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Renomitsu · 03-30-2020, 01:40 PM

FUTURES: Part III of An SMJHL Rookie Interview Series
by Emilia Bergman

Part I (Mathew Sawful and Cal Covid)
Part II (Richard Majors, Devin Williams, and Vítek Víteček)

I know - three days, three interview articles? Is this poor Swedish gal even practicing? Well, I'll have you know this was all a ploy to get into my opponents' heads. I'm living there rent-free by, uh... making friends with them. I might need to re-think this idea.

In part II, I took a look at some second- and third-round picks (check it out above), asking them about some of their fantastic stories and habits coming in to the SMJHL regular season as well as their opinions on their draft positions and expectations about their performance. In this edition, I take two final players whose agents are brand-new to the SHL - but more importantly are almost entirely new to sports (sim) leagues in and of themselves, similar to our first set of interviewees. They're certainly among the most mysterious and articulate of my subjects yet.

We'll start the day with Patrick Shepherd, a brand new member of the Timber who started the SMJHL with a bang, starting his first preseason game with blocked shots, an assist, and a goal. Though his impact was made clear and obvious from his first twenty minutes on the ice, he's also notable in the media for his agent, who suggested that his player would be a fantastic candidate for Maine based on team need. Now that he's on the team proper, we examine his hopes and dreams for his junior career, as well as investigating his motivations and those he looks to for guidance. I think he'll be able to see the forest for the trees just fine.

Next, we take on one of the great 'come-up' stories of the SMJHL draft in PBJ Souppan, a name that fans and teammates alike have come to adore in the few short weeks since being moved further north to Newfoundland. At third overall, he's the second of the top three picks the draft we're interviewing in this series - and he certainly made an impression on the Berserkers after being projected as a late first-early second. Moreso than other interviews, we look a bit at his origin story: where he came from, how exactly he got his name, and identifying who in his life made him who he is today.

Patrick Shepherd // @Cobbenstein
Center, Maine Timber
Selected 18th Overall
[Image: unknown.png]

Emilia Bergman (EB):Heading into the draft, your agent (Cobbenstein) published an article that nailed your candidacy as a Timber pick in his ‘team needs’ analysis. Did you agree with him?
Patrick Shepherd (PS): I did. We had met and discussed how interviews and meet and greets had gone with the various SMJHL teams leading up to the draft. I had told him that I had had a long discussion with Hans Hammersmith and that I felt they were the right team and place for me. It all kind of came together and made perfect sense, the Timber needed a center and I felt that they were the right fit.

EB: Though your agent had some prescience regarding your draft position, most pundits weren’t as sure, and the results were quite polarizing: some had you as early as fourth overall, while most had you at eighteenth or nineteenth. Why couldn’t experts agree?
PS: I think it’s a mixture of things. I didn't show up on a lot of scouting reports prior to the draft and I don't play a flashy style of hockey. So most teams may not have been looking for a defense first style center and I didn't really do a whole lot to get my name out there. I only really spoke to teams that were interested in me and contacted me specifically. Some may say that it directly hampered my draft stock, but I was just kind of feeling out the situation and getting comfortable with the drafting process. The difference between going 4th overall and 18th overall didn't mean that much to me and I just wanted to find a place that felt right. Going to the Timber feels right and I'm glad everything worked out the way it did.

EB: Has your draft position changed your outlook on the junior league?
PS: Not at all. I feel like after the first overall spot, the expectations drop off dramatically. I haven't ever been the kind of guy that looked at going high in the draft meant automatic success. I've always been a big believer in just working hard and making things happen on your own. I think whether I went 4th or 18th or 40th my goal would have always been to become the best center from this draft class and show SHL teams why they need me.

EB: What changes have you had to make to your personal life since the draft?
PS: Well obviously the big one is moving to Maine. This is the first time I've been out here, and I can't believe how beautiful it is. I've always spent a ton of my free time just outside hiking, but its just on a whole other level out here. So that has been massive for me personally. Other than that, its just been adjusting to life in a new town and learning the new locker room dynamics out here. Everyone has been great and since everyone on the team is new to the area its really allowed us to bond over just going out and exploring after practice. Trying out new restaurants, going to local parks or museums. It’s been really fun and I think its lead to a close-knit group.

EB: Locker room culture is incredibly important - especially for us rookies! For you specifically, who's made the strongest impression or given you some helpful guidance in Maine?
PS: Our captain Al Kayhall has been a huge help. We have a really young core of centers and not only has he been a great leader, but he has spent some time at center in the SMJHL and that experience is invaluable. Really most of our more veteran players have played a major role in my development in my short time here. Everyone is just out here to get better and try to make this first season in Maine a special one.

EB: Maine has had some struggles this pre-season. What kinks has the team needed to work out in their first several practices?
PS: One of the big things we've been working on is just overall chemistry between our lines. We have a lot of new guys in here and just figuring out how we all play has been big. In the preseason you saw us shift around our lines a bit trying to figure out who worked well with who. I think that will all work out in time. Other than that, we've been doing a lot of strength training and passing drills. We struggled with some of the more physical teams we played, so getting stronger on the puck and making our passes count is big in countering that.

