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GCool · 01-08-2019, 11:39 AM

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA -- After an impressive 4-0 win against the Anchorage Armada, several small media outlets set out to interview players. A Russian publication hoping to cross the international barrier approached Jerry Mander for an interview, to which he surprisingly obliged.

Thanks for taking time. We small brand, but we love Simulation Hockey Leagues. And we know your story.

Well, thanks for reaching out. Although the self-serving nature of media in the States is one of the reasons I became a Russian citizen, I understand the need to make money doing what you love. That's why I moved back, in some sort of ironic twist of fate.

Interview

Da, we understand this "irony". So tell us about performance this game. You played solid!

Thank you! Yeah, I didn't shoot the puck as much as I'd like. It's kind of the blessing and curse of getting all these minutes in my first season. I'm still underdeveloped, I'm not really going to take the priority shots that Vital [Kravtsov] and Fujikawa-San take. Don't get me wrong, I've taken my fair share of shots, but I've had some rotten luck thus far. Those guys are helping me look better by getting the puck in the net.

But more to your point, I stayed back a lot, didn't take any shots today. I made a couple good hits and was positioned pretty well the whole time. The other team seemed a little chippy, so you gotta know as a good power forward when it's time to start hitting and when it's time to back off. They were putting themselves in the penalty box, so, as you can see we ended up on the good side of things today.

Interview

As assistant captain on team, what you do to help other players?

Good question. I try to be a morale booster. I know that I'm one of the few physically-oriented players on our team, so I know it's my job to give an extra hit or two even if it might mean a penalty. We have guys out here who love being on the penalty kill and it shows, especially after I've dazed one of their players who was giving us a hard time. In the locker room and at practice, I try to be a first-in, last-out person. Naturally the veterans beat me there most of the time, and Mike [Hunt, goalie] is literally always at the arena, but the effort is there, y'know? And I think it shows to the rest of our players even though I haven't been scoring like I thought I would.

Interview

You are tied for 8th in league in hits. Do you think you get to 1st this season?

I don't think so. I'm not exactly reaching for it, either. Having a good number of hits is important to me, and I'd like to get to 100 in my first season, which would mean 2 official ones a game. But if I have a positive rating and the guys on my line are leading the team in scoring, then I'll be doing my job. Being a defensive forward until I get the strength and checking ability up to take down anyone in my path is what's most important. I just can't take silly penalties.

Interview

Da, penalties bad. Moving right along here. Outlaws are currently 7th in league. Where will Outlaws be by season end?

Oooh, good question. To be honest I'm not expecting that much. We have a young team and the young guys are getting a lot of playing time. I'm very thankful for that, because in the Juniors we don't have to be fully into our stride until really close to playoff time. I just learned the other day that everybody is going to be making the playoffs - and I guess I'm a little late to the party on that one - but that's a really good thing since we're all developing at such a quick rate. Our lineup could be completely different in just a few short weeks, so yeah. As far as where we'll end up by the end of the season, I'm going to be bold and predict 4th. The top 8 teams are barely separated by anything--

Interview

Da, this close horse race. Could be won in last game.

--Exactly, yeah! And we just beat Anchorage pretty bad today, we're pretty even in our series with the Raptors, and we haven't played Halifax at all yet ... so anything's possible. Fourth place is a solid prediction from me.

Okay, final question. This great interview. I get many hits, yes?

Well yeah, I'd say so. We're being pretty efficient here.

Efficiency is name of game! Anyways, yes, we know draft will be right around corner once season end. I know is far away in calendar time, but it sneak up on you! Have you thought about which teams need Jerry Mander right now?

Ooh man, now I'm being put on the spot! But, yeah, I've given it a little thought. I don't really want to rank teams until I have a powerful resume to speak to. I have my history in the SBHL and the MHL over in Russia, but that doesn't matter to SHL management, and it shouldn't. As of right now I don't have many points, low shooting percentage, but getting the hits and defensive positioning right. So that should look decent on paper to some GMs. The teams in the SHL that aren't as physical, like Calgary, Minnesota, Manhattan, even Texas, could probably use me on the bottom 6 in a few seasons. But, again, I don't know what plans they got. I've only heard from 2 GM's at this point in time so I'm open to hearing from more. I also haven't talked to much of the league yet, so if they have any questions for me, they can certainly fire away.

Interview

Thanks for taking time! I will open it up to other people for questions now.

01-08-2019, 01:29 PMwumaduce Wrote: Who is your favorite teammate? Why is it Derek Bohne?

