Jordan Thompson- Rookie Chronicles Part 3
(Part 1, Part 2, Part 4)

SHL Network Pre Draft Interview 

Prior to the SMJHL draft, Jordan was approached by his favorite hockey television station, SHL Network. This network focuses not only on the professional level of the SHL, but during the draft season they have player profiles, interviews, scouting reports and the like regarding all up and coming players during their pre draft scouting and interview periods. Upon approaching Jordan, the SHL Network wanted to have an open conversation, televised, with Jordan during their 1 hour annual draft special. The segment was titled “Jordan Thompson- The Phenom'' which was a flattering title, but put the stress back on Jordan’s shoulders nonetheless. 

Jordan was ecstatic when he heard about this opportunity from his agent as he grew up watching SHL Network and most importantly, had always dreamed about being on their annual draft special. Jordan’s agent thought this was an exceptional idea because it took place only days before the draft, and this would be the perfect time to seal the deal as the top draft pick in the country as well as please his case for any team looking to trade up to make them the cornerstone of their franchise. 

The SHL Network flew Jordan and his agent out to San Diego where their studios were located, and had him on site bright and early to prepare for the live broadcast that was set to air that afternoon. Prior to the interview, Jordan met with the host Kendra Pierce who had been with the show for 10 plus years. Kendra was a cornerstone in the hockey broadcasting space and Jordan was starstruck when meeting her for the first time. Prior to their interview, Jordan and Kendra covered a list of questions that would be covered so Jordan was not taken by surprise. 

The questions that were covered were not only about Jordan and his rise in the hockey space, but also about who he is aside from hockey, and some other fun questions to truly learn about his personality. This was a one hour long segment that Jordan and Kendra filled the entirety of, and you can see the transcript of a portion of the interview below. This excerpt was dictated directly from the interview, so it is in first person from Jordan’s point of view answering all necessary questions.  

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Kendra Pierce: Good morning hockey fans! Thank you for joining us this morning for our annual hockey prospect showcase in preparation for the upcoming junior draft. As always, we thank you for tuning in to SHL, network, and hope you’re ready for a great show in the store today. For our first conversation this morning, we have the pride of Louisiana, Jordan Thompson, on set to walk us through how he got to where he is today, why he got into hockey, and whatever other fun questions may come to mind. Jordan, thank you again for joining us today, our entire staff is excited to have you on site today, and can’t thank you enough for joining us during this busy draft preparation period. Would you start off by telling us a little bit about where you came from, and how you initially got into the sport of hockey?

Jordan Thompson: Kendra, thank you again so much for having me today, this truly means the world to me, as this is not only a channel I have tuned into for many years, but a feature that I grew up watching religiously and always hoped to one day be in this hot seat in preparation for the upcoming junior draft. I have played hockey on some of the largest stages, and this may be in my top five best moments considering how long I’ve manifested being in this very chair. A little about myself, my name is Jordan Thompson (obviously), I was born and raised in a small town, just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana, I am the youngest of three kids, and both of my siblings also played collegiate sports. I grew up, loving every sport that I could possibly play, but hockey found a special place in my heart as I wanted to stand out in the community, and there are not many people that can honestly say coming from Louisiana that they were able to or had the means to play the sport due to the climate and lack of facilities within the area. Because of the uniqueness of the sport, I fell in love with it at a very young age, and to this day, cannot imagine my life now without it.

KP: As a matter of fact, I’m not sure that I can name another hockey player that comes from New Orleans, Louisiana. Did any of your family members play hockey? Or is it something that you just saw and had to try? With sports like basketball, football, and baseball readily available within the local regions, what was so special about hockey that naturally drew you and locked you into the sport.

JT: Honestly Kendra, it’s hot as all get out in New Orleans, have you ever been there? The hockey rink was a natural air conditioning system that was able to keep me cool all summer long… I’m just kidding. I came across hockey one day, while watching TV with my siblings, and at such a young age it was not a sport that I was accustomed to as we had no professional or semi professional teams in the immediate area while I was growing up (that would later change). Seeing the speed they were able to work up while on the ice, as well as being able to hit players like I did on the football field, it seemed like something that I would be more than interested in, so naturally I had to give it a try. I begged my parents for months to bring me to a hockey rink so I could try skating, and once they finally had the availability to do so, it was all in my blood from there. The feeling of being able to fly down the ice on skates, with a cold nipping at your nose, the puck flying around faster than the speed of light while being able to strategize on the go while moving faster than you could on ground, there’s just something so exhilarating about it that you can’t put into words, I could never imagine my life being any different. To this day, some still say that I have the ice in my veins. 

