With five NHL games, five AHL seasons, and a season in Switzerland under his belt, veteran Moose sniper Brad Moran has seen it all. Brad recently answered ten of your questions in the second Ask-a-Moose session of the 2006-07 season.
Click here to listen to the Brad Moran interview, or read the transcript below. Visit Moosehockey.com again soon for the next Ask-a-Moose feature!
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1. Hey Brad, my question is, how old were you when you first decided you wanted to play hockey? Kyle – Winnipeg, MB
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I'm not too sure when I decided. I know I was about four-years-old when I first started playing, and I just continued to love the game. And just as I got older, it became something I really wanted to do, and I had the opportunity to go further on it. So that's how it came to be.
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2. Hey Brad, welcome to Manitoba! Who would you say is the person you admired while growing up that made you the player you are today? Keep up the good work! YiFan – Rochester, NY
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I'd say one of the players I always. . . Two players I kind of always watched was Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman are guys I really enjoyed watching and tried to be a little bit like. But I think for me, it was just kind of watching everybody and learning things. But obviously those are my two favourite players.
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3. You had a very successful junior career with Calgary in the WHL. Was adjusting to the pro game difficult when you first entered the AHL with Syracuse? Matt – New Zealand
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It was definitely different. I think it's just a step up and it took a little while to get used to. But I think once you're confident in yourself and you get used to the bigger guys and little bit better speed it comes just as natural as before.
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4. Hey Brad! Congratulations on the great start so far! My question is, what was it like scoring your first professional goal? Kyle – Winnipeg, MB
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Um, my first NHL goal I know was against New Jersey in January, I think, of 2003, and it was a great feeling. You know, it's something you dream of doing, scoring an NHL goal. Professional goal was probably in Syracuse, I think my first year. I'm not sure when
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5. Hey Brad, is there anything about the European game that you found really appealing but find lacking in the North American game, and vice versa? Anita – Winnipeg, MB
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I don't think so. I think they're very similar games. It's not quite as physical over there, but I think the bigger ice has a lot to do with it. I think the biggest thing is the fans are a little bit different over there. It's like a soccer game and they go crazy. There's no music between breaks, they're all singing and stuff, and that was a little bit of a shock to me.
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6. Hello Brad, welcome to Winnipeg. What is your opinion on the mandatory use of visors? I understand that your eye injury would not have been as serious if you had not been wearing a visor. Mike - Winnipeg, MB
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I think it should be a player's choice if they want to wear it or not. I've always worn one and probably will continue to. I don't know if it made my eye injury better or worse, but I think to force guys to do it that have been doing it, it's tough on the players to get used to. But I think if they introduced it as a 'grandfather' rule, it would have been better taken.
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7. Who is your roomie on the road and who is your best friend on the team? Brendan – Winnipeg, MB
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Tyler Bouck is my roommate on the road, and I don't know if . . . This team, there's so many good friends, I don't know if I have one guy that I would consider a best friend. Being new on the team and just getting to know the guys, everyone's kind of welcomed me in and made me feel at home, so I'd say it's just a good team.
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8. Hi Brad. Please describe a typical day for you, on game days and on off days. Ada - Winnipeg, MB
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Usually get up, we come to the rink, have a skate, go home. (Jen: About what time in the morning?) Come to the rink around nine, I think we skate at ten, go home. I usually eat around 12:30, and then just kind of relax. Maybe take an hour, hour-and-a-half nap in the afternoon sometime, get up, have another little snack, and come back to the rink around five, and then it's game time.
Other days, I guess practice. Come to the rink around nine, nine-thirty, practice, and then work out, go home for lunch. I guess just . . . whatever. It's kind of free time to do what you can.
Jen: I guess when you're on the road too, there's lots of time spent in airports or on the bus and stuff like that. How do you kill that time? Do you listen to music, or what do you do?
I don't know. You just talk to the guys, go for coffee or something, read a book on the planes or in the airport . . . anything you can to pass the time before you lose your mind.
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9. Welcome to Winnipeg! What do you like to do when you are not playing hockey? Ps. Keep up the awesome job! Kelly - Winnipeg, MB
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Right now, we've been playing so much, it's hard. But I just like to relax. If it's the summertime, I like to go golfing and, you know, hang around, play some cards, play some poker with the guys. Just basically get your mind off things so you can take a little break.
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10. Who are your closest friends in hockey? Do you still keep in touch with your former teammates in Syracuse? Matt - New Zealand
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Yeah, I've got, I think, throughout the years playing so long certain cities I've made some great friends. I know from Junior, I've got some of my best friends and we still keep in touch and hang out in the summers. And Syracuse, being there so long, I've gotten to know a few guys that you're close with and you stay in touch with no matter where you are. I still find myself following what they're doing and other guys, just to check and see how everyone's doing.
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