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Dave:
Is it hard to return to work after a
summer off? How did you spend your summer?
Joakim: No. I like hockey so
much I was really excited to bet back into it.
Dave: Last
season was a tough one for the team. Do you feel the Crunch have
something to prove this season?
Joakim: I don't know...it is hard to compare
season to season. We have a really good team this season...we should do
well.
Dave: Where do you think the team has
improved the most over last season?
Joakim: Hard to say...we have a couple of
new scorers and the team works well together.
Dave: Which AHL teams do you most enjoy playing against? Why?
Joakim: Rochester, because of the rivalry
Dave: Which AHL teams do you most enjoy least against? Why?
Joakim: I have not played against all the teams yet, so nothing stands
out.
Dave: How about opposition players…anyone you have grown to hate or have
a conflict with whenever you face each other?
Joakim: Not really. I think that comes more during
playoffs. I have not met anyone yet I hate playing against.
Dave: You had perhaps your best AHL game last week in Hershey.
Why do you think you were able to dominate the game so? You
scored three times and had 20% of the team's total shots on goal.
Joakim: I don't know. I work hard every game and try to
score. Some you are lucky and some you are not.
Dave: One of the goals was on a penalty shot in Hershey.
You made it look easy against a tough veteran netminder. Do
you practices breakaways a lot? The European players we
have had here over the years excelled in breakaway situations. Why
do you think that is?
Joakim:
I stay and practice them after normal practice. I think the
difference in the play... more separation in the roles, offense vs
defensive players. We have good North American breakaway players
here also, like Hartigan and Motzko.
Dave: How would you compare the European game to playing in the
AHL?
Joakim:
I think it is much more similar, now that the red line is gone.
The AHL is much more physical. The ice is bigger back home.
Dave: The Columbus organization has
finally achieved some depth in the forward position.
Do you feel this will hurt your chances of a call up this season?
Joakim: No...My chance will come.
Dave: What are the details of
your contract?
Joakim:
I do not have a Columbus contract. I have a 1 year with Syracuse
with a one year option.
Dave: Comment briefly on the following people (answers in red)
a) Coach Agnew - Good Coach, I have a lot of respect for him
b) Geoff Platt - Funny
guy, very fast on the ice
c) Greg Mauldin- Also
funny...thinks he is good at dancing, but I don't know.
d) Alexandre Picard -
Good skill level, good guy
e) Peter Sarno -
good passer
f) Ben Simon - I
like to play with Ben, good defensive forward
g) Brandon Sugden -
Really works hard, best fighter I have ever
seen
Dave:
If you were not playing hockey, what sport would you play?
Do you think you would be good enough to be a pro at it?
Joakim:
Soccer...Maybe pro if I worked at it more when I was younger.
Dave:
Who has been the greatest influence on
your career thus far?
Joakim: My Dad...he played as a goalie back in Sweden.
Dave:
Do you have any brothers or sisters? Are they athletes?
Have family members come to see you play?
Joakim:
One younger brother than plays soccer. Family coming in January for
first time.
Dave: Who do you hang out with
on the team?
Joakim: Tollefsen is my
roommate, so him, Johnson, Motzko, lots of the guys.
Dave: Who do you most admire on the team?
Joakim: Pushor, he has been playing the
game a long time and take care of the young guys. He is a good
Captain.
Dave: Do the rule changes help or hurt your game?
Joakim: Helped. The
referring had been very good this year...much more consistent than
Europe.
Dave: Which rule change do you
think will have the most positive effect on the game?
Joakim: The Red Line, plus
being more strict on the penalties
Dave: What are you goals for
this season? Both for yourself and the team?
Joakim: To be injury free
and make the the playoffs and do well there.
Dave: What has been the highlight of your
hockey career so far?
Joakim: 2002 we went to the finals back
home. We lost in game five or six.
Dave: What do you think of the fans here in Syracuse?
Do the players hear/like the goalie chant?
Joakim: I like the fans...good
fans, good hockey knowledge. Yeah...we are very focused so you
do not hear everything, but it definitely helps the team when we are
at home. I like the goalie chant, it is funny!
Dave: What would you like to do
when your playing days are over?
Joakim: I love hockey, so I
would like to work in hockey, maybe coaching.
Interviewers note: I would like to thank Joakim Lindstrom for taking
the time to do this interview.
Thanks to Keith Capano and Eric M. Payne for the pictures
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