Number: 35
Position: Goalie
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 172
Birthday: 8.11.83
Hometown: Armada, MI
Last team: Soo Indians (NAHL)

Player Biography

Brian, a native of Armada, Michigan, played the last 2 seasons for the Soo Indians of the NAHL. Last year, he had a .904 save percentage and 2.70 goals against average for the Soo. Dominik Hasek is his favorite NHL player not only because of his “success on the ice”, but also because “he stops almost everything”.

Interview

Kevin Kasel: Tell me about your family life, do you have any brothers or sisters?

Brian Papcun: I have two brothers and a sister. One older brother and one older sister and one younger brother.

Kevin: How old where you when you started playing hockey?

Brian: I first skated when I was about 5. I didn't start on a team until I was 11.

Kevin: Why did you start?

Brian: I don't know. Just, I am a big fan of the Red Wings, I'm from the Detroit area.

Kevin: Why did you decide to play for the Bucs?

Brian: It's a winning organization for sure.

Kevin: Have you always been a goaltender?

Brian: Nope. I was a defensemen, I turned goalie when I was 13.

Kevin: Tell me about the past teams you've played for.

Brian: I played for the Ann Arbor Ice Dogs, Midget Triple A. I played up in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for a couple of years.

Kevin: If I won the lottery, the first thing I'd do is ...

Brian: I would buy a car.

Kevin: Do you have a favorite pro or college team?

Brian: Definitely the Wings.

Kevin: What about a favorite player?

Brian: I would say Hasek.

Kevin: Do you have a nickname?

Brian: 'Pappy', 'Papper' something like that.

Kevin: What is your favorite saying?

Brian: Saying? I don't know. Like a movie line?

Kevin: Do you saying anything all the time?

Brian: Not really. I probably do, but I can't think of them right now.

Kevin: Tell me about some of your goals for the future.

Brian: Definitely try and move on to the next level ... college hockey and hopefully pro. Take one level at a time.

Kevin: Finish this sentence: The fans would be surprised to know that I...

Brian: Ahhh ... that's a tough one, I don't know about that. I like cartoons. I watch them consistently.

Kevin: My first job was ...

Brian: Student instructor.

Kevin: What your hobbies are?

Brian: I play guitar a lot.

Kevin: In comparison to your home town what do you like and dislike about Des Moines?

Brian: Des Moines is very clean. It's a very nice atmosphere.

Kevin: Did your thoughts on Des Moines change when you saw all the fans?

Brian: Well, the support, they support the team.

Kevin: When did you first hear about the Bucs?

Brian: I would say a couple of years ago. Junior "A" leagues, getting to know them.

Kevin: Did you have any other choices, besides the Bucs this year?

Brian: Yeah, I could have stayed with Soo (NAHL) I guess.

Kevin: What do you like to do besides hockey?

Brian: I like to play my guitar and watch movies and stuff like that.

Kevin: What can't you imagine living without?

Brian: Cereal.

Kevin: What's your most embarrassing moment?

Brian: This goes back a few years ago, during the other team's introductions for the game, I accidentally walked out on the ice for the other team's goalie introduction. That was pretty embarrassing. I ended up getting a shutout that game, so I wish I would have kept doing it for the rest of the year.

Kevin: Finish this sentence. My team mates think I'm...

Brian: Clever.

Kevin: Who is your favorite non-hockey athlete?

Brian: I would say Michael Jordan, because of his accomplishments.

Kevin: What is your favorite non-hockey sport?

Brian: Baseball.

Kevin: If you could have lunch with one person, past or present, who would it be?

Brian: I would say a guy like Chris Farley.

Kevin: If you started your own NHL franchise, and you could pick any player, who would you start with and why?

Brian: I would start with goal-tending, maybe someone like Patrick Roy or Dominik Hasek.

Kevin: What are your superstitions?

Brian: I like to talk to my posts a lot. That's my best friend right now.

Kevin: If I could change one thing about me, it would be ...

Brian: I don't know. That's a good question. I guess I kinda chew my nails, what ever little I have.

Kevin: Any advice for younger hockey players?

Brian: Yeah, just never give up. Just keep playing. No matter what anyone says.

Papcun Named Goaltender of the Month

The United States Hockey League, in conjunction with Goalies' World Magazine, awarded goaltender Brian Papcun (Armada, Mich.) Goalies' World Magazine / USHL Goaltender of the Month for January 2003.

An unheralded first-year Buccaneer, Papcun posted five wins in January, including a shutout, while losing only twice, once in an overtime shootout. His January saves percentage of .934 ranked among the league's very best.

Through today, Papcun has registered nine wins overall and a 2.94 goals-against average in 21 games played.

In the Goalies' World Magazine scoring system, Papcun has accumulated 101.82 points for the season. Sioux Falls' Kellen Briggs (102.84), Sioux City's Jan Chovan (102.49), Waterloo's Jordan Parise (101.70) and River City's Dominic Vicari (101.06) form the Goalies' World overall top five.

To 2002-2003 Roster