Haha, I would say Derek Bohne is close to my favorite teammate. It's hard for me to say favorite since we haven't logged many, if any, minutes together. But this trade was an absolute monster by the Outlaws management. A guy who's shoot-first logs nothing but assists in Montreal, but then comes to Anaheim and scores 4 goals in 9 games? That's how you can tell it was for the best.

Honestly, I've enjoyed having Aaron Freakin Rome behind me on most plays, defending the blue line. He's a scrappy guy. He ends up getting into trouble with the refs almost as much as me, but he lays the lumber as much as he gets hit for talking to the other team too much. There are a lot of guys on this team that could use that sort of fighting spirit, and I'm thankful I get to play with him.

01-08-2019, 02:12 PMPris Wrote: Are you excited to play for the Federation in IIHF international play for the first time? Is there anyone you're looking forward to playing with, or getting to know, on the roster?

Oh, I'm very excited. I just hope the Russians get matched up against the United States in Group Play for my first season (and, obviously, many seasons thereafter) so I can play them twice. There are quite a few Russians in my current draft class, such as Anastasia O'Koivu and Nikolai Evans, who are currently proving themselves on their SMJHL teams. I want to see how we could all work together. We have a lot of potential as a young IIHF team, considering the team's success as it is. To get a chance to play alongside Vasily Horvat, Yuri Boyka Jr., Oliver Konig ... those are 2 if not 3 hall of famers right there. It's going to be incredible to get to know them as well as let them teach me a thing or two.

01-08-2019, 02:12 PMPris Wrote: So you talk a bit about which teams could use you. Are there any teams you want to play for, necessity aside?

With this talk of expansion looming ahead, I think it would be great to carve out a niche for myself on a brand new team. I think everybody my age with my aspirations is looking for an opportunity like that. Sure, some people would probably want to look at how they stack up against the best from a different era wearing the same jersey--but it's exciting to think about starting an entirely new team, too.

Apart from that, I really like Minnesota. They have a young goalie and some defensemen who are making noise right now considering how young they are in Poopity Scoop and Geoff Moore.

Winnipeg also has some strong young prospects in Lil' Manius and Ola Wagstrom -- also, to play for the same team that the legendary Zach Evans recently retired from would be an honor in and of itself.

01-08-2019, 02:12 PMPris Wrote: Who's currently your biggest rival in the SMJHL?

I've really been keeping to myself up to this point, so it's hard to say. I've unfortunately, for myself at least, not been making enough noise on the scoresheet for probably anybody to keep up with me. With that said, I have to look at other people who were drafted around the same time as me -- just so I can say I'm not a complete bust when it's all said and done. Borromini Cannellini on the Whalers, Jimmy Slothface on the Raiders, Anchorage has that guy Johnny Sins who's pretty good ... I'll be looking at all of them for the whole season. Rest assured, if I can't manage to get it together this season, I'll get 'em at some point in my career.

01-08-2019, 02:15 PMDangles13 Wrote: What do you think of the direction of the team? Do you believe in management?

I really like the direction we're headed in as a team. I think the locker room is almost entirely positive, with a few neutrals in there. Nobody is angry about their spot, lack of points, the losses, etc. We're playing better at this point than a lot of people were willing to give us credit for. The chemistry has been pretty great especially considering we all met each other just a few short weeks ago. It's been great wearing the A this season and coaching some guys who are newer to this level of hockey. I guess I'm a decent coach, as half of them are outscoring me at this point.

As for management, all I needed to see was that first trade. It's clear the managers weren't wasting any time, and they wanted to find a system that worked immediately. They saw a team need and filled it in a matter of days. Even better, now both teams have benefit from it. It's hard to play to win all the time in the juniors, especially because this is never the END of the line for anybody. We're all awaiting getting picked up by an SHL team in a year. So for management to have a nice supportive vibe while looking for ways to win is an essential combination, and I think these guys hit the nail on the head.

wumaduce · 01-08-2019, 01:29 PM

Who is your favorite teammate? Why is it Derek Bohne?

Pris · 01-08-2019, 02:12 PM

Are you excited to play for the Federation in IIHF international play for the first time? Is there anyone you're looking forward to playing with, or getting to know, on the roster?

So you talk a bit about which teams could use you. Are there any teams you want to play for, necessity aside?

Who's currently your biggest rival in the SMJHL?

Dangles13 · 01-08-2019, 02:15 PM

What do you think of the direction of the team? Do you believe in management?

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