EB: To expand on that a little – very few rookies have the kind of impact in their first game that you did with Maine. You had a few blocked shots – including an awesome last-second slide across the ice – your first assist, and a fantastic one-timer off of a rebound at goal. Tell me a little about your pre-season experience so far.
PS: It’s been an absolute blast. Even I would be lying if I told you I was expecting an offensive game like that. I was just amped up to play and it really showed out there. I wanted to make an immediate impact. Give the Timber fans something to look forward to. The fan response to the team has been incredible. Everyone is so excited to have a team here and I want to make sure I give them something to be excited about. My teammates have been incredible. They've been important to the product I've been able to show on the ice thus far. When everyone buys into a system and works their tails off to make things happen, it gives every player on the team a chance to be a star.

EB: The regular season starts tomorrow (today, for the readers) and you've made your first impressions on the team. Any words you'd like to say for all of the fans as you make your professional junior debut?
PS: I just want to thank them for the overwhelming support they've shown thus far and that I want to make this inaugural season of the Timber something to be remembered. Give the fans plenty to cheer about and show them that the future is bright for Timber hockey.

PBJ Souppan // @thevoicelesscreator
Left Defenseman, Newfoundland Berserkers
Selected 3rd Overall
[Image: My2sKYV.png]

Above image credit to JNH!

EB: Let’s start with the draft. Most pundits had you as a solid late first or early second round selection. The actual result was… a little different. Does being the third pick add any expectations or pressures to you as a member of the Berserkers?
PBJ Souppan (PBJ): Going third overall was a blessing, and I'm glad and honoured to be a Newfoundland Berserker. But two teams passed on me, and that's reason enough to drive me to get better.

I'm expected to be one of the best earners in my position, one of the hardest competitors, and a key member of this team. There is pressure on me to perform at the highest level, every time we go out there. But it's always been like that for me.

For me, a bad game means we've lost the game - no matter the reason. Every attacker I let by, every puck that goes uncontested, every shot I miss, that’s on me. I own those, and I will be the one to clean it up.

EB: Some say you’ve got a short memory on the ice – heckling and small mistakes don’t seem to shake you much in the moment. Is that a skill you were born with; if not, how did you hone it?
PBJ: Definitely not born with it haha. I am the middle of 5 kids (total), I know how to take it, as well as give it. I also played in some of the roughest, toughest ponds of them all growing up, with some of the meanest chirpers you've ever seen. It sucked my first year, but after the second or third, it becomes tradition.

EB: Let’s run a little with growing up! Some say your name is all-too-fitting for what the public knows about your past: PBJ, soup, and your parents meeting in a kitchen they worked in together. Tell me a little about what you go by nowadays.
PBJ: Any variation of my first name works - PB, PJ, PBJ. I respond to any of those. I've had teammates come up with more clever variations like souppy, Supe, Suplex (stretch I know). Some chirps that I've heard that have been great was things like the Soup Kitchen. They used to call me that my first year of juniors because I always gave the rock away haha. I've had Pan-Handler too.

EB: Relatively few people know what the P, B, or J stand for. Where does it come from?
PBJ: Purcell-Bartholomew-James; as to where? I got it from my mama!

EB: Hah, that's quite the mouthful. No wonder the commish didn't want to say your full name on draft night! Regardless, let’s move on to hockey. You had a fantastic game with a goal and an assist in your game against the Whalers (your only one so far not against the Raptors), but you had 12 PIMs as the result of a minor elbowing plus misconduct. What exactly happened?
PBJ: I had a few points my last couple games! but moving to your question - It was a 2 minute elbowing call, I'll give them that. It just so happened to be on a player that was much smaller than me, and the cameras caught it in a light that was pretty unflattering. The refs were in the right to call the misconduct, but make no mistake, I take headshots very seriously.

EB: Understood. The fans in Newfoundland were quite thoroughly confused by the call at the time - thanks for clarifying! Lets talk about your very first SMJHL preseason game; it may have been a 3-5 loss to the Raptors, but scouts were thoroughly impressed with your shot-blocking ability from the get-go. Lots of players have difficulty adjusting to the speed of the SMJHL – how’d you get off to such a fast start?
PBJ:Have to accredit that to the guys over in the GLL (Great Lakes League). They are no pros by any means, but they play some fast hockey out on the lakes. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, and most of the time, if you’re not blocking the shot, you have to chase after it! Most guys learn that it’s easier to take a SB than to have to track down the biscuit!

EB: Fantastic. I think those are all of the questions I've got for you Mr. Souppan, thanks for taking the time to sit down with me today.
PBJ: No problem! I appreciate your coverage. Have a great one.

[2,518 by integrated word counter, 2,235 by MS Word. For grading purposes, please credit both Cobbenstein and thevoiceless creator with 700 words each; remainder to me.]

Snoopdogg · 03-30-2020, 02:00 PM

Nice read as always. Ilike

Cobbenstein · 03-30-2020, 06:05 PM

Thanks for taking the time to talk with me! Awesome piece as always.

Justice · 03-30-2020, 06:35 PM

very good read

*thevoicelesscreator* · 03-31-2020, 09:42 AM

Thanks for the chat! Best of luck this season!

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