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Toaster · 03-01-2025, 12:12 AM

**A sports gambling ad would come to an abrupt end as the sweet sound of Scott Casters voice comes on to the air**

S.C: Oh my goodness gracious have we got a good one lined up for you ladies and gentlemen here today on the show. THIS is 93.1 What the Puck radio, I’m your host Scott Caster. Previous shows on the topic of the SMJHL has been focused on rookies, today we’ve got a good guest lined up that’s  been around for a couple seasons. I’ll give some clues before I reveal to see if anyone can guess. First, we’re going to a city I haven’t covered yet in The United States. This one only knocks off St. Louis and the Canadian bunch. Second hint, this mystery player is an absolute giant. Getting conflicting answers on quite how tall, some sources saying six foot eight, some sources saying six foot ten. Feel like anything over six foot six is just a guess, no one can measure anyone that tall. Third and final hint, they play defense on a team that’s big on the color blue. Anyone think they have it? I’ve not cross referenced every player and every roster in the remaining handful of possible teams, but I feel like there can’t be many players left that fit this description. American team, primarily blue. Non-rookie, six foot eight or six foot ten defenseman. Those of you who guessed Tiny Princess, you’re right! This absolute behemoth has been tearing it up from his first season, and just started their third the same way. Welcome to the show Tiny, alright if I call you that? Pleasure having you on 93.1 What The Puck with me. One thing I like to do is break the ice and relieve some tense with a fun food question to start. Now you’re big dude, sure it takes some work maintaining that well oiled machine. What’s a cheat day look like for you?

T.P: Tiny or TP is fine. Man what does a cheat day look like… haven’t had one of those in a while. But normally on my cheat days I only run a triathlon instead of a decathlon to warm up, then I hit the gym and take it easy. Not as many tons of weight that day just to relax my body a bit. Afterwards I hit the sauna and relax for a bit before ending the morning. Then I run another quick triathlon before heading home to relax on the day by stuffing my face with food (the mass has to come from somewhere). Normally I end the night off with my trademark cheesecake, then get a good nights rest.

S.C: Good heavens, that’s more in a day than I’ve done in my life. I don’t know though  that cheesecake before the end of day might really just put it over the edge for cheat days, sneaking in those last minute calories. Let’s head off with another question on the fun side before diving in, do you have any superstitions or rituals that you have to do prior to a game or else it just feels wrong?

T.P: For starters, I replace and retape everything that I can. Afterwards I put on my handy dandy blindfold for warmups and get a feel for the rink whilst blind, shoot some shots, and block some shots. I find this improves my game and lets me know where I am during the game at all times.

S.C: Replacing tape after every game is something I hear a lot, keeps everything fresh does it? Can’t say I’ve heard of the blindfold one before, but I can see the thought behind it and it’s seemed to work out for you so far. Let’s go back in history for a minute to season 79. Your rookie season, drafted to a team that finished 3rd overall the year prior, picks you up and makes a run at it all unfortunately ending up losing to QCC in the cup finals. You carried an impressive stat sheet for a rookie Dman. 5-35-40 for a positive 29 plus minus rating. Had to be doing alot of things right and it shows. How did that first season help you develop as a player, and set expectations for that you’d carry onward?

T.P: The rookie season was amazing. It really gave me the motivation to keep on wanting to be better. It felt just a tad bit as if the pressure was on for me to keep preforming, but as long as I played I was good. Sadly there was a slump in S80, but I'm finally back on pace with my rookie season and looking to improve upon my points, and help take the Raps to another cup finals, and hopefully win it this time.

S.C: Jumped the gun on my questions! Was going to say it looked like you, and the whole roster, had a little bit of a sophomore slump your second season. What did you learn from that, to apply to your game this season and prevent it from happening again? Which whatever it is seems to be working so far, off to a hot start as a player and as a team.

T.P: S80 was a growing experience for sure. I think we just learned to keep on going which is really showing off this season. Not only did most of our main core from last season improve but we got a few really good rookies that should help contribute to the teams success. Just staying active and working has gotten us here

S.C: Learn from the past to prevent it from happening again in the future, the sign of any great. Looks like you’re off to a good start, only ten points behind last season and only twenty games in. Sounds like the team is in a good position to make a push for the playoffs again. Do you think that’ll happen this season and be back in the finals? What kind of presence do you bring to the locker room as an alt captain?

T.P: I believe that this team, both this season and nexts, will be primed for a potential finals run. The playoff push is coming I can feel it. As for the locker room, I’m very active and always trying to bring an energetic presence!

S.C: Always good to have belief, regardless of the situation: however it looks like the belief is well founded having grown a lot internally from last year and only bringing in a handful of rookies. Last season, you only had 28 total points. This season you’re already up to 18 in 21 games, setting a pace for around 56 points which would be your highest so far. Was this part of your focus in the off-season, or has it primarily been boosted by the team around you as you prefer to be locking down on the defensive side of the game?