KP: I have never heard the game of hockey be described so beautifully. Having played myself growing up, I know the feeling that you are talking about, and I completely understand why you fell in love with it. There’s nothing better than flying across the ice, and watching a play open up right in front of your eyes, while strategizing all potential outcomes of the next offensive move as well as where the defense may be trying to either cut off your angle to the net, or break into your passing lane. Looking back at your collegiate career, while the first few years were definitely a trial run and difficult to say the least, I see that you brought the first hockey National Championship to Louisiana in history, how does it feel knowing that your name will forever be in the record books as the MVP of the first ever Louisiana State University National Championship in the hockey rink?

JT: It’s honestly us a real feeling, I’m not sure that I will ever be able to put into words how much it means to me to bring a championship to the state and the city that raised me. When I committed to Louisiana State University it was definitely a gamble as it was the fourth season in existence of their hockey program, and prior to my arrival, the outcomes were definitely less than stellar. However, upon my visit to campus and having a conversation with the coaching staff, my future professors, the trainers, and anyone that I passed while walking through campus, I felt like I was at home the second I stepped out of my parents car. 

There was something about the environment that was just absolutely buzzing, whether it was the pride as you were walking through campus seeing the school colors on everyone walking to class, whether it was their other sporting teams that were held in such high regards, and most importantly, let’s not forget the level of education they provided to their student athletes. Aside from what it was in the hockey rink, I felt like I was at home when I was in conversations with my coaches and trainers, I knew that they always had my best interest in mind. While it was definitely a gamble having selected a newer program during my recruiting process, to this day it was a decision that I cherish and will never go back and look at as a regret. Louisiana State University shaped me to be the man that I am today, and set me up perfectly going into the junior draft. I’m not sure I will ever be able to thank the people that I came in contact with throughout my four years there enough for the positive impact that they had in my life.

KP: Shockingly, based on how poor the school did prior to your arrival, I didn’t even know that they had a hockey program until hearing your name on the news one day. Needless to say, they are now on the map across the country for hockey recruits for many many years to come. Now for a hopefully quick fun question, what is your spirit animal, and why?

JT: Ah, great question! Well, I would say that my number one love within animals is a dog, I wouldn’t say that that would be my spirit animal by far. Right now, I would have to say my spirit animal is a lion. As cliché as that may be, it feels like it fits my personality on the ice. Well, I am definitely laid-back and humble when off the ice, I am a ferocious competitor on the ice and live within an eat or be eaten mindset. I attack every day, with the same ferociousness that I do on the ice, and know that the effort I put in daily will help propel me within my career.

KP: Great choice in spirit animal! I definitely would picture you as a lion as well. I’ve seen you on the ice numerous times and that definitely fits your personality. Circling back into the draft talk, after all… this is the pre draft countdown show, what is it that you bring to the table that no other prospect in this draft has? Why should you be one of the top selections in the upcoming draft?

JT: Kendra, that is honestly a great question, I appreciate you allowing me the stage to speak directly to the juniors teams through this top tier media source. In all honesty, I want this more than anyone here. That's not to take away from the hard work and dedication that the other players are bringing to this draft class, but of the 45-50 names you are seeing across media big boards, one name stands out the most regarding desire… Jordan Thompson. I have a fire that is unrelenting, I have a desire to be the best that has ever touched the ice, and there is nobody that can stop me in the pursuit of greatness. I bring selflessness to any roster, I am happy to see my teammates shine, and will do everything I can to set them up for success. I am the ultimate team player, I would take a theoretical bullet for my teammates, and will give 110% everyday. I will be the first player on the ice for practice, and the last player off. I will be constantly studying film with my teammates, gameplanning, completing extra rehab, pushing my teammates in our workouts, whatever I can do to win. If you want to win, and you want to succeed for years to come, Jordan Thompson is your guy. 

KP: Very well said, I cannot imagine any general manager or coaching staff in the juniors landscape passing on you after that heartfelt pitch. I can almost assume teams will be trying to trade up in the draft to select you regardless of where you are projected at this point in time. Why did you select to be a right wing? Have you ever played any other position?

JT: Funny enough, when I was entering college, I actually was a more defensive minded player. Coming from a small high school, we were able to play a lot of positions, but predominantly, I played on the defensive side of the puck. That didn't stop me from scoring though, my coach gave me the green light at all times to take the puck down to the offensive side of the ice whenever I saw the opportunity, and put up outstanding offensive numbers even though I was a right defensive player. Upon entering college at Louisiana State University, my coach and I had a deep conversation about how I would fit into that season's gameplan, and based on my skill set, he recommended during preseason training, to attempt playing right wing (as I shoot left handed that made the most sense). Although this was not something I tried frequently before college, it felt natural to me, and I provided a benefit to the first line on the ice as my ability to defend actually helped in power plays or when the offense was overpowering us. Looking back at this now, I was not very eager to make the change, but I am grateful I did, there's no telling where I would be today, or how my game would have progressed without trusting in my coach and making the position change. 

