2/24/99

Steve: Garrett, this is going to be your last interview with the Bucs because it sounds like you’re going to be heading off to college. Where are you going?

Garrett: I am going to the University of New Hampshire. I finally got my scholarship there after three years with the Buccaneers, three good years. So I am excited.

Steve: Was New Hampshire the only people that were looking at you, or were there others?

Garrett: Yeah. I was looking at Colorado College and Providence.

Steve: What made you pick New Hampshire?

Garrett: Actually, I guess ultimately it was the coaching staff, but I went on a visit and saw the campus. I liked it a lot. I liked the team, the surroundings, the size of the school, pretty much everything and it was just the right fit for me.

Steve: What does it look like up in New Hampshire? I mean, maybe a lot of us have never been up there. Are there mountains, a lot of trees?

Garrett: Actually, it is right on the coastline. There is like a lot of, not marshes, but I guess inlets and it is really neat cause like the tides go in and out, and one time there will be water all around and the next it is like wetlands. But there is also a lot of forest area, so it is really beautiful.

Steve: About how many students go there?

Garrett: I think it is about 11,000.

Steve: Do you have ideas of what you’re going to major in besides hockey?

Garrett: No. Actually, I am totally undecided because, you know, a lot of kids go to school and change their major about 18 times before they figure it out. So I am just going to go in there with an open mind.

Steve: Who else is going to be up there in New Hampshire that you know?

Garrett: From the first year I played actually, which that wasn’t the best year at all, Eric Lind, who left early, and Sean Austin and then Carney is going to be there for three years with me. So it should be a good experience.

Steve: So there will be like four guys from ex-Bucs. Any other USHL guys you know of that may be going up there?

Garrett: Actually, no one from this league is going there this year. I guess they are doing most of their scouting out of the BCJHL.

Steve: A lot of Canadian players go down there?

Garrett: Yeah, a lot of Canadians.

Steve: So you picked about as far away as you can get from LA as you could.

Garrett: Yeah, I figured that, you know, I have lived in the West, the Midwest; I might as well live in the East all before I’m 20.

Steve: Do you think you’ll get to play your first year?

Garrett: Yeah. They told me I will be able to come and make an impact but, you know, I can’t take anything for granted. I have got to still work hard cause you never know until you’re there.

Steve: Well, you’ve never been one to shy away from working hard.

Garrett: No.

Steve: It brings back the memories of that championship game where we plastered Omaha up in Billings. What happened to your mouth? Tell the fans. You were injured just a little bit, weren’t you, that last game?

Garrett: Just a little bit. I got hit from behind and my top teeth, or actually the upper part of my mouth hit the ledge around the boards, and I broke my upper jaw straight down up to my nose and lost about four teeth, had about 75 stitches. It was a mess.

Steve: So your teeth actually got knocked out on the ice?

Garrett: Uh huh.

Steve: Were they able to put them back?

Garrett: They were able to put three back , but my front right one they were not able to replace.

Steve: So it looks pretty real to me.

Garrett: Yeah. Actually, I have still have temporary teeth in right now. I am suppose to get the permanents put in in about a month here.

Steve: I know this is not about hockey, but how do you put permanent teeth in? Do they glue them?

Garrett: You know, to tell you the truth I don’t know.

Steve: Somehow they put them in there.

Garrett: Dr. Goff does his magic and it comes out somehow.

Steve: So you were pretty well injured, but it seems like you inspired everybody to just do their best after you were injured. You came back and played that next day.

Garrett: Yeah. I mean, it was too big of a game not to play.

Steve: Were you in pain?

Garrett: Yeah, I was in pain. But, you know, once you’re out there it is like it’s obsolete. I mean, hopefully I inspired the guys, you know. We played an amazing game and it felt good. After the game a lot of guys came up to me and told me how, you know, how proud they were of me and how a lot of them wouldn’t have done the same thing if it would have happened to them. So that, you know, that made me feel really good.

Steve: Well, tell me about this year’s team. This is an amazing year by all measurements. I mean, you are 45-1 going down the stretch. You could almost win 50 games. Why were you so good this year?

Garrett: I don’t know, you know. Amazing recruiting on Scott Owens’ part and just puts together the right chemistry. You know, everyone gets along in the locker room and that transfers to the ice. We have got a lot of talent. We have got guys who want to be here, work hard and win and guys that know how to win. Everything is falling into place, you know. We’ve just got to keep it going. I think the Clark Cup is going to be a real challenge for us. We should definitely win that, but it is going to be a struggle, it is going to be a grind. I think a lot of people think that we should win the triple crown this year.

Steve: Who would you predict you’re going to end up playing in the national championship? Do you think it will be Omaha again? Is that what the feeling is on the team? They’re some pretty good NAHL teams out there though too, aren’t there?

Garrett: Yeah.

Steve: Like Springfield or Compuware? Somebody is really good out there I heard.

Garrett: Yeah, I am sure Compuware is good because they were in the nationals last year and they were good. They were really young so I’m sure they have the same team. They’re back and they’re probably really good. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Omaha cause us and them are probably the best two teams in the league. We will see. Even though nationals is one game, anything could happen. But I wouldn’t be surprised at all if it is Omaha.

Steve: Well, let me ask you another kind of a different type of question. You have here with the Bucs, is it three or four years?

Garrett: Three years.

Steve: Three years. How has your idea of hockey changed since you first stepped on the ice for Des Moines? Has it really changed much? Are you still having fun? I mean, are you looking forward to your next step? Tell me about what’s going on.

Garrett: Yeah. I mean, it has always been the same for me. I have always loved to play. But I think the only difference is when I came to the Bucs, I was coming from California. I didn’t realize the big picture. I was trying to move myself on to get seen for college, and now it’s like, you know, I have been in the league three years, I’m experienced and I know how it goes around. But in the same sense it is kind of the same because next year I’m going to go to college and it’s just going to be a whole new thing, a whole new environment. So it’s just like starting over again. But right now, you know, everything is pretty ordinary. I am still having fun, you know. We are winning and it’s great. The fans at Des Moines are great. I’m just having a lot of fun.

Steve: Well, we enjoyed having you play with the Bucs. We are really happy that you came here. Are there any last things you would like to say for the fans out there in your last interview?

Garrett: Just thanks a lot for supporting me, and more importantly, the team throughout the years. You know, we couldn’t have done it without everyone out there and their support. So I would just like to say thanks to everyone.