1/13/99
Steve: Bill, this is your second interview with us. What I would like to talk to you about today is about the great winning streak that you guys have had and the USHL record-setting 19 games in a row. Can you talk to me a little bit about that? Why do you think that you were able to put that streak together?
Bill: I think the main reason was that we just found ways to win in such different ways. I mean, we blew a few teams out by seven or eight goals. In other games we would be down at the end of the shoot out with a couple shooters to go and then they had to score. We just found ways. Good goal tending, good all round play. I think keeping our focus against some of the lesser teams. Sometimes the top teams will slip in a game or two a year. I think that was the main reason.
Steve: Was it difficult to concentrate? Was it in your mind that you had this winning streak and it was number 17 and then it was number 18, or did you just kind of tune that out for the game?
Bill: Coach Owens barely ever mentioned it. We tried to say, okay, let’s just get a streak in three games this weekend or these next two games. We just put a lot of small streaks together, I guess. We never had anything where we were hoping to get to 20 or 25. It was just win these next two games, win these next three.
Steve: So you took a chunk of games at a time?
Bill: Yeah, mostly.
Steve: Tonight we have got a big game against Omaha. We’re coming off a shoot out loss. Tell me about the shoot out loss the other night. Rochester is really the only team we’ve really lost to that wasn’t in overtime or a shoot out. That was the pre-season. Tell me about that game. Was Rochester tougher than you expected?
Bill: Well, they match up against us pretty good because they’re pretty fast. They’re a lot like us, not too physical. They’ve got some pretty good skaters on their team, and we just didn’t compete. I don’t know, our team just didn’t seem like we were all there. I don’t know if they were wore out or what. We didn’t have one of our better games and this one just slipped by us.
Steve: How about the game tonight against Omaha? How is the team looking tonight? Some people are sick. Jim Jackson is sick tonight with the flu. Is anybody else feeling sick?
Bill: Yeah, we had a lot of guys but they’ve been getting back yesterday and today. Now pretty much everybody is back except for Jimmy. I mean, it is Omaha. You have got to be up to play that one no matter what, especially going there to play. So it might stop you a little bit but you should be able to go, you know. It is Omaha; it should jack you up more. It’s a big game considering we only play them four times. You should be ready to go.
Steve: So are you excited for the game tonight?
Bill: Yeah, I am. We haven’t been down there since last year’s Clarke Cup. It’s a fun place to play and we usually play good there. So, yeah, I’m ready to go.
Steve: I have noticed that in the last couple games, Bill, you have been taking more shots than normal - you wind up and let a few rip. Is that on purpose?
Bill: Oh, I don’t know (grinning). Maybe it is just the other team’s defense. Maybe they’re not covering their points as well. I don’t know. Our forwards do a pretty good job finding us. I don’t know. I guess it’s just the game; it just happened to be that way.
Steve: Another thing I’ve noticed is that at times it looks like it is the all Anoka squad out there - there are so many guys from Anoka playing. What is that like playing with a bunch of past teammates? It is like old home week?
Bill: Yeah, it is fun because Jerrid, Danny and I have all played together since third or fourth grade or something like that. Josh Flynn left the team earlier this year because of an injury. But, yeah, sometimes we kill a penalty when it’s the three of us and one other guy out there. It is fun to play. I don’t know, we’ve been close growing up and playing together every year. Not many guys get to be able to do it after high school.
Steve: This is your second year with the Bucs. Do you have another year left that you can play, or what are your plans for the future?
Bill: I have one more year that I’m eligible, but I think I’m going to go to college no matter what happens after this year. Yeah, I guess this is probably it, you know. I don’t know. To the fans, I guess it has been a lot of fun playing in front of you guys. It is probably the funnest building to play in in the league. I think a lot of guys on other teams have said that too that I know. It just helps you a lot when you go out there to have the fans, and I don’t think they realize how much they get our team up when we’re coming out. Like if we’re down by a couple goals or something, it makes it so much easier to play.