KP: Well, lucky for you that your coach was invested enough in your development as a player to help find the perfect position that fit your skill set. Not all coaches are willing to go to those lengths to help find their players' most successful position, so looking at this I can see why you chose Louisiana State University from the jump. Looking back at your time wearing purple and gold, what would you say is one of your fondest memories aside from the National Championship?

JT: Oh, that’s a very tough call! I have many fond memories of late nights with my teammates eating pizza, some of us working on homework, and studying game film until the early hours of the morning. We spent a lot of our weeknights doing the same thing over and over, and I don’t think any of us would take those times for granted. These late nights studying film and planning for the next competition helped us bond as teammates more than anything else on the ice could. We knew the level of dedication that each of us had to the sport and we were all willing to do whatever we could for the people sitting around us. These late nights in our apartments, getting to bond over the sport that we loved, fooling around and getting into a little bit of fun trouble, and truly getting to know one another for who we are as a person, are most definitely some of the times that I would never trade for the world. Those late nights turned my friends into best friends, and shortly after, my best friends into family.

KP: Oh how I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for some of those jokes, pranks and mischief that I can imagine you all got into! Switching gears, and maybe foreshadowing for post draft plans, if you could take a vacation anywhere in the world right now, all expenses paid, with no plans, and all the free time, where would you go and why?

JT: That’s a very tough question, unfortunately I haven’t been able to travel a whole lot to do my commitment to hockey, but I have gotten to take a few family vacations in the off-season when I’m not on the ice. Considering the fact you said I had all the free time in the world, I would have to probably end up somewhere like Hawaii or a tropical island somewhere. With the amount of time and commitment I put into my sport, unfortunately, my body and my mind take a toll, and I would love to unwind and relax without a care in the world. I think if I were able to bring my girlfriend with me, she would definitely push me to do some different activities or enjoy some attractions around the local area, but I think I would still get enough relaxation time to recharge my battery before the season started again. I’ve never been to an island anywhere, but living in Louisiana I have access to the beach, and I’ve been there a handful of times, and the relaxation level is like no other.

KP: I’ve been to Hawaii a handful of times with friends and family, and I would recommend it like no other. The scenery is amazing, the water is crystal clear, the food is outstanding, and there’s really not a more relaxing place in the world. Now that we’re talking about you being on an island somewhere, theoretically, if you got stranded on an island and  can only bring three things with you (food and water provided) what would you bring and why?

JT: Naturally, I am going to assume that I’m not allowed to bring things like a boat, a helicopter, or anything that can save me from getting off the island. So that makes it a little trickier not knowing when I’m gonna be able to leave and obviously not knowing if I will have electricity, definitely forces me to go old-school in some of my contingency plans. First off, I would have to bring a journal (hopefully one with unlimited pages and a complimentary pen) so I can keep track of my days on the island, take notes, write about the thoughts and the happenings that go on the island so that way when I’m rescued, I can write a book and make a large chunk of cash. Next, knowing that food and water are already provided, I would have to bring myself some resistance bands so that way I can continue to work out, knowing that when I return (hopefully sooner than later) I will need to make sure that I’m prepared for the upcoming hockey season… Yes, that’s where my mind automatically diverts to. Lastly, I would bring my girlfriend with me not only to help keep me sane and provide company to pass the time, but also to help me survive on the island while we’re waiting for our rescue. That’s a great question, I wish teams ask questions like this during the interview process so they could get to know our personalities a little bit better.

KP: Good thing you remember to bring your girlfriend, I feel like if you forgot her you might be sleeping on the couch tonight. Since you brought up resistance, bands, and staying in shape for hockey, in preparation for the draft, what have your workouts looked like, and how are you staying in shape during the off-season

JT: In all honesty, my training from during the season to my training in the off-season does not vary much as I always try to stay in the best shape possible so I don’t have to work extra hard going back into the season. Currently, I am lifting weights 5 to 6 times a week, I’m doing yoga twice a week, and I am doing some form of plyometric workouts 5 to 6 days a week. While it may not be for some, Jordan was always amazed with the choreography that came along with yoga classes, the flow from one exercise to the next always helped him to calm his mind and body down. As well, I do sprints, three days a week, and long-distance runs or cycling twice a week. On top of all of this, I stretch for about 30 minutes a day and spend a good bit of time with my trainers working on proper recovery so my muscles can perform at the highest of levels day in and day out. In conjunction with my training schedule, I also have a personal chef who makes all of my meals and makes sure that I stay properly fueled and hydrated throughout my day. Taking care of my body to perform at the absolute highest of levels is the most important thing to my career, and I cannot imagine slacking when it comes to my physical well-being.

