Willie Raderschadt
Number: 39
Position: Goalie
Height:6' 0"
Weight: 170
Birthday: 1-6-79
Hometown: Elk River, MN
Last team: Elk River High School

Player Biography

Willie joins the Bucs after playing for the Elk River High School in Elk River, Minnesota, where he had a 91% save percentage. Willie was All-Metro, All-Conference twice, and played in the Minnesota High School "Great 68" All Star Tournament. He listens to George Strait before games to relax

Player Interview

2/17/98

Sarah: Where were you born?

Willie: I was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Sarah: Okay. So where do you call home?

Willie: I call Elk River, Minnesota home.

Sarah: What was it like growing up there?

Willie: In Elk River?

Sarah: Yeah.

Willie: Well, I moved there when I was in 10th grade so I have only lived there like three years now.

Sarah: So where did you live before?

Willie: I lived in Coon Rapids, Minnesota before Elk River. That is where I live now is Elk River.

Sarah: Okay. Tell me about your family.

Willie: I have got a mom and a dad and a sister Sarah. She is 23 and she graduated from Bemidji State University last year, and she is a student teacher right now. I have got a dog named Abby.

Sarah: No other brothers or sisters?

Willie: No.

Sarah: Has any of your family been able to see you play as a Buc?

Willie: Yeah, my parents both have seen me play. My dad comes down every weekend to watch.

Sarah: And how does that make you feel?

Willie: It makes me feel good cause I don't play as much as I would like to, so he is giving me the support. He comes down even when I'm not playing. It is good to see him.

Sarah: How did you start playing hockey?

Willie: I don't really know. My dad just got me into it. I started when I was five. Growing up in South Dakota, my dad and mom didn't know much about hockey so that is a pretty big question. I don't know really how I started. I just started playing when I was five.

Sarah: So your dad hasn't played?

Willie: No. Hockey is just starting in South Dakota now, so I don't know how I really got into it.

Sarah: That is interesting. When did you know or decide that you wanted to pursue hockey full time?

Willie: I don't know. Pretty much when I just started, I guess. Probably after the first two years that I played.

Sarah: So it is something that you really wanted?

Willie: Yeah.

Sarah: Have you always played your current position?

Willie: My first four years I played center, and then I went to goalie in squirts.

Sarah: Do you like to be goalie?

Willie: Yeah. I don't really know why I became a goalie. I think it is because my neighbor was the varsity goalie for the high school team. So I guess I like putting on the equipment too.

Sarah: Okay. What teams have you played for?

Willie: Well, growing up I started my youth hockey in Coon Rapids. I played all the way up through traveling. And then I didn't play my second year of bantams, and I went to Grace High School. That is where Jake Searles graduated. I played there my freshman year, so me and Jake were teammates. Then my sophomore year we moved to Elk River cause we heard that Eric Day was coming down here, so I thought that would be a good opportunity to get into a good hockey program.

Sarah: How did you come to play for the Bucs?

Willie: I was at the recruiting camp two summers ago. That was right after my junior year. I don't know. I think Coach Boxer came to some of our practices, so he was scouting Maksimenko and some other kids. I just came to that try-out camp, and then my whole senior year in high school, Coach Owens would talk to me and I met with him a couple of times. He just told me that he wanted me to come. Last February of my senior year, I signed a tender to come play here, so that is how I ended up. Better than Twin Cities!

Sarah: What are some of the things that you like about playing for the Bucs?

Willie: It is kind of like you are a celebrity. I don't know. Even when I don't play, it is still fun just to go out there because of all the fans, you know. I mean, I will just get down in practice because I might not be playing the next day, but just going on the ice in front of the fans makes it fun to play here.

Sarah: What are the differences between playing a road game and a home game?

Willie: The differences are at road games you are not always going to have the 3,000 fans unless you are at Lincoln or Omaha. It is kind of hard cause, I mean, you might have some rowdy fans. Like I played in Sioux City twice and there is this one fan who brings in the microphone and just yells at you. But you can't pay attention to that. When you play at someone else's rink, you know, you always have the disadvantage cause they practice in there every day.

Sarah: Are there certain teams you would rather play or not play?

Willie: I like to play against like one of the top teams like Omaha or Lincoln, which I haven't got to do this year. I would rather not play in Sioux City because I haven't had good luck against them this year, except in the Buc Bowl I got a shut out.

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

Willie: I don't like pro hockey, but I would say probably like the Buffalo Sabres. For a college team, St. Cloud hasn't always been my favorite but it is really close to home so that is where I would like to go.

Sarah: Is it?

Willie: Yeah, just cause it is close to home.

Sarah: Okay. So what are your future hockey plans?

Willie: Right now I will probably be back here next year and probably go onto college after that.

Sarah: What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you in hockey?

Willie: In hockey?

Sarah: It doesn't have to be if you have another example.

Willie: I will use a hockey one. In my senior year, we were playing against White Bear Lake and we were up like 4-0 or something. I took a penalty early in the first or second period, and then in the third period I took a penalty and my coach pulled me for 45 seconds and they didn't score. I think they got one or two shots. He put me back in and they scored, and I ended up giving up two. I lost my shut out and I felt stupid cause I got pulled.

Sarah: What is your favorite food, dessert, movie, music, or car?

Willie: I would say my favorite food is probably like pizza.

Sarah: Pizza?

Willie: Yeah. Everyone else says that too, I think.

Sarah: I don't really know, to tell you the truth.

Willie: Well, I have read a couple of the interviews.

Sarah: Do people consider you shy or out-going?

Willie: Well, I consider myself shy if I don't like know the person. Once I get to know people, I am pretty like hyper.

Sarah: Okay. What type of girl do you like? Tall or short?

Willie: Shorter than me.

Sarah: Okay. Hair color?

Willie: Like blondish, brownish.

Sarah: Out-going or shy?

Willie: A little of both.

Sarah: Athletic or artistic?

Willie: Athletic.

Sarah: Color of eyes?

Willie: Like green or hazel, I don't know.

Sarah: What do you do in the summer?

Willie: Sit on the couch! No!

Sarah: Don't we all?!

Willie: Don't put that in there! Last summer I worked at the Elk River Country Club, which is only like a half mile away from my house. It got pretty long. I worked eight hours a day. But I lift too.

Sarah: So do you think you will go home this summer if you play for Des Moines or will you stay?

Willie: No, I will go home.

Sarah: Do you have any other hobbies or interests you would like to pursue?

Willie: Does that mean like job or?

Sarah: Outside of hockey, anything.

Willie: We always go to the $1.50 movies here at the Silver Cinema. I don't know. Roller blading, golf, pretty much any sports.

Sarah: Do you have any idea of what you would like to do in the future?

Willie: I was thinking of going into like mass communications maybe or business.

Sarah: The fans would be surprised to know that I . . .

Willie: That is a tough one. I already said something about me and Jake going to high school. Me and Maksimenko went to high school too. I don't know what would be surprising.

Sarah: I guess everything to you is not surprising. Is there something that you like to do that maybe somebody wouldn't expect?

Willie: I listen to country music.

Sarah: Okay, that works!