1/13/99

Steve: Do you go by Jim or Jimmy?

Jim: Either one. Jimmy, Jim, whatever.

Steve: Jim, this is going to be your second interview that we have had. So let’s talk a little bit about the exciting news that you have committed to playing college hockey. Can you tell me a little bit about that?

Jim: I committed with Northern Michigan University by the early sign date. That was one school I really never thought I was going to go to up until a last minute decision that I made one night. It is pretty funny actually.

Steve: Why didn’t you think you would go there? Too close to home?

Jim: Oh, yeah. Well, it is really my hometown. You know, I have always wanted to get away from home. You know, I have had a scholarship to Ohio State, a Big 10 school, and a lot of interest from Notre Dame, Colorado College, and a couple other schools. I was just really looking at those big name schools. I never really had Northern in my mind too much because for one thing they weren’t really pushing me because, either I wanted to go there or I didn’t. They weren’t going to make my decision because I have lived there all my life, and I knew what it was like and everything else. So I do not know, one day I actually sat down and I talked to my brother. It was two o’clock in the morning. I don’t know. I couldn’t go to sleep; I was thinking about it because it was actually clinch time where I had to make my decision. It was funny because he asked me two simple questions - two questions that only I could answer. They were actually two reasonable questions, actually two great questions. Those two questions actually made me go to Northern. It is kind of an exciting story actually.

Steve: Well, good. Tell us. What are the questions?

Jim: They were questions that mean a lot to me. It wouldn’t really mean a lot to too many other people, but it just means a lot to me. I really wouldn’t want to say them.

Steve: So in the end after you talked to your brother and you got to thinking about some things, you did some soul searching and you decided to go to Northern Michigan?

Jim: Yeah.

Steve: Now the other schools that you were thinking about attending, you mentioned Colorado College, Ohio State and Notre Dame. Did you get to visit any of those schools?

Jim: I went to Ohio State, and I made an early visit to Western also last year.

Steve: Western Michigan?

Jim: Yeah. I wasn’t too interested in Western. I just wanted to go over there to visit and say I tried. And I went to Ohio State and that really impressed me a lot. I really liked the campus; I liked everything about it. The coaches were probably the best coaches in the league. John Marco won the Coach of the Year last year. They were just good to me all around. They treated me well. They never really pressured me. They put up with my BS for almost two years.

Steve: What do you mean by that?

Jim: Well, it wasn’t really BS. It was kind of like.

Steve: Indecision as where to go, you mean?

Jim: Yeah. Basically, I was going to Ohio State up until that night. I was going to Ohio State. You know, I might have well just told them that I was going there. But something inside me told me not to say that. I wanted the decision making process to go longer. I was a young kid and I needed a little more time. So, I don’t know, I had my decision down so much that they thought I was going there. The day I had to call them and tell them that I was going to Northern, you know, it even broke my heart saying that and hurt them also.

Steve: What are some advantages of going to Northern now that you see?

Jim: Ever since I was a kid, it is kind of an all mental thing. I have always watched Northern play since I was a young guy. My grandparents used to bring me to games and my parents used to have seats and everything else. I can remember everything. You know, the songs they used to play by the band and I wished they still played today. Just like watching them come out at the beginning of the period and just hearing the band play and everything. It is going to be really cool because I am going to be able to do that now, and I am going to be able to show my younger siblings. I have a younger sister and a baby brother and also a nephew that they will be able to grow up and watch me play there. That is kind of nice.

Steve: Do you know anybody on the team up there now?

Jim: Yeah, I know a bunch of kids. I have hung out with a bunch of them this summer. They are really nice kids. I won’t have a problem with that.

Steve: Well, great. We will be rooting for you. So this will be your last interview because you will be moving on from the Bucs. Is there anything you would like to just say to the fans or anything as your parting shot?

Jim: Actually, yeah. I don’t know what I am moving into but all I know is these have been probably the best fans I have ever played in front of. Just coming out every night, you know, into a sold out building and nothing will get you up, if not that. Probably the best fans in the league. I couldn’t believe the first game that I came here and played in front of whatever it is, twenty five hundred fans. You know, I couldn’t believe it. My heart dropped and you get so much adrenaline because of the fans themselves. I consider them part of the team also.