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Mac · 03-01-2014, 04:59 AM

Mac is sitting in a recliner when I arrrive at his place in Seattle. Looking out over fhe city, he has his back to me as I enter. I stand there a long time, wondering what is going through his head. This man was drafted all the way way in the early days and he has yet to move on from his first SHL team, following them from being the Vancouver Nightmare to the move to the desert in Las Vegas and onwards to Seatlle to become the Riot, A nod to one of the most talented players to lace them up.

"Just going to stand there?" Mac asks finally.

"Not the whole time, no I don't think. I was going to say something after an hour or so."

Mac rises from his seat and turns with a grin.

Well, let's get to this. It's been awhile and with me getting old I may fall asleep during it so I hope you got your good questions up first.

Well, First of all Mac. How do you feel?

Usually with my hands. Har har, no seriously that is an excellent question. I don't really know how to answer because I don't really know myself. I am nervous. A little ashamed. But very excited as well. It has been over a decade in the SHL and my a lot of my breathen retired with a Cup under their belt after moving on to another city. I was tempted and almost left at the beginning of this offseason but I like what Klose has put together. I feel ashamed because I was not the one to take this team to top. Through a long painful build I have my full confidence in this team. I became sort of disconnected over the last few seasons feeling like an outsider as there are less and less familiar faces in the lockerroom. I've had several teams of players pass through while here. I'm the last one left. Should I hang them up? Am I too old for this? I ask myself that everyday now. Do I have what it takes? Maybe. But you know how I know that won't matter? The camaraderie in the locker room is unlike any I have ever experienced in a very long time. It has the spark burning again.

Wow, that is an incredible answer Mac. Thank you. How do you feel about not being mentioned in years in the top goaltender discussions within the league and in magazines and articles?

At this point, Mac looks out the window.

Shitty. I mean I understand fully, to most I am but an afterthought. A link to the early days I suppose. Season four SWJHL Champion. A night I just cannot forget. Me and Eddie Fischermann, dueling like junior gods for the championship in Game 7 of the finals. I came out on top.

Mac turns and looks at me.

Next season, I was the hotshot young star, taking a team that was only beginning to find it's legs to the Cup final. I got drafted with Duey that year and I have to say we would have been unbeatable if we had the team we do now that year. No disrespect to my fellow men at arms but we failed. We got swept in the finals by West Kendall and we have never been back. Close, oh so close so many times we'd lose out to some team just slightly better, slightly luckier, slightly better in their rebuild. Something always seemed to be missing. We could never really identify ourselves. I think for a long time we struggled to find who we are. The Stars? Well established. Dragons? I'll always remember it as Jessters team. Edmonton? Christ. Honcho was a god. Kendall and Garcia. They were unstoppable. What didn't I have? The charisma and the leadership qualities that they had. They were able to provide the energy and the level of effort that became the calling card of the team and as we played and moved from city to city we never had someone who really set the bar and held it there. No defining face and finally Raycroft emerged fully. We were never able to get the supporting cast together and he finally decided to move on in the game. I should have been the guy then to help lead but it turned out I knew no one and how do you feel comfortable around a group of young juniors and a couple people who haven't been here a long time. I became the new guy in a sort of sense as I dropped in occasionally, sure the guys knew who I was but they didn't really know me as anymore than the goaltender who drops by to say hi every so often. So yeah, it is frustrating but I know that at this point I am a splitter at best and a backup more than likely. This is a young mans game and I don't think I have it in me to keep up anymore.

Let me know if I am getting into untouchable territory here Mac, how long do you realistically want to keep playing? Have you considered a trade to another team after any point?

Argggghh, damn you. I knew you would ask this and I don't blame you. It is the question. Want? I wanted to retire seasons ago but I refuse to have my legacy be the clutch junior goalie who just wasn't good enough to help his team make it to glory. I might have to do it as backup, but I will do it. I am signed to Season 25 and that will make it my 20th season. I have considered an extension. I have considered free agency. I have considered a trade. I have considered it all and I think I will end up making the decision when the time comes and just enjoy the remaining eight seasons I am signed for. I am sure in that time this team will be far different and people will move on. They will lose faith in the team after stumbles but look at me, I have always been right here knowing full well this team has what it takes and I don't believe there has ever been a better chance for us than now.

So what do you think of many sources placing the Riot at the bottom of the West?

Hahah. Yeah, I find that endearing. I'd like to thank them because let me tell has that ever lit a fire under the asses of the men in our lockerroom. We are all out this season to prove everyone wrong. Yeah, cliche sure. I can say that I want just as bad as anyone in there to see the look on everyones face when the Riot are riding the top of the standings. That will happen. Maybe not this season, maybe not next but it will happen and our rise will be stuff of league legends. We have an unstoppable train going lead by one of the most explosive players in the game today. We have a strong core and if I could be so bold to say that anyone looking for a new team to go to would do well to come to Seattle that is how confident I am.

Alright, a few more questions and we can wrap this up. With Rose getting the majority of the starts how much do you think you can truly impact the team?

The intangibles. I know what it is like to be there and what it takes to get there. That is why I am taking it upon myself to set the training bar and setting it high. If an old geezer like me can train the way I am there is absolutely no reason a rookie can't, there is no reason anyone can't. If I can get back into this game the way I used to then they can train to get even better. That Cup in Season 5 should have been mine. I let it slip, next time I will raise that above my head and I will know I worked my ass off for it. I may not be able to win the Cup for them but I can sure as hell help them get there.

You have definitely shown glimpses of your former spark, but will you be able to keep up the way you used to with the media interviews and such?

I don't know, you tell me after you get this past your editor. But no, I think Mac is back. Come hell or high water I'll drink from that Cup before I retire.

Well Mac, that is all the time we have for today. Thank you, I look forward to our next meeting.

Thanks for stopping by, anytime. If you'd like, I could get you into our lockerrom sometime for a question period.

Oh god, that would be incredible

I'll talk to the boys about it.

(((1509 Words)))