PHOTO CREDIT: TONY SARGENT PHOTO CREDIT: SCOTT WIGGINS
THE PUCK STOPS HERE that must mean that goal scorers are very valuable... so what are your secrets to finding the net so regularly? LF: A quick release is key. It’ s not necessarily how hard you can shoot the puck but the less time it spends on your stick the less time the Goalie has to react and make a save. LH: I do a lot of work in training on my shooting and practicing scoring from different areas! My shot isn’ t the most powerful so I rely a lot on accuracy and also, like Luke said, shooting quickly gives the Goalie less time to set himself for the shot.
LEWIS HOOK
ML: Most of the players are huge, yet at 13 stone wet through you two are relatively small in comparison. How do you begin to be able to compete against the other players? LH: Big things come in small packages haha... LF: Don’ t you mean‘ good things come in small packages’ haha? Anyway, size isn’ t always an indicator of strength, so a lot of strength training is key. Being fast and effective in other ways can counteract other people’ s size. We have to be clever and more positionally aware which helps us massively. LH: I work a lot in the gym on my core strength so I’ m hard to knock over on the ice and also make sure my legs are strong. But I rely mostly on my speed and agility to beat the opposition.
ML: Which player sends a shiver down your spine when you see his name on the team sheet? LF: Cam Janssen is pretty intimidating. He played in the NHL for years and isn’ t shy when it comes to a punch up. The guy has hands like shovels and hits you like a train... he isn’ t much fun to play against. I’ m pretty sure I’ ve been hit by him a few times... which is probably why I can’ t remember any of them haha. LH: Back when I was just 16 playing in my first year at senior level there was a couple of big tough guys who were always quite intimidating who I definitely didn’ t want to go into the corners against. Players like Chris Wiggins or Andre Payette stand out. Even now playing in the Elite League there’ s a couple of guys who were heavyweights in the NHL who have a presence out there which can be intimidating... but I’ m not stupid enough to name them in a magazine haha. LF: Oh Shit... Cam Janssen is going to hunt me down isn’ t he haha. Can we take that bit out?
ML: Urmmm... No. Who are you glad to have on your own team so you don’ t have to play against them? LF: For me that has to be Dannick Paquette, the Canadian import. He is tough and worryingly unpredictable haha. I don’ t think even he knows what he is going to do next so the other team don’ t stand a
MARCH 2018 / MUSCLE & FITNESS 125