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**Indie rock fades out to silence for a few seconds, before Scott Caster inhales sharply and begins yelling his opening**

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THIS IS 93.1 WHAT THE PUCK RADIO, IM YOUR HOST WITH THE MO- **He’d pause for a breath** Your host with a need to hit the gym, just yelling like that took my breath away so fast. I’m your host, Scott Caster. Thanks for tuning in on this delightful weekend day. Speaking of breath taking, the first quarter or so of this SMJHL season has been something. Expected dominant performances, heart breaking losses, fights, rookie struggles, rookie highlights. They’ve covered it all, and there’s still 50ish games left, depending on the team, to go before the real entertainment begins: playoffs. On today’s segment we’re going to catch up with our good friend Toivo Jokinen, who went 2OA to a rebuilding St. Louis Scarecrows. He’ll be on shortly so we’ll save all Scarecrow and Mr. Jokinen talk for later, but in the mean time let’s recap around the league so far. Sitting pretty atop the standings is the Berserkers from Newfoundland, tied with The Ottawa Highlanders with 24 standing points a piece, each running a record of 12-4. Same record, different kind of dominance. The Berserkers goal tenders have been putting in work, along with the Dmen to supplement a goal differential of an insane positive 41. For comparison, Ottawa is only at +16. Same record, different levels of dominance. Following closely behind these two teams, is a three way tie for second place between reigning back-to-back champs in Quebec (18 games played), Kelowna (14 games played), and Maine(17 games played) all with 22 points a piece. Anyway, enough about the standings, seems like our new friend of the program, Toivo Jokinen, is on the line awaiting his time. Toivo, welcome! Thank you for your time, I know it’s been a busy, little rough, beginning to the season and getting settled in. Last time you were on, it was very shortly after getting drafted and you hadn’t even made it into town yet to meet the team. I know times flying by, already been in the league now for a bit, played some preseason along with a decent chunk of the regular season. But let’s just take a second and go back to the days post draft, prior to the beginning of the season. Tell us about that experience. Meeting the staff, coaches, and teammates there in St. Louis.

T.J: I mean, it’s been terrific since day one. Got drafted, immediately put in contact with a logistics coordinator on the team to fly me out. Within twenty four hours of being drafted my life was rapidly changing. Sticks bundled up, gear freshly cleaned and put in boxes to be shipped across the seas. Felt like I hardly slept the night after the draft, was too anxious. Early the next morning it was my brother and I rushing through the airport with two carry ons, and a check bag with skates and two sticks. Luckily made the flight in time, and started our 17 hour travel day from Finland to the United States. Though credit due to the Scarecrows organization, didn’t have to think about anything during the travels. Everything was planned out, and upon landing in St. Louis they had a driver ready and waiting for us. First stop: the arena. Got to tour around the home barn for a bit before heading down into the locker room. Everything was set up perfectly for us rookies to get comfortable and transition seamlessly. Dropped my skates, sticks, tooth paste and tooth brush off at my stall. Mixed and mingled for a while then headed out for a team dinner, getting used to everyone’s names and what not before the real work began at practice the next day. Oh! Get this Scott, to go with all the travel accommodations being covered, they’ve also given each of us rookies an apartment near the rink. Probably so we’re never late, but it’s also another thing taken off the stress plate to just let us focus on hockey this first year.

S.C: Had everything laid out, scheduled flights, picked you up from the airport, and sorted out housing? Sounds like a dream. Takes anything that could have been a stress and just diminished it entirely. The draft class you were apart of was absolutely massive, similar to just the St Louis draft class. They picked up eight of you, plus another in waivers. Lot of fresh faces, have you gotten to get to know each one? 

T.J: Obviously some more so than others, being line mates helps with that however none of us have been left out on anything. From top to bottom this organization does everything together, regardless of position or status. As you can tell my English isn’t perfect, but fellow Fin Teemu Järvinen and I have been yapping it up a bit and since there’s a bit of a language barrier between him and the rest of the boys I’ve played translator on occasion. However if it’s hockey focused, he’ll pick it up like it’s nothing. It’s been really nice to have that connection to home though, nothing brings that kind of calming feeling that being with someone you can connect with. Besides that, fellow 2nd liner rook Swiffer and I have hit it off; sure you saw the little uhh, parade. He’s an absolute stud that will make a real impact in the league. Off the ice, it’s been fun kicking back and relaxing with everyone though. ‘Chivo’ and I have gone off exploring the city in our down time between practice or games or what not. I’ve had an absolute blast with everyone so far, inside the locker room, on the ice, and outside the rink including the vets. Most notably the newly elected Captain, Jean Bon.  He’s been an absolutely terrific mentor and friend to us all since we arrived.

