Post by etown on Apr 17, 2006 18:43:35 GMT -5
(Edmonton, AB) - Oiler Rookies Gather For Press Conference
Players Present:
Andrew Raycroft
Chris Higgins
Sean Bergenheim
Cody McCormick
Alexander Semin
Fredrik Sjostrom
Alexei Semenov
Carlo Colaiacovo
Cam Ward
Andy Chiodo
Paul Ranger
Evgeny Artyukhin
Captain: Shane Doan
Doan: Hello, and welcome everyone to the question and answer session. As you may have noticed of the 25 current members on our roster, 12 of us are rookies. I'm sure many of you have questions for them, and I will be able to answer any other questions that you may have.
Question: First of all, welcome to Edmonton. We're happy to have such a promising crop of youngsters here in our city. My question, however, is for Andrew Raycroft. How do you justify managment's decision to use a yet unproven rookie as their obvious #1 goalkeeper?
Raycroft: Well, during the draft, I spoke with GM Cornell and we had some concrete ideas on the direction the team would take. Having drafted me in the 3rd round, he had decided to build a team that could be nurtured. I'm just a small cog in a greater plan.
Question: Small cog? I think you're a little bigger than that.
Raycroft: (laughs) Maybe, but I'm a firm believer in practice makes perfect. So the more ice I can see, the better.
Question: Since all 3 goalies are rookies, I guess we don't have much choice on the matter.
Doan: They're rookies now. Like the rest of our squad, time is needed to gel and grow. You gotta give us that.
Question: GM Cornell has been criticized for selecting half his team from the rookie category. Will having all of you starting to play at the same level help the team to build, or will it just be a junior team playing in the IWHL?
Higgins: I think we all know what is expected. We've got to step up. I mean, with the guys we have that have been around the league, there'll be plenty of opportunities to form a cohesive unit.
Question: This is for Mr. Artyukhin. You're not well liked around the league already. How do you feel being an Oiler?
Artyukhin: It's good. We have a team that I can be proud to play for.
Ranger: Who doesn't like a guy that's 6'5", 250 pounds?!?! (laughs)
Artyukhin: Yeah, these rumors don't bother me.
Ward: He's a teddy bear. (laughs) We've already had a chance to get to know eachother and so far I can say I'm very happy with the atmosphere around here.
Question: Alex Semenov, we have you pegged as a linemate with Artyukhin. Your thoughts?
Semenov: It would seem that you have it pegged right. GM Cornell is really big into getting the thoughts of the players, and that's a rarity these days. We talked it over, and got 2KIN in on it, and i'm pretty stoked to see us paired up.
Question: Shane, looking down the table here and seeing 12 greenhorns that'll have to play a major role in your team's success, how does it make you feel?
Doan: Immense pride. We've been given a job to do, and we're going to do it. I have gotten to know all of these guys already, and if they can exhibit the same attitude on the ice as they have off it, then we're in great shape. We got a super group of guys in Edmonton, and as a vet, I can't wait to strap on the skates with these guys.
Higgins: Yeah, we have a ways to go though. Instant success can't be guaranteed, but with the work ethic I've seen from us all I'm convinced GM Cornell has put together something all Edmontonians will be proud to call Oiler Hockey.
Question: Thanks for your time guys.
Doan: Thank you.
Players Present:
Andrew Raycroft
Chris Higgins
Sean Bergenheim
Cody McCormick
Alexander Semin
Fredrik Sjostrom
Alexei Semenov
Carlo Colaiacovo
Cam Ward
Andy Chiodo
Paul Ranger
Evgeny Artyukhin
Captain: Shane Doan
Doan: Hello, and welcome everyone to the question and answer session. As you may have noticed of the 25 current members on our roster, 12 of us are rookies. I'm sure many of you have questions for them, and I will be able to answer any other questions that you may have.
Question: First of all, welcome to Edmonton. We're happy to have such a promising crop of youngsters here in our city. My question, however, is for Andrew Raycroft. How do you justify managment's decision to use a yet unproven rookie as their obvious #1 goalkeeper?
Raycroft: Well, during the draft, I spoke with GM Cornell and we had some concrete ideas on the direction the team would take. Having drafted me in the 3rd round, he had decided to build a team that could be nurtured. I'm just a small cog in a greater plan.
Question: Small cog? I think you're a little bigger than that.
Raycroft: (laughs) Maybe, but I'm a firm believer in practice makes perfect. So the more ice I can see, the better.
Question: Since all 3 goalies are rookies, I guess we don't have much choice on the matter.
Doan: They're rookies now. Like the rest of our squad, time is needed to gel and grow. You gotta give us that.
Question: GM Cornell has been criticized for selecting half his team from the rookie category. Will having all of you starting to play at the same level help the team to build, or will it just be a junior team playing in the IWHL?
Higgins: I think we all know what is expected. We've got to step up. I mean, with the guys we have that have been around the league, there'll be plenty of opportunities to form a cohesive unit.
Question: This is for Mr. Artyukhin. You're not well liked around the league already. How do you feel being an Oiler?
Artyukhin: It's good. We have a team that I can be proud to play for.
Ranger: Who doesn't like a guy that's 6'5", 250 pounds?!?! (laughs)
Artyukhin: Yeah, these rumors don't bother me.
Ward: He's a teddy bear. (laughs) We've already had a chance to get to know eachother and so far I can say I'm very happy with the atmosphere around here.
Question: Alex Semenov, we have you pegged as a linemate with Artyukhin. Your thoughts?
Semenov: It would seem that you have it pegged right. GM Cornell is really big into getting the thoughts of the players, and that's a rarity these days. We talked it over, and got 2KIN in on it, and i'm pretty stoked to see us paired up.
Question: Shane, looking down the table here and seeing 12 greenhorns that'll have to play a major role in your team's success, how does it make you feel?
Doan: Immense pride. We've been given a job to do, and we're going to do it. I have gotten to know all of these guys already, and if they can exhibit the same attitude on the ice as they have off it, then we're in great shape. We got a super group of guys in Edmonton, and as a vet, I can't wait to strap on the skates with these guys.
Higgins: Yeah, we have a ways to go though. Instant success can't be guaranteed, but with the work ethic I've seen from us all I'm convinced GM Cornell has put together something all Edmontonians will be proud to call Oiler Hockey.
Question: Thanks for your time guys.
Doan: Thank you.