KP: It’s definitely in your best interest to stay in shape throughout the off-season, as the old adage always says, those who stay in shape don’t have to get in shape… Or something along those lines. Can you walk us through a normal day in your life? I feel like the fans would love to get an inside track on exactly what Jordan Thompson does from sunup to sundown

JT: Absolutely, happy to share! Generally, I start my morning early, my alarms are always set for 5 AM, I like to get up before the sun. I start every morning the same way, a large glass of ice cold water, followed by either a protein bar or a protein shake, and it’s immediately out the door to the training facility. I usually start my workout with about a half hour of stretching followed by some light cardio to wake up my muscles before an intense lift. After listening to a good bit of hype music, I lace up my sneakers and meet with my trainer who will walk me through that day's work out and keep me motivated throughout that time. After my workout is completed which generally takes about an hour, I usually end with either my long run/cycling or some plyometric sprints to keep my conditioning at the highest of possible levels. After all of this, I grab a protein shake out of the fridge and head over to my sports medicine team who takes me through either some physical therapy, some muscle relaxation, or any type of rehabilitation that may be needed to prep my muscles for the next training session or game. As well, they help attempt to minimize any possible injuries as well as helping keep me limber enough to try and deter away from any future injuries.

Once this is completed I head to the cold tub for a 10 to 15 minute ice bath to refresh and prepare my muscles for their next adventure. By the time I get home, it’s usually about 2 o’clock in the afternoon and I’m ready for a nap, unfortunately there’s never enough time in the day to take a nap as I’m always moving and on the go. Once I get home from my training session, I take the dogs for a walk and then usually prepare myself a late lunch while I wait for my girlfriend to get home from work. The rest of the day is always up in the air as I like to focus either on some charity work, some reading, watching film for the upcoming game or season, or just relaxing and binging on some of my favorite TV shows. Every evening, my girlfriend and I cook dinner together and then settle into the couch to watch some of our favorite shows or movies. Because I wake up so early every day, I’m usually in bed by 10 PM at the absolute latest and I have no complaints about that. That’s a general look at my day, and how I spend my time, prior to contrary belief, I’m just your average person who happens to play hockey for a career. While most of my days (especially in the offseason) are similar, during the season the only variation is a bit of a lighter workout followed by practice for about two to two and a half hours each day (or a game, depending on where we are at in our season). 

KP: That sounds like a pretty intense training routine, how do you stay motivated day in and day out when it seems like it’s such a repetitive motion to go through on the regular? 

JT: Upon walking into the gym every morning, it feels like déjà vu in all honesty, having just left there in the mid to late afternoon of the day before. It’s very easy to stay motivated day in and day out when everything you have in life is riding on your success. I’ve put so much time, effort, blood, sweat, and tears into my profession, and into my craft, that I would be disappointed in myself if I didn’t give 110% to everything I did daily. Knowing that my family is proud of me, and people look up to me, keeps me motivated on the daily. When I was walking out of my training facility the other day, I had a little kid come up to me and say that they wanted to become the president of my fan club so they could share their passion for the sport, and my likeness as their favorite player with their friends, family, and anybody that would listen how passionate they felt about me as a hockey player. That’s the reason I do it, the people that get enjoyment out of watching me play, and I would never change that for the world. Hearing this from someone who looks up to me means the world, and that's why I continue on my grind daily. 

KP: That’s quite a touching story, I wish someone had a fan club for me, and I would happily let any kid that I saw that enjoyed watching me run that fan club as president. As you are getting prepared for the upcoming Junior draft, are there any specific landing spots that you’re looking forward to, or is there anywhere that you know that you don’t want to play next season?

JT: I know that this may seem like an easy out answer on my part, but honestly, I am happy to play wherever I am drafted. I want to end up on a team that has an active locker room, a group of like-minded individuals who are always working to get better every single day. I want to make sure that the coaching staff has the best direction in mind for the team, and are making sure they are bringing in players that are also pushing towards the same common goal. I would love to end up somewhere that wants me to be a cornerstone of the locker room so I can continue to push my teammates to get better every single day. I don’t care if the team is an annual contender, or if they’re in the middle of a rebuild, I just wanna make sure that I am in the right position for me as a player and a professional. It doesn’t matter to me if I’m the 1st pick in the draft, or the 31st pick in the draft, all I care about is making sure that I end up in a situation where the front office staff cares about me as a person, and my teammates all are continually focused on getting better every day. I want my locker room to feel like home, and most importantly, teammates that feel like family. 

KP: In all honesty, I was hoping to get some juicy tea out of that question, but I respect you for playing the political card. Through what I’ve heard from your coaches in college, and the brief conversations I’ve had with your family and agent, it seems like that definitely fits the direction you’ve been leaning all along. Personal fit in the locker room, in the offensive scheme, as well as with the head coach and the front office staff is one of the most important things, and I’m glad you have your head screwed on properly to think about that before thinking about the paycheck. As you progress into the semi-professional level, do you have any goals for your career? 

