st Team All-Star
S22 Challenge Cup Champion
S28 1st Ballot Hall of Famer


LW- Daniel Merica Jr. | Stampede |  TPE: 1,013
SMJHL REGULAR SEASON STATS:
S59 | ANA | 66 GP | 9 G | 6 A | 15 P | 100.4 PDO |               
S60 | ANA | 66 GP | 14 G | 16 A | 30 P | 100.2 PDO |
S61 | STL | 66 GP | 17 G | 12 A | 29 P | 99.2 PDO
AWARDS:
S61 WJC GOLD MEDAL+ GWG
SMJHL TRANSACTIONS:
S59: Drafted 22nd Overall by Anaheim Outlaws
S61: Traded to St. Louis Scarecrows
SHL TRANSACTIONS:
S60: Drafted 16th Overall by Winnipeg Aurora
S62: Traded to Buffalo Stampede for S65 2nd



Thanks to Ragnar, Wasty and myself for the sigs.

I got a shoutout <3

Originally posted by IncorrectAtlas@Oct 7 2015, 08:04 PM
I got a shoutout <3

I didn't... :(

      S76 SMJHL DRAFT 3RD OVERALL PICK     
        S77 SHL DRAFT 4TH OVERALL PICK         
                     IIHF TEAM NORWAY                      

Originally posted by Dangles13@Oct 7 2015, 09:08 PM


I didn't... :(

He just doesn't love you as much as he loves me, is all

Originally posted by IncorrectAtlas@Oct 7 2015, 08:09 PM


He just doesn't love you as much as he loves me, is all

I can accept this.

Originally posted by Dangles13@Oct 8 2015, 03:08 AM
I didn't... :(

You have a place in his heart.

Thanks for doing this, RaiN. It's a good initiative.

Originally posted by SethTrollins@Oct 8 2015, 02:16 AM


It's a good initiative.

'Initiative' makes it seem like some sort of top secret project, like XCOM or something like that

Originally posted by IncorrectAtlas@Oct 8 2015, 08:25 AM
'Initiative' makes it seem like some sort of top secret project, like XCOM or something like that

I'm British, so I make everything seem clandestine.