Steve: Felipe, tell us a little bit about your background, where you were born, and where you grew up.

Felipe: I was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. I have two other brothers, one plays for North Iowa and one who is ten years old now and still at home hanging out with mom and dad. I was born and raised in Alaska until I was about 15 and then I moved to Michigan to play for the Soo Hawks, a team that the Buccaneers protect. I played there for two years and then came here.

Steve: How did you get started playing hockey up in Alaska?

Felipe: I think my older brother got into it somehow. My dad never played hockey but he loves it. It is pretty big at home. I mean, obviously it’s the place with the most ice anyway. He got into it and, of course, I wanted to be like big brother.

Steve: Do they have leagues in Fairbanks?

Felipe: Yeah.

Steve: Did you play other cities?

Felipe: Yeah. You can play on just a local team that plays other Fairbanks teams or you can play on the travel team. There are lots of kids that play so there are lots of leagues. Actually, it is hard to get in sometimes. Sometimes if you don’t sign up early enough, kids are turned away which is a sad thing.

Steve: Do they have high school hockey up there also?

Felipe: Yeah. They have high school hockey, they have junior hockey which is Junior B. It is not the United States League. They have a college team there, the Nanucks. It is pretty big.

Steve: How did you decide to come down and play with the Soo Hawks. How did that all happen?

Felipe: The hockey is big in Alaska but the quality of it isn’t as good, I would say. Not a lot of people come to see you play, not fan-wise. I mean, it’s just parents. Just getting seen and I would like to get a scholarship and get out there and play Juniors. I felt that I would have to come to the lower 48 to play. Lots of kids from Fairbanks have gone to the Soo to play. There is kind of a connection there somehow, and I just ended up there. My brother actually went before me. I went a little bit late into the season and joined.

Steve: So when did you first discover that hockey was something you wanted to pursue? Did you play other sports too?

Felipe: Yeah, actually I played a lot of other sports until I was about in junior high when hockey kind of started to take over everything. Everything else kind of interfered with it, so I stopped playing baseball and football. I used to race bikes and stuff. I don’t know, it was just something that I wanted to do. It wasn’t like I was disappointed that I had to drop the other sports. It was something that I did want to do.

Steve: So you came down from the Soo Hawks. Did you say you played there two years?

Felipe: Yeah, I came late in the first year. I joined the team in November, I think. I was only 14 so my dad, at the beginning of the year, didn’t think I would be able to go. But then they lost two defensemen and he called again and asked if I, you know, was sure I wanted to stay at home all year and I ended up going.

Steve: So was it a big, hard transition for you to go down there and play in another state and away from home?

Felipe: It was. It was something I thought I really wanted to do and I did want to do, but when I got there I got a little homesick and it was tough because I was so young. Most of the kids were 17 or 18 years old. I was just, you know, I was just a little young I think but I got through it. It wasn’t that bad. My brother was there too so that made it a lot easier. The next year I stayed in Soo was a lot better. I think I matured a little bit in a year.

Steve: So as you played for the Soo, was it kind of like just a foregone thing that you would play for the Bucs? Did you have other options?

Felipe: It was the best option. I mean, it was where I wanted to go if I was to be allowed to.

Steve: So had you seen the Bucs play before then?

Felipe: Yeah. Our whole team came down here. The Hawks came here to play a couple of games in front of the Bucs and to kind of see what it’s all about. It was awesome. I went to the camp the year before that, and I had already been here. It was just where I wanted to play. You know, if I didn’t make it or whatever I would have went somewhere else but this is where I wanted to play.

Steve: Now does your other younger brother play hockey too then?

Felipe: Yeah, he plays hockey at home. He is a squirt now, I think. He does the same old thing; the parents are into it all over again.

Steve: Now have your parents been able to see you play at all?

Felipe: Yeah. My dad was down for the Buc Bowl and the whole family came around Thanksgiving time. It was a good deal. My dad hopes to get down for Nationals.

Steve: So do you go home in the summers then?

Felipe: Yeah.

Steve: Do you have any other hobbies when you’re not playing hockey?

Felipe: Just other sports. I mean, I play a little bit of softball in the summertime and stuff like that whenever I can.

Steve: What are some of the best things that you like about playing here for the Bucs as compared to maybe the Soo or whatever?

Felipe: It is just a good program. I mean, it is just organized real well and a lot of things are done for you that you take for granted. Everything is just great. I mean, everything they do.

Steve: Are there any teams you would rather play against or would rather not play against? You know, like are there some teams you just dread playing or that you really get jacked up to play?

Felipe: You have got to get real jacked up to play Omaha and Lincoln. All those big games are a lot of fun. I don’t think you really dread playing anybody. It’s real exciting and actually I look forward to it.

Steve: And this is probably the first time you have been able to travel around a little bit, you know, because you came down from the Soo but you played mostly local in the Soo area.

Felipe: Actually, we traveled quite a bit. A lot of busing. I mean, it’s actually a little bit more travel because the teams are so spread out and it’s not as organized of a league. You play a lot of non-league games and you travel so far. I mean, we bused here from Soo and it took us 16 hours.

Steve: So what are you goals then? How long can you play for the Bucs? I mean, how many more years could you play for the Bucs?

Felipe: I think I have about three more years for the Bucs, four more years.

Steve: Do you have any plans?

Felipe: Just get a scholarship and play college hockey

Steve: Any particular place you would rather play, if you could, to have your dreams filled?

Felipe: Not really. I would just like to play Division I somewhere at a good school.

Steve: Let’s switch gears and talk about something besides hockey. What is your favorite food and dessert?

Felipe: Oh, boy. I am going to have to say, I don’t know. Actually, probably spaghetti is my favorite food. Dessert-wise I would say pie.

Steve: We already talked about your hobbies, softball and stuff like that.

Felipe: In the summertime, just whatever.

Steve: But outdoor things probably in Alaska?

Felipe: Yeah. A lot of camping actually. I go camping and fishing and just kind of take it easy and relax.

Steve: Well, is there anything that you would like the fans to know here that they may not know about you?

Felipe: No.

Steve: Any nicknames or anything?

Felipe: No. I have got plenty of those! I don’t think you should be putting those on the internet.

Steve: So there is nothing that the fans would be surprised to know about you?

Felipe: Well, I guess that I’m the youngest player and I am Spanish. My dad is Spanish. Is this is where I am supposed to get Jensen or Smrek?

Steve: It is if you want.

Felipe: No, I think they got each other enough already!

Steve: Well, thanks for the interview.

Felipe: No problem.