This page was exported from The Auroran [ http://www.newspapers-online.com/auroran ] Export date:Fri Jul 19 11:29:46 2024 / +0000 GMT ___________________________________________________ Title: Exit interview with Tigers' Matt Andreacchi --------------------------------------------------- By Jeff Doner The second in our series of interviews with outgoing Aurora Tigers Junior A players is speedster forward Matt Andreacchi. Matt played 33 games for the Tigers after coming over from the Trenton Golden Hawks midway through the season. Matt has recently committed to Ryerson University to play hockey and study math next fall. Born: Mississauga (now lives in Vaughan) Age/birthday: April 14, 1992 (20) Seasons with Tigers: 1 Shoots: Right Position: Right wing Past hockey career: Rookie junior year with North York Rangers in 2010-11. He then played for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL before moving on to the Trenton Golden Hawks in 2011-12. Midway through the recent 2012-13 season, Andreacchi was moved to the Aurora Tigers. Season Stats with Tigers: GP 33 – G 15 – A 8 – PTS 23 – PIM 36 Best memory playing with Tigers: “Finishing as north division champs. When we first clinched it, it was a great atmosphere and all the boys just came together. It was a big one.” What's up for next season: Just committed to Ryerson to study business management and play hockey. Why? “I wanted to be downtown or in the Toronto area, so it was between University of Toronto and Ryerson. Ryerson's facilities are just out of this world, so it was a pretty easy decision.” Hobbies: “Working out. Every day I'm in the gym doing something.” Any other sports? “I was pretty big into soccer when I was younger.” Favourite movie: “The Hangover is up there and that new movie Pitch Perfect. I don't know why, but I just like it.” Favourite sports movie: “Miracle and The Mighty Ducks.” On your ipod: “Eminem – Not Afraid, Lose Yourself, basic pump-up songs. I like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and some house music.” Favourite hockey team and why? “The Leafs. I just grew up being a Leafs fan going to the games and stuff. As you get older you kind of grow out of it a bit, but I'm definitely still a Leafs fan. And I do think they will make the playoffs.” Who will win the Stanley Cup this year? “Pittsburgh. After getting Morrow and Douglas Murray [and since Jarome Iginla]. And Malkin is one of the best.” Favourite NHL player: “Alex Ovechkin. His play has dropped off a bit, but recently he's been playing good. When he was in his rookie year I was 15, so he was just so dominant – scoring and loved to hit. He's just fun to watch.” Which super hero would you want to be, why? “This is a good one. I love super heroes. I think it would be between Superman and Spider Man, but Superman, for him to die is virtually impossible, so I'd say Spider Man…a little more risky. I grew up loving superheroes.” Who is your hero/idol/role model? “My dad is a big role model of mine, but if I had to say a celebrity or somebody like that, I like Tom Brady because he was drafted late and ended up being one of the best. I also like Ray Lewis' swagger, confidence. I'd also say Muhammad Ali.” Favourite subject in school: Math Best thing about playing for the Tigers: “The atmosphere and the coaching staff was great. They were always really supportive. Straight up from management down it was always about the players. When you have people going out and doing things for you and helping you it's always good. They take care of us. I learned a lot from JR [coach James Richmond] this year. He helped me out a lot.” What will you miss about it: “It's what I'm going to miss about junior hockey in general. Junior hockey was the best time of my life. It was one of those things where it was close to zero responsibility outside of hockey and then in junior it's a little more responsibility thrusted on you.” What type of hockey player are you, what are you known for? “I'm fast and I've got a good shot. I'm a shooter/power forward. I'll drive the puck wide and bring it to the net and shoot as much as I can.” Best accomplishment on and off the ice: “On the ice, I'd say my first goal in the Q was a big accomplishment for me. It was just really cool in front of a packed arena. Off the ice? That's tough. I'd have to say my life is pretty much on the ice.” What are you going to do with your summer before school starts? “I've already started training for next season. I'm going to focus a lot on that this summer and I'm going to a camp in Denmark. Other than that I'm going to be working in landscaping this summer.” If you had a slogan or motto, what would it be: “There are very few problems in life, just challenges.” Are you superstitious? “I try not to be, but I am. If I play a good game I'll try and redo everything I did before that game. I try to stay away from that because it wears on you mentally. If you do one little thing wrong you're like, ‘oh, now I'm not going to do well.' I hate it but it's just a hockey player thing. A tape my stick a specific way. I write some stuff on my stick, I put all my equipment on right to left, I always leave for the arena at a specific time, even if that means I'll be a bit late.” Why do you draw a happy face on your stick? “Just because in a whole season of hockey there are a lot of ups and downs. If I was on the bench after a bad shift or I wasn't playing well, I would look at that smiley face and it would remind me that when you're playing competitive hockey at 20 years old, not many people get to do that, just smile and have fun with it. I got the idea from a coach in Drummondville.” Stance on fighting in hockey: “Personally, I think it's great. I know the OJHL has the rule that if you fight you get kicked out, but I think if tempers rise and your team is down it can be good. Getting jumped is a different story, but I support fighting. I even wish they had a five minute penalty and then you get to play the rest of the game and if you fight twice then you get kicked out.” Coach's comment [James Richmond]: “When Matt came to the Tigers from Trenton he was one of our best players night in night out. He played with energy every night which the rest of team really fed off of. Matt was a big part of the north division title the Tigers won this year and we wish him the very best next season.” --------------------------------------------------- Images: --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Post date: 2013-04-02 14:42:42 Post date GMT: 2013-04-02 18:42:42 Post modified date: 2013-04-09 12:42:07 Post modified date GMT: 2013-04-09 16:42:07 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Export of Post and Page as text file has been powered by [ Universal Post Manager ] plugin from www.gconverters.com