Erik Cole

Number: 24
Position: Forward
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 185
Hometown: Oswego, NY
Last Team: Oswego High School Buccaneers
Birthdate: 11/6/78

Player Biography

The Bucs welcome Erik from the Oswego High School Buccaneers, NYSHSH Div I section III. Last season with the Osewego Bucs, Erik scored 49 goals and 41 assists. His greatest accomplishment is setting league and school records last year, while playing for his high school team.

Sarah: What's it like to finish your last year of high school here and live with a different family in a strange city?

Erik Cole: It's tough at first, the first two months were really hard, but once you meet most of the guys and start making new friends around town it's a lot easier. You miss your folks and old friends a lot, but you get used the one's you have here.

Sarah: What possessed you to dump that Fargo player over the bench, you know on January 31st - you dumped him over?

E. Cole: Actually coach and just about everyone on the bench was screaming for me to hold him there, 'cause it was Panzer who was our biggest threat. I figured I'd throw him on the bench and that would get rid of him, unfortunately I got caught.

Sarah: Was it fun?

Cole: It was a blast.

Sarah: What influenced you to start playing hockey?

Cole: My brother played hockey before me. And always growing up and watching him play and watching him play street hockey with all of his friends, of course I wanted to tag along.

Sarah: Okay so how old where you when you started?

Cole: I first started skating when I was three years old, and then I first started playing in minor hockey when I was four or five.

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

Cole: I felt really comfortable out here with coach Owens and coach Boxer, with the organization in general. When I came out last year, I came out for two days, for the recruiting try-out there and coach Owens made me feel welcome here. The guys that were all here for recruit camp and the guys that made the team looked like we would have a pretty good squad. I really looked forward to it.

Sarah: Do you have favorite pro or college team?

Cole: My favorite professional team would be the Pittsburgh Penguins. I'd hate to say what my favorite college team would be - I guess I'd have to say Clarkson.

Sarah: What about a favorite player?

Cole: My favorite player is definitely Mario Lemieux. Because he's big and strong, he's not so much the player he used to be when he was younger, but I've always admired him.

Sarah: What are your other hobbies, what else do you like to do?

Cole: I like a lot of water sports. I like to play basketball in the summer. I like to go camping in the summer and be able to go out in my boat and go skiing or whatever. To me that's just relaxation and a lot of fun.

Sarah: What can't you imagine living without?

Cole: My parents.

Sarah: Do you have a favorite movie.

Cole: Jerry MaGuire.

Sarah: If you were head coach of any team what would you do?

Cole: Any team? I guess I'd just try and be a laid back coach who expects a lot from his players and expects to win.

Sarah: What are your plans for college and what are your goals for the future.

Cole: My plans for college are to go to Clarkson next year and I'm going to major in Business Administration. Next year is a really big year for me because it's my draft year. My future really depends on where I go in the draft. Right now I'd say I'm gonna be at Clarkson for four years, but it could change.

Sarah: So you really want to play pro right?

Cole: I'd love to, it's always been my dream.

Sarah: What would the fans be surprised to know about you?

Cole: That I drink two cups of coffee before every game in the locker room.

Sarah: Is that why you're so hyper.

Cole: Superstition

Sarah: Why?

Cole: Last year when I was playing Junior's in Canada our trainer had a cup of coffee on the bench, because every rink in Canada is freezing cold and so he had that coffee. I told him if he'd give me a sip of it I'd score him a goal and sure enough I did. For the rest of last year every time I'd come off the ice in between periods I'd have a coffee sitting right there on my chair.