JT: I want to take each day as an opportunity to get better as a player and a teammate. Whether I end up on a team that is successful from the start, or one that is in the process of rebuilding, I am going to approach every day with the same level of ferocity and know that I will give everything I have for the people that I share a locker room with. While I don’t have any specific statistical goals, I always prefer to focus on points over goals. Points lead to goals, and whether the puck is ending up in the net off of my stick, or my teammate's stick, if I set our team in a position to win games, that’s all I can ask for. As a player I’m willing to work with my coaching staff to fine-tune any specific skills that I need to succeed at the next level. I am always an open book, and I will always be the hardest worker in the room, and I will not stop in my pursuit of excellence. I just want whatever front office select me to know, you were getting by far the hardest working, and most dedicated player in this draft. I look forward to working with whoever that team is that l drafts me, as long as they’re willing to invest as much in me as I am in my team.

KP: As I said prior, I am ecstatic that you were focusing more on your fit as a player on a roster, and you’re fit within the front office than you are focusing on the paycheck that comes in weekly. Obviously the higher you get drafted, the more money you make on an annual basis, but by focusing on the team, and the best fit for you, you’re putting yourself in a more successful position for your long-term career goals. Let’s get the last difficult question out-of-the-way before we move onto a few fun questions to wrap up today’s interview. Obviously with the juniors draft right around the corner, you’re set to make your first semi professional career start here shortly. Obviously this is just a stepping stone in your overall bigger career picture. How long is it that you think as a player you will want to stay in the junior leagues for? Do you want to play for a handful of seasons, or do you want to move up to the professional level as fast as possible?
 
JT: That is a great question, and frankly many teams have asked me the same question when they are scouting me for the juniors draft. As I tell all the teams that I speak with, I do not want to make a quick jump to the pro game, as I want to make sure that my skill level is adequate enough to play on the higher stage. With that being said, I also have to take into consideration the decision that will be made by my pro team once I am drafted to the professional level. Hopefully we can find a happy medium between the two, and working alongside both sets of front offices we can find a mutually beneficial timeline for me to continue my development at the junior level before being called up to the professional game. With the professional draft coming so quickly after the juniors draft, it is definitely something I need to consider. I am open to whatever it is that my team is looking for, and know that they will always have my best interest in mind.

KP: Great answer, there definitely is a fine line between being called up too early, and being able to develop at the junior level for a longer period of time. Oftentimes when a player gets called up too quickly, unfortunately their performance has yet to develop to the professional caliber, and they struggle for their first one to two seasons while adjusting to the higher level of play. Hopefully your two front offices will be able to come up with a great timeline and a great development plan to prepare you for the next level as quickly as possible. Now moving on to the fun questions, looking at the list of SHL professional teams, who would you say are your top three favorite logos. Remember, this is just in relation to the professional teams.

JT: Ah! You’re putting me on the spot here as I haven’t spent too much time analyzing the professional level logos yet (a deeper dive, will come later in this article). Just looking at their logos on social media right now, here are my rankings of my top three and why. First, naturally, I have to lean towards the hometown team, the New Orleans Specters. Personally, I feel that I would not be doing my roots properly if I were to not select the team from the state and city that raised me. I love their logo that incorporates the typical colors of Mardi Gras season, and I think their ominous reference to specters adds a solid level of intimidation factor to the logo. Next, I would have to lean to the Texas Renegades. I love the outlaw look of the logo, and think of it as a level of mystery towards the team as a whole. While it also may seem boring to some, I love the simplicity behind the black, gray, and white color scheme, there’s nothing more timeless and classic then something as clean as neutral colors.As well in their alternate logo the pop of blue and red really pull together the scheme nicely, and looks great on uniforms. Lastly, but as they say, most importantly not least, I would have to lean towards the Los Angeles Panthers. I think not only do they have a very great logo, the color scheme makes everything about it just a little bit better. The combination of teal, orange, and white is a very beautiful match across the board and it definitely makes all of their jerseys pop across the league. I can’t think of another team with a primary color that looks as nice as Los Angeles does, and I think that would definitely play a huge factor in me rating their logo so highly.

KP: I think that your rankings are pretty spot on, there’s a good bit of logos in this league that I really enjoy as the colors make them pop much more than many other leagues. Next question, and this one may throw you for a bit of a loop. Would you rather fight 100 duck sized horses, or one horse sized duck.

JT: Hmm, can’t say this is ever a situation that I’ve considered in the past, definitely an interesting one to say the least. I feel like the lesser of two evils is 100 duck sized horses. Hopefully the ducks that they were comparing to are a little on the smaller side, but I feel like there’s a good chance I could take out 100 duck sized horses. Do I get to bring my hockey stick with me?

