Dave: Last season was a tough one for the team. Do you feel the Crunch have something to prove this season?
Steven: Our team has a lot to prove this year to the league and our fans, our first step is making the playoffs and from there being successful in the playoffs
Dave: How did you prepare for this season?
Steven: I have a personal trainer back home in Edmonton that i have worked with for 6 yrs now. There is also a lot of hockey players that live in Edmonton so it is easy to get quality ice time.
Dave: You were pretty banged up most of last season. Has it been a relief to be relatively injury free this year?
Steven: Last year was frustrating as far as injury wise, and the body definitely feels better this year so far.
Dave: What are the details of your current contract (how many years left)?
Steven: I signed a two year deal this summer with Columbus, so i will have one more year left next season.
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?
Steven:
There is definitely more competition everywhere
in our organization which i think is a good thing, maybe short term it may
be harder to get up to the NHL but i think long term it is better because
we should be winning a lot more games as an organization this year and
that helps everyone.
Dave: If you do not see a lot of NHL action, will you consider the
season a failure for you personally?
Steven: I'm
hoping to a chance up in the NHL this year, and had high expectations for
myself coming into the year yes. On the other hand, as long as i am
improving as a player and continue to get better and develop down in
Syracuse where i am able to get lots of ice time i believe that it will
allow me to make the most of my opportunity when i get a chance.
Dave: Which AHL teams do you most enjoy playing against? Why?
Steven: I have always loved to play our rival teams, Rochester, Manitoba, Toronto, and Hamilton.
Dave: Which AHL teams do you most enjoy least against? Why?
Steven: No one in particular.
Dave: A lot of your teammates from last year have gone to or stayed in
Europe this season. Have you been in touch with any of them and if so,
how are they doing?
Steven: I've kept in touch with a lot of guys over the summer, not so much during the year. But I hear Verot is doing well in Russia and Canzanello loves where he is over in Germany.
Dave: There are so many new faces this season, is there anyone that has not returned that you feel would be a perfect fit for this year’s team?
Steven: No we are a whole new team this year, and everyone in our locker room is a good fit right now, i really think we have a great bunch of guys, and everyone brings something different to the table. Although it would be fun to see Sugar and Nasty as line mates.
Dave: Comment briefly on the following people (answers in red)
Jon Mirasty - tough
Derek Dorsett -pesky pesky
Alexandre Picard - Aflack
Dan Smith - best shot blocker I've played with
Joakim Lindstrom - NHL skills, great guy
Derek MacKenzie - can go top shelf
in a hurry, great roomy
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?
Steven: basketball, and no.
Dave: Who has been the greatest influence on your career thus far?
Steven: family and friends back home in Stony Plain, always
supportive.
Dave: Do you have any brothers or sisters? Are they athletes? Have family members come to see you play?
Steven:
My bro Kurtis is a great hockey player and
snowboarder, and my sis used to play all the sports because we made her,
good baseball player.
Dave: Who do you hang out with
on the team?
Steven: whenever we hang out most all the team comes so everyone.
Dave: Who do you most admire on the team?
Steven: The guys that have won championships and knows what it takes, our captain is a great leader
Dave: How do you feel about the fans? Are you comfortable signing autographs? Are you usually noticed in public?
Steven: I love the fans in Syracuse, they are some of the best in the league and playing hear for 4 yrs i get to meet a lot of them.
Dave: What would you like to do when your playing days are over?
Steven: I'm not sure, something in real estate maybe.
Dave: Do you read any of the stuff on the internet, whether it be positive or negative and let that affect your play?
Steven: Never. I don't read the paper or anything like that because I don't believe anything good can come out of it, and most the people that write the stuff have never played a game of hockey in their life.
Interviewers note: I would like to thank Steven Goertzen for taking
the time to do this interview.