12/17/98

Steve: Pete, today I would like to talk a little bit about the changes you have seen in the USHL in the years you’ve been here. Have there been any changes in the caliber of play or anything you noticed in that area?

Pete: Well, I think the players are getting better. What I remember from my first year, about three years ago, is that it was a lot rougher. The guys were a little bigger. But now over the years it seems like it’s getting a little more skilled and the teams are getting more offensively minded.

Steve: Now to refresh our memories, when was your first year with the Bucs? Was that the first year when Scott Owens was here?

Pete: Yeah. His first year was my first year.

Steve: And where did you come from? What team?

Pete: I played midgets up in Sault Ste. Marie for the Soo Hawks. A lot of guys play up there. Ferguson actually selected me for the team and then Owens took over after he got the job in Indianapolis.

Steve: That first year was a little bit rough in that we didn’t do all that well. Compared to those teams, do you think it is just that the players are more skilled in their positions? Why are the Bucs doing so well in the last couple of years?

Pete: Well, I do not know. Obviously my first year was not my best year, that year the team was a more physical and grinding team. The teams Scott selects are a little more offensive, and that’s the teams we’ve had this year and the two years before. It’s getting better. There’s better offensive players out there and he’s just getting them.

Steve: Well, obviously you are riding high right now leading the USHL in points. We are all excited about that. Did you ever think you would be leading the USHL in scoring? Why such an explosion this year in points?

Pete: Well, I do not know. This is my fourth year, and last year I thought I had a decent year. This year I have tried to work hard through practice and stuff, and playing with Clarke and Chin makes it easy to get the points.

Steve: Let’s talk a little bit about your future. This is the last year you can play in the USHL. What are your future plans?

Pete: Well, next year I am planning on attending Providence College. I committed to them verbally in the middle of November.

Steve: Providence is located in Rhode Island?

Pete: Yes.

Steve: It was one of the first settlements if I can remember my history right. Providence was one of the first settlements in the country. What is the hockey club there like? Do you know any players on the team?

Pete: Yeah. My very first year here I lived with Jason Ialongo, and he goes there now. I do not know if you remember, was it two years ago, Matt Libby. Matt goes there too. Then there is a couple of players that used to play at Omaha - they play there also.

Steve: How are they doing this year, do you know?

Pete: I think they are doing all right. That is a tough league out there so I think they might be in third or fourth place. They are getting better. They will be real good here pretty soon.

Steve: You are originally from the Northeast area, are you looking forward to getting back there?

Pete: Well, it will be nice. My dad is real excited cause out here it’s a long drive to come watch a game, and now it’s only five or six hours for him to drive to watch a game now.

Steve: Let’s shift a little bit and talk about this year. We are almost mid-way through the season. You have run up an unbelievable string of wins. I think you are a game away from making a USHL record, I believe, at sixteen. Is that on your minds, having to live up to not winning?

Pete: I think we have done a great job right now. If we lose one game, I don’t think anyone should look at that poorly, as if we didn’t do what we were suppose to do. Sixteen wins is a lot of wins right in a row. I didn’t even know about the string, to tell you the truth, until about a week ago when a reporter called me and asked me about it.

Steve: The other thing I was going to talk about is that right now our next games are against Rochester and North Iowa. Sioux City seems to be coming up pretty strong. Do you personally keep up with how other teams are doing, or is that something that players do?

Pete: I would say there is at least one or two players on every team you’ve got to watch and keep an eye on. Kind of like in the mornings before we play a team, we like to know a little bit about the team. But I think if you fill yourself with so much about that team, you forget about the game itself.

Steve: So does that mean when teams are playing us that they are targeting you personally? I noticed you got mugged in the last game we played. I mean, there were a couple of times when you were just getting mugged and the ref didn’t see it.

Pete: I think with all the good forwards and all the good players we have on our team, I don’t think they can just look at anyone. They have got to watch our whole team. If you shut down one line, then you have three other lines that will end up scoring.

Steve: It was great talking to you and we wish you the best of luck out in Providence, and we look forward to you staying on top in the USHL point race.

Pete: Thanks.