S.C: Getting a little ahead of my questions there with mentioning the newly elected captain, but we can touch on that again later. So everything’s a great fit for all the puzzle pieces new and old, but let’s talk about something that was mentioned last time you were on the show as a possibility that has seemingly come true. The Scarecrows war room picked up two goalies which was a massive need, two defensemen; one drafted and one claimed shortly after on waivers, and five forwards. A center, a left wing, and three right wings. Combined with the vets they had 7 wings, but only two centers. You claimed last time on the show that if they needed someone to move around on the forward line up, you’d volunteer. Seems exactly that happened as you took the mantle of second line center all preseason, and now continued into the regular games. How’d that process happen, what was the conversation like between you and the FO? 

T.J: Are you surprised? We pretty much called it, happened just like you described. We’re out in the ice there for first practice, and out jots Co-GM Nils with coach and they pull the rookie squad aside. Hesitantly at first, but just extended the offer for one of the new wings to try out center. Both Swiffer and I shot up at the opportunity, but in the end he conceded on the condition that if we’re on the same line I have to feed him the puck which I have no problem with if he’s lighting the lamp. So from then on, pretty much first practice with the team I was working on faceoffs with the centers and taking rushes on the 2nd line. It’s been a pretty natural adjustment. Keep playing the game how I was, except I’m in the middle of the ice being a physical presence instead of on the wings. There has been a learning curve really perfecting face-offs now that I’ll have to take them regularly, but I think it’s coming along.

S.C: Sounds simple enough, easy question, easy answer, easily fixed line up error. Let’s keep this ball rolling as we move right into the preseason. Now, the scarecrows didn’t have anything to write home about, but they weren’t technically last in the rankings. That honor belongs to the Colorado Raptors who went 0-6-1 for a measly one point. The Scarwcrows didn’t fare much better, going 2 and 5. Experts, and people like me (not an expert, just a fool with a show and microphone), all agree that the preseason and the standings of it mean absolutely nothing especially with rookie heavy teams as they’re just testing lines, hoping to see some chemistry or small improvements. What did you see in the preseason that went right for you and your new team?

T.J: It’s all about learning, right? That’s the point of the preseason. Feel out the new structures, get comfortable with line mates, figure out what can and can’t work. For me, it was fun to just be back out in the game environment again. Different responsibilities than I’m used to having switched to center but that’s what the preseason is for. Didn’t light up the stat sheet, think I only tallied four points but I got real face-off experience under my belt. As for the team, there’s a lot to like from the preseason even if it didn’t amount to wins. Four or five of the forwards had point per game performances, few others close to that. Don’t believe there was any lineup movement after the preseason to the regular games, so it helped build that chemistry a lot too. Boogan’s been such a big help in my transition to center, helping out at practice with face offs, where to position, what to look for. He’s on a mission this season, looking to build off what he did last year and hit that point per game mark like he had when he was in my shoes as a rookie. So I just look to be a sponge and learn what I can from him before he moves on up to the big league. 

S.C: Be like a sponge, I like that. Sure the coaches do too. Asking every question, looking to be better tomorrow than you were today. Glad to hear you’ve got that support structure from the GMs, Coaches, Vets, and rookies. Moving into the first bit of the regular season, obviously not the start any team desires, only having 8 points in the first 16 games. Six from the three wins, two from overtime heartbreaks and of course nothing from the eleven losses. What’s the message around the locker room after a rough start like this; either from the players to players, or the front office down. 

T.J: Well it certainly isn’t where any of us want to be, you know? Bottom of the league,  getting hammered in most of our games. The message has been the same all season long though, put in the work. We knew it’d be tough especially with so many rookies. Only so much the vets can do while we all learn and build that chemistry. Only way to do that is play games, can’t ask the season to pause while we work. Have to put our best forward and work towards better. This season might not have the best outcome, but the future will be bright with what we’re building here. Can’t let growth be hindered by disappointment. If we’re here in this spot again next season, or show no improvement across this season that’s a problem; but just now we’re building the base for that sweet taste of victory. We aren’t accepting losing, it still fucking sucks but we’re working on it knowing what we do now will improve our future.

