With the Islanders 5th round choice, 126th overall, they chose big, Canadian goaltender Kevin Poulin. This past season, Kevin played for Victoriaville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and participated in the 2008 CHL Top Prospects Game.Islanders goalie coach Sudarshan "Sudsy" Maharaj on Kevin:
Kevin is a very big, athletic goalie from the QMJHL. He played for Team Canada at the Under-18 Championship a year ago. He will be attending the Canadian development camp this summer which is a recipe for good pedigree. This is the type of kid that will make the big saves and dominate at times.
Recently, I was able to get in touch with Kevin and he was nice enough to take time out of his busy schedule to answer a few of my questions.
Q - For those who don't know, where are you originally from and where do you call home during the off-season?
Kevin - I was born in Montréal and now I live in Longueuil. It [is] on the south shore of Montréal.
Q - How early did you start playing hockey and how old were you when you started playing goalie?
Kevin -I started playing hockey when I was 5 years old and I became a goalie when I was 11 years old
Q - How important of a role do your parents play in your hockey career?
Kevin -For me they are the most important thing in my career. They are always supporting me and they are there for me.
Q - Who was your favorite team while you were growing up?
Kevin - I was a Montreal Canadiens fan
Q - Who was your hockey Idol?
Kevin - My hockey idol was Patrick Roy
Q - Do you style your game like him or anyone else?
Kevin - Yes a little bit, but I’m more like Roberto Luongo.
Q - What is your favorite number (to have on your jersey)?
Kevin - My favorite number is 38, but it doesn’t mean anything
Q - Do you have a nickname?
Kevin - Pou
Q - What is the strongest point of your game? What is something you may look to improve on?
Kevin -my strongest point is I’m a big goalie; aléthique, and flexible. What I need to improve is my consistency.
Q - What is your most memorable moment of your young hockey career so far?
Kevin -When I went to Notre-Dame in Saskatchewan when I was 14 years old, we won two tournaments and the league championship and we only lost 3 games during the whole [time]
Q - What was the draft process like? Was the combine difficult? What kind of drills/exercises did they make you do?
Kevin -So after the years, you receive a letter to tell you that you are invited to the combine so you train all week until the combine. At the combine you have to pass some interviews with team who [are] interested to have you. After the two interviews, you have the testing, [where] you have to push yourself to the maximum. So, yeah it’s difficult. After, you go home and you go to the draft and get drafted.
Q - How do you feel about being drafted by the New York Islanders?
Kevin - I hear a lot of good things and I know the goalie coach Sudsy so I was pretty happy
Q - Do you know much about the organization?
Kevin - I know the goalie coach Sudsy and they have a young team
Q - Do you have any friends on the team or on any of the affiliated teams?
Kevin - I know Corey Trivino, I play with David Toews with team Canada I met [Travis] Hamonic at the combine.
Q - Have you ever been to New York? Or Long Island?
Kevin - No
Q - What are your plans for the coming season? Where do you hope to be playing?
Kevin -I‘ll play with Victoriaville next season and hope we will go to the mémorial cup!
Q - What sport would you be playing other than hockey?
Kevin - Golf, I used to play football and rugby
Q - What is your favorite hockey movie?
Kevin - Les boys 2, it’s a French hockey movie it very funny
Q - I am a goalie myself, obviously not at your level, but I know I have my superstitions. What, if any, are yours?
Kevin - I always take a nap at the same time [and] eat at the same time. When I am at the rink, I tape my stick, go in the stands, listen to some music, go for a stretch and get ready, but all in this order.
Q - What is your typical pre-game meal?
Kevin - Fettuccini Alfredo with chicken
I just want to thank Kevin again for taking the time from his busy schedule to answer my questions. You can all see Kevin, and the rest of the Islanders prospects, at the prospect camp, July 14th through the 20th at Iceworks in Syosset.
0 comments:
Post a Comment