KP: Would the hockey stick be cheating? I’m not sure on the final ruling there, but I feel like I would give it to you for the benefit of the doubt. Alongside your strict training routine, you also mentioned that you have a dietitian or nutrition coach that helps you to fuel properly to regenerate strength for competitions. What do you normally eat from sunup to sundown on a cheat day?

JT: Generally I try to plan my cheat days around one of my tougher workout days so it all kind of buffs out in the wash. I’ll start my morning with a nice large stack of pancakes, preferably either blueberry or chocolate chip with a little bit of butter and syrup on top. The next meal I have is generally lunch, where I really prefer a nice large Italian grinder. Throw on the side some jalapeño chips, or maybe a sour cream and onion chips, or if neither of those are available, I always will enjoy adding some animal crackers into the mix. For dinner, it’s usually on a rotation. Some of my cheat dinners I prefer pizza, others I prefer for wings, is it all really what I’m feeling at that moment. Lastly, you always need to end your night with some ice cream, whether it is chocolate peanut butter or chocolate marshmallow, throw a little peanut butter sauce on that baby and some whipped cream and we're in business. These meals change from time to time, but generally they all fall within the same parameters. Aside from these, I usually will have some gummy worms throughout the day, but since I worked out heavily during the day, I make sure to get at least two protein shakes in, as well as my normal daily gallon of water.

KP: You should for sure invite me over on one of your cheat meal days, the selection of foods sounds delectable, can I just skip the workout part? Growing up, or even current day, what is your favorite holiday and why?

JT: This may be the easiest question that you’ve asked me so far. Growing up my family had many traditions that we celebrated around the Christmas holiday. Christmas Eve we always spent at my grandparents house, we would get there around dinner time, have some appetizers, a big meal, usually the meal was centered around jambalaya considering we were based out of Louisiana. After spending Christmas Eve with my grandparents, and opening up some presents, we would head home to get ready for bed. Once we were all in our pajamas, our parents always let us watch one Christmas movie before tucking us in for the anticipated slumber. Once that movie was completed, my parents would read us a Christmas book before bed, as that was the routine growing up. 

The next morning, we were not allowed to go down to the living room where the Christmas tree was located until all of my family members were awake. My siblings, and I would normally spend time upstairs playing with our toys that we got the night before. Once my parents fixed their cup of coffee, and turned on the Christmas tree, we were able to come downstairs and see what Santa had left us. After we finished opening up our presents, generally right around the time the sun came up (yes we were early risers), my mom would make cinnamon buns, and we would have those for breakfast. After breakfast, my siblings, and I would go off and play with our new toys, and my parents cleaned up the inevitable mess of wrapping paper and continued to clean the house before the family came over. We would always have my aunts and uncles come over, my cousins and grandparents would also be there, and we would always have a big meal as a late lunch/early dinner to celebrate the holiday. Along with that, the stereotypical Christmas present opening would come, and then my cousins and I would go off and get into some mischief while playing with all of our new toys. That was the annual routine growing up as a kid, and it’s still somewhat the same today, my footie pajamas are just a little bit bigger nowadays.

KP: That sounds like a beautiful tradition, I’m glad that you are still able to celebrate it with your family. And leaving us with the image of you wearing footie pajamas is one that I feel will go down an interview history. Lastly, before we wrap up this interview, I have one final question, and I think it’s the most hard hitting of all. Something that I think everyone is totally dying to know. What is your favorite dessert, and why?

JT: Another easy question, two in a row so I can go out on fire with that average. The answer is always, and will always be brownies. There’s nothing better than a hot, fudgy brownie with a little bit of vanilla ice cream over the top. The richness of the chocolate, as well as the additionally chocolatey punch that comes from the chocolate chips inside makes everything about this dessert the most perfect bite known to humankind. Thank you for bringing this up, I will definitely be making a pitstop on the way back to my house to find a brownie somewhere at a bakery. If you ever need a top tier bakery in the Louisiana area, shoot me a text when you are in town, I am happy to put you onto a local spot that has arguably the best brownies in the state.

KP: Pick one up for me while you’re on the way, that does sound delicious. Jordan, I know I mentioned it earlier in the show, but I can’t thank you enough for stopping by and having a conversation with me today. Our back-and-forth has been exceptional, and I think this is one of the best pre-draft interviews I’ve ever had with a prospect to date. Although this is our first conversation together, I know this will not be our last. Also, based on everything we’ve talked about, it does not shock me that your name is being mentioned so high in the draft. You truly are a generational talent, and I’m excited to see your name raised into the rafters someday soon, followed by an eventual nomination into the Hall of Fame. Best of luck to you in the upcoming Junior draft, and don’t forget about me when you’re the most notable hockey player in SHL history.