S.C: So the message is don’t lose hope, trust the process, tomorrow will be brighter. Sound right? Let’s talk just about you for a moment, hockey is a team sport but everyone still has their spot in the puzzle. Toivo, the overall stats might not be bright but there’s been some flashes of what’s to come. Some great performances, some not so great performances. You’ve got eight points in these first sixteen games, four goals and four assists. Face-offs have come along way, sitting at roughly a 58% win rate.   A game winning goal, a power play goal. That’s all the good…and the good is good but the bads are quite rough. Through the first 16 games, plus minus is at negative 21. More give aways than take aways. What’s the plan going forward to continue with the good, but take away the bad?

T.J: I’ll be the first to say it, obviously I’ve not played up to my standard. Rookie or not, -21 isn’t a good look. Rookies all around the line up, but we’ve still got to do our own part and do the best we can. We’re not taking care of our guys in net with a rating like that.  Starting with me in the middle, figure out the defensive game. Everything’s faster at this level, everyone’s just better. I’ve got to catch up and the rest of the puzzle pieces to my game will fall into place.

S.C: Alright, alright. Let’s look at the bright sides here instead of dwelling on that, you’re young, the team is young, it’ll get better. Sixteen games in, you’ve had your first assist, first goal, first two point night, first three point night, first power play goal, first game winner. Just recently, in a 8-4 win against the Malamutes you were awarded third star of the game on your one goal, two assist performance. Walk us through that one, how’d it feel? 

T.J: That entire game felt great. Showed the league a sample of what we’ll be capable of in the future once we all get settled in and used to the speed of the game, and build chemistry. The locker room post game? Absolutely electric. Was so happy for both my line mates after that one, believe Theo got 2nd star with two goals, two assists and my boy Swiffer was awarded first star on one goal, three assists. Might have been our line finding the net mostly, but the entire team played great. Obviously best game of the season, just need to figure out how to do that consistently which we will over time. 

S.C: Toivo, I wanted to talk about your performance. Great to put the line mates up on the pedestal, but you’re the guest here. I know you won’t change though, regardless of how many times I plead. Last topic I’d like to cover here that we touched upon earlier.. we saw an A on your sweater these past couple games. That’s got to feel good. Having the trust and support from the coaches and teammates to let you wear that. How’d that process go? What was going through your mind when they presented it to you?

T.J: Just felt honored, what else? Only been here a short time and the boys felt I’d be a good fit. Went through a voting process to decide who’d be wearing the C and A’s. Feel like we knocked it out of the park with naming Jean Bon our Cap; been outstanding (in his field haha scarecrow joke) at welcoming all his rookies in, helping us get settled and just being a calming presence on the ice…at least for us, don’t look at his PIM’s. Anyway, back to what you asked. I’m just honored and hope to live up to the expectations in the long run from 2OA and rookie alternate captain on this storied J franchise. Just walking the halls, reading the history it gets you pumped to put on the jersey and compete. Only a short time, but it’s been an absolute joy working with and learning what it means to be a leader from Jean, who’s doing amazing and had great mentors just like he is for me. Favorite tradition we’re continuing is awarding a player of the week, and rookie of the week within the room. Fellow Alt Chunglebim isn’t the most talkative, but he also leads by example on the ice. 

S.C: So from all that, sounds like the Scarecrows are in good hands in the locker room between you three to guide this draft class and team into the promised land, hopefully sooner rather than later with Jean Bon only having one more season after this before graduating to play with the big boys. Thanks for your time Toivo, always a pleasure having you on. Congratulations on being named an Alternate Captain, and all the first milestones you’ve already accomplished. Hopefully the team can turn it around sooner rather than later like I said earlier and claim that cup once again for the city of St. Louis. That’s all we have time for now folks, got the producer signaling it’s commercial time. Conversation with Toivo ran longer than expected. We’ll be back on the other side of this break, discussing literally anything in our fun segment grab bag. Don’t go anywh-.

**Scott would be cut off to go to commercials as the producer was getting impatient**