T.P: It was a good amount of both if I had to say. This offseason I started trying to transition into more of a two way, and with the new rookies and signings, those have also helped boost me. I’ve been able to be pretty consistent on both sides of the puck, which was my goal, this season barely being off the blocks leaderboard.

S.C: The work you’ve been putting into the two way game has definitely started to show already this season, hopefully it keeps on improving! Speaking of those rookies, how have they worked into the team? Obviously the on ice effect has been shown, but what about the behind the scenes and in the lockerroom.. are they adjusting well?

T.P: All of the rookies have been very active! From our 10th overall pick to our late round goalie steal, they have all been participating inside the locker room. It does also help that half of them are recreates.

S.C: Half the selections are recreates.. I can see how that leads itself to being a benefit in the locker room. You knew what the team was getting in a sense. Anyway, you’re the guest on honor on the show today, so let’s talk about you. We’ve touched on the points scoring and the pace you’re on to set a career record. Are there any other individual goals you have this season?

T.P: For goals, of course winning the four star cup is one of them, but individually. I want to at least be a finalist for the defensive player award, finalist for MIP, be up on the blocks and points (for dmen) leaderboards. I want to establish myself as a threat to come.

S.C: Of course, of course. I’d be concerned, probably along side everyone else, if winning the four star wasn’t a goal of yours or any member of a J team. For the rest of the goals, some might say they’re lofty but I’d say they’re just want you need. Definitely reasonable if you keep up on the performance you laid out already this season. Let’s look towards the future a little bit. You’ve were selected at an amazing fourth overall for the Hamilton Steelhawks in the SHL. Obviously the mission in the Js isn’t done and you’ve still got potentially another season after this one.. but how excited are you to move up to that next level and get involved with the team?

T.P: I’m very excited to go up and I can’t wait to get into the SHL! Only issue will be the expansion draft which should really shake up the roster. As for involvement in already pretty involved over in the locker room and in the war room. I’m very excited and can’t wait to play for the Steelhawks after my tenure in the J!

S.C: My next question was going to be if you’ve had contact with the crew since the draft, but you answered that one already. Yapping it up and apart of the war room, that’s impressive. Setting the stage for a great transition. Well Tiny, got just a few questions left… don’t want to incur the wrath of my director for going over the time limit between commercials like I have before. This one comes from a caller, Adam, 11. Wanted us to ask the first defensemen we had on the show how they ended up playing on there. He’s currently a forward by the coach talks of switching up the roster since his shot isn’t the best. Do you have any tips for the youngster, and also a bit on how you ended up  settling in on defense? Seems there’s less praise and more criticism than the forwards.

T.P: Well as a big dude, defense really just felt like a natural calling. Getting to be a major part on both ends of the ice can be a lot of fun. Even though defenseman aren’t talked about on the defensive side a lot, it can still be rewarding when you play well. So my tip is, is that if you are going to the defensive side, to take it all in. Become a beast and don’t let anyone affect you, just stay in the game.

S.C: I’d always thought it’d be fun to see an absolute mountain of a man be a power forward, but they do tend to lend themselves better in the defensive side of the game. Just two questions left here for ya’, some more on the fun side. If you had to play another position other than Left or Right Defenseman, what would you pick and why?

T.P: I think center. Centers can be some of the most ultimate 2ways and I love producing everywhere one the ice if you couldn’t tell. If I had to choose a role, it would be a power forward build so I can ram people into the walls and then put the puck in the net.

S.C: Producing everywhere does seem to be something that tickles the Princess’ fancy. I could see you as a power forward, smashing and running over people on your way to the net. Last question before we’ve got to take a break, been an absolute pleasure having you on. If you weren’t playing hockey, which I glad you are as you are very good at it, what would you be doing?

T.P: I think the obvious answer here is finances of course! Tiny Princess loves making sure his teammates aren’t going into crippling debt so he might as well help others!

S.C: Always around to lend a helping hand, Tiny Princess is. Make for some sort of Accountant… like that one Ben Affleck movie. Well that’s all we have time for today. Been an absolute blast having you on Tiny, hope to get you on again in the future! Good luck with the rest of the season, and the future SHL seasons too.

T.P: Thank you so much and good luck to you! Go Raps!

S.C: There you have it folks, quite possibly one of the largest men I’ll ever speak with.. has to be pushing seven feet on skates. Sure glad I don’t have to play against him. Wishing Tiny and the Raptors best of luck this season as they continue their quest for a cup. That’ll wrap up the interview for today, on the other side of commercial break we’ll discuss the best way to cook a hotdog. Stay with tuned.

{Another fun collab piece with other J’s Players! Collaboration done with @DarthDaevin. Word total: 2213 (Anything after S.C was me for 1458 words. Anything after T.P and in italics is DarthDaevin’s for 755 words)}

***ThisSeemsFishy*** · 03-01-2025, 05:53 PM

I LOVE YOU TINY PRINCESS Raptors

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