JT: Kendra, the pleasure is all mine. I can’t thank you enough for inviting me on the show and allowing me to tell my story of where I came from, and how I got to the level I’m at today. I appreciate your openness, and willingness to work with me, and I feel that even though I’ve interviewed with all of these junior teams, so far, this conversation between the two of us will still give them a continued picture of who I am as a person. I look forward to the upcoming draft, And for sure expect to connect again in the future. Thank you again for all that you do, and can’t wait to talk soon.
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This interview was a great opportunity for Jordan as it gave him the chance to show his true personality outside of normal conversations to not only fans, but specifically fan bases of teams that could potentially draft him. By taking this interview and being able to show Jordan’s true personality, he was able to grow buzz around many fan bases, people within the community were talking, taking to social media vouching for each individual team to move up in the draft to select Jordan. This was a dream come true for him as it would create buzz around him as a player and a person, and would not only help his draft potential, but would also help push his name up teams draft boards. Although it doesn’t matter to Jordan, what number he is drafted, being high on draft boards is beneficial to him, because it gives teams the ability to see his value, and potentially trade up in the draft select him to put him in the team in the best possible scenario to succeed.


Day Before the Draft

We are one day away from the biggest day this far in Jordan‘s life. Tomorrow is the official juniors draft, and Jordan has been shaking with anticipation and excitement for the last 2-3 weeks. Although there is still so much to do, he needs to prepare himself for draft night and all of the excitement and buzz that comes with it. Jordan would be flying to the SHL headquarters for the live draft show so he could take the stage after hearing his name called to the team that desires his services most. But before Jordan can get on the flight later tonight, he has a handful of things left that he needs to check off his to-do list before he is able to make another TV appearance on one of the biggest nights of his life.

In a show of good faith, Jordan scheduled to have breakfast with his college coaches, as a thank you for all of their training and hard work to get him to where they need to be. At this breakfast, Jordan invited not only his coaches, but also his academic advisors, his strength and conditioning coach, his nutritionist, and a few professors that lent him a helping hand along the way. While Jordan got to spend a lot of his collegiate days playing hockey, it did not go unnoticed that he was able to keep up with his schoolwork and maintain a 3.75 GPA throughout his collegiate career. Without the people sitting around this breakfast table, Jordan would definitely not be where he is today, and the least he could do is thank them for all of their hard work leading up to one of the most important days in Jordan’s life to date. 


After the completion of breakfast, Jordan made his way back to his training facility that he was working out at in the off-season between the end of his collegiate career up until the day he traveled to head to the draft. As Jordan would most certainly not be living in New Orleans any time soon, he wanted to thank all of the staff members at the facility for all of their hard work, and getting him prepped for the upcoming festivities. There is no doubt in Jordan‘s mind that he would not be where he is today in regards to preparation for the draft without the people that worked within this facility. Jordan got all the staff members a little gift as a thank you for all of the hard work to prep him for not only the combine, but for also the post combined interviews where he met with all teams


After meeting with his trainers and thanking them all again for their hard work, Jordan had to get fitted for his suit considering that the SHL draft every year is a great opportunity to show off the best fashion as everyone always strives to be the best dressed player. The tailor that Jordan worked with was willing to custom make Jordans suit free of charge. In return, the tailor asked that Jordan promote their brand at the draft party that was televised across the country. Jordan had come to the tailor a few weeks earlier to get some dimensions taken and pick out the colors/materials and today was just a fitting session for any last minute alterations. Luckily for Jordan’s sake the suit fit almost perfectly on the very first try. The only alterations that were needed were a few inches taken up around the ankles, because isn’t showing ankles in a suit all the rage nowadays? Aside from that small alteration, everything fit perfectly, and Jordan was able to walk out with a suit so he was able to pack it for his trip that evening. Thankfully this was a quick alteration that could be made while Jordan waited for 10-15 minutes because he was behind schedule and needed to catch his flight in just a few hours.


Before heading home to pack, Jordan had one final stop left to make, he needed to meet with his agent at their office to talk about a few potential brand endorsements from companies who wanted to have Jordan as a brand image, as well as a marketing tool in return for free product and royalty checks for the product sold using Jordan‘s likeness. Jordan was ecstatic because one of his favorite hockey skate brands wanted to make his very own custom model, something that he had dreamed about from a very young age. Although today was not a day that Jordan would be able to customize these skates, Jordan was able to sign the brand contract so that way post draft he would be able to meet with the representatives to design the skates exactly to the specifications and colors that he desired.

