2011-2014
2014
2015
2016
2017
CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT FORMER WHEAT KINGS COACH, NOW GOLDEN KNIGHTS ASSISTANT GM KELLY MCCRIMMON BRINGS TO THE TEAM? BL As basically everyone in Manitoba already knows, Kelly is just a great hockey guy. You actually don’ t see a whole lot of Kelly around the rink as he is out scouting a fair bit. He is in charge of the American League team more, and he’ s been an incredible part of this team, especially within the expansion draft. I think he’ s a really big part of what helps make this organization seem more and more professional.
WHAT GOT YOU INTO HOCKEY AS A LITTLE KID? BL Well I grew up in the River Heights area of Winnipeg, and there was an outdoor rink right there – River Heights Community Centre. When I was younger, my dad would just walk us out the back door and throw us on the rink there. That’ s basically where it all started for me.
CAN YOU TOUCH ON YOUR HOCKEY-PLAYING SIBLINGS AND WHAT THEY’ RE CURRENTLY ACCOMPLISHING IN THE GAME THESE DAYS? BL Well my younger brother is still out playing with Portage. He had a great year last year and is trying to get off to another good start here this season to hopefully earn himself a scholarship. My sister was actually a gymnast, but now is just playing in the Manitoba Women’ s Junior Hockey League in Winnipeg. Hockey definitely does run in our family, you’ re right about that!
WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT VEGAS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN EXPECTING OR MAYBE SOMETHING THAT YOU’ VE COME TO LOVE? BL: I had never been to Vegas before, so getting down here I just kind of learned it on the fly. Where we’ re living, it actually feels like a small town. We all know about the bright lights downtown, but it definitely can have that small town feel to it when you’ re not on the strip – almost like Winnipeg a little bit. But it’ s a great place to live, great people, and everyone here is really enjoying it.
LOOKING BACK ON YOUR VISIT TO WINNIPEG IN EARLY DECEMBER, WHAT WAS IT LIKE PLAYING IN FRONT OF THE WINNIPEG
CROWD? BL It was certainly a dream come true for me. I guess I was about 16 or 17 and playing in the Western League when the Jets came back to Winnipeg. That was always kind of the vision I had in coming home to play in front of friends and family. Just seeing all of those familiar faces up in the stands while you’ re skating around on the ice in warm-up was definitely my“ wow, I actually made it to the NHL” moment for me.
IS THERE ANYONE YOU WOULD LIKE TO THANK FOR HELPING YOU OUT AS A YOUNG PLAYER IN WINNIPEG? BL: Probably just my family and my mom and dad especially. Everybody sacrificed with me leaving home at such a young age. Certainly my close friends too, as it was really tough leaving them behind at times, but it’ s always really fun seeing them when I can. ❍
2011-2014
Played 261 games with the Portland Winterhawks
2014
Played 47 games with the Milwaukee Admirals
2015
Played 65 games with the Toronto Marlies
2016
Played 6 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs
2017
Has played 40 games with the Vegas Golden Knights
REGULAR SEASON EDITION 2018 | GAME ON | 73