Aside from the custom skate deal, Jordan was able to partner with a very well-known sports drink company, a protein shake company, a sporting apparel and sneaker brand, as well as one of his favorites, a FroYo shop that wanted to use his likeness in their marketing materials and television commercials. Jordan was beyond excited to sign these contracts as he never in his life imagined that he would be the face of a brand nor would he ever be paid for wearing specific clothes or skates doing the things that he loves. These brand endorsements were a testimony to how hard Jordan worked, as well as truly how talented he was on the ice. People were coming from all around to get Jordan to endorse their product, or be shown wearing a piece of clothing they made to spread their brand notoriety around to increase their profits. While Jordan was often more than happy to help, now that he was heading to the junior level, he had to be more specific in the brands that he promoted, as he signed a contract that he would only wear specific sporting good clothing now.

After meeting with his agents, Jordan hopped in his car, and headed back to his house, where he was to pack his bags to head out to the SHL headquarters for the next  2-3 days. For Jordan, this was the start of the next chapter of his life, and while he was anxious for what was to come, he was overly excited with the opportunity for a fresh start in a new city where he would be able to do something he dreamed of as a kid, play hockey for a living. When Jordan got back to the house, he grabbed himself a protein shake and headed up to his bedroom where he started packing a handful of his belongings to head out to the draft night. 

While this was the start of the next chapter, Jordan did not pack all of his belongings because there was a short dead period between the time he was drafted and the time he needed to report for rookie minicamp. During that break, Jordan planned on flying out to his new city with his girlfriend, finding himself either a nice apartment or a house so he could move his young family into, their dogs, and all of their personal belongings to the new city. This is definitely exciting for the couple because for the entirety of their relationship, they were living close to home, this will be the first true test of their partnership, and they were looking forward to the next chapter of growing together. By moving out of state together, potentially out of the country, they were both anxious for what was next, but they were ready to take this next leap in their relationship to further their bond with one another. 

With his flight, just an hour or two away Jordan had to step up his packing as he had been slacking to that point. Unfortunately, upon getting home, he went up to his bedroom, but the dogs wanted to play more than they wanted him to pack. Its quite hard to pack a suitcase when two 65+ pound dogs are either trying to sleep in said suitcase or wrestling over the top of it. Unfortunately he had to have a serious conversation with his two dogs telling them it was time for no further funny business as dad needed to pack so he could head to the SHL headquarters tomorrow for the draft premier. He promised the two dogs that mom would allow them to watch him on TV so they can cheer for him wherever they are headed to the next home. Unfortunately the family was not able to travel with him as the dogs were not going to be quiet during the draft presentation and Sarah had to work during the day leading up to the draft. Jordan was looking forward to bringing the dogs with him once they were moving to their new city as they were a sense of calm for him, and definitely helped him unwind at the end of a long day.

After completing his packing Jordan‘s girlfriend dropped him off at the airport for his long flight to the SHL headquarters. Although this was early and most players were flying in the morning, he wanted to get in the day before the draft so he could get a good night's sleep and not have to rush the day of the draft. Luckily for Jordan, upon arriving his agents had already gotten there and his parents flew in a couple days early and took a few days vacation to themselves. Both parties picked him up at the airport and took him to dinner as he was starving after a 2.5 hour flight. For not only a growing boy, but also an active hockey player, going that long without eating is devastating according to his increased level of hanger.

Jordan‘s parents decided to take him to one of the nicest steakhouses in the area, where he was able to get a big juicy burger, a side of fries, and a salad to go along with all of that. Although this normally didn’t fit into Jordan‘s diet, they were celebrating the end of a grueling training season and also preemptively celebrating for the draft the next night. Jordan was ecstatic to be here, there was a lot of hard work and dedication that went to getting to this point in his career. Jordan was ready for the next night to come but was hoping to get to see the town a little bit before talking himself in for what he hoped would be a relaxing night's sleep.

After walking around the town a little bit, and seeing some of the sites of the locale, Jordan and his parents stopped to get ice cream on the way home. Who doesn’t love a nice scoop of cookies and cream ice cream with some rainbow sprinkles on the top? I’m pretty sure the answer to that is… everyone loves it. After wolfing down this treat, Jordan told his parents it was time to make their way back to the hotel room. Although it was still relatively early, Jordan was ready to call it a night in preparation for the big day to come tomorrow. Upon getting back to the hotel room, Jordan took a quick shower, FaceTimed with his girlfriend and the dogs for about a half an hour, and tucked himself into bed. Jordan had been hoping for a restful night's sleep, but unfortunately in preparation for the draft his anxiety was high not knowing where he was going next. Jordan tossed and turned all night long, not getting much restful sleep at all. Although he was unable to get comfortable in bed he was still able to get a couple hours of sleep, which, although not enough, the adrenaline of the draft that next day would help to keep him awake to the wee hours of the morning celebrating being drafted.

After getting a few not very restful hours of sleep, Jordan decided it was time to bite the bullet and roll out of bed even though it was very early in the morning. Starting his day around 4:30 AM, Jordan was ready for what was to come… Draft day.