Renomitsu 934 Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 With a handful of significant, established prospects receiving the majority of the press’s attention, it’s easy for less highly-touted prospects to have their name and skills publicized. Little-known Canadian defender Saul Hackett – an individual generally so reticent off the ice that even the most astute scouting personnel have difficulty ascertaining his personality – sat down for one of his first interviews. Q: First off, Saul – how are things going? SH: I’m doing well, thank you. Q: Great to hear! Now, for those of you who don’t know, Mr. Hackett was recently claimed by the Brampton Blades and comes in as a virtually unknown prospect. Why isn’t there any buzz around your arrival, Saul? SH: Well, I don’t really have a hockey pedigree to speak of. Look at some of the greats in history – recent inductees like McQueen and Tordahl, for example – and it’s as if people knew they were born to play on the ice before they themselves considered the VHLM, really. In all of the tape anyone’s taken of me, I don’t show off the same sort of franchise player, all-star kind of vibe, and I haven’t been playing hockey for my entire life like some of the prospects for the Season 45 draft. Q: There’s a lot said about “potential” for draft prospects; how do you rate yourself in this respect? SH: The sky’s the limit. What I show on the ice, especially in this first season, is going to be significant in terms of my career; it dictates any future chances I have with this franchise, and whether they feel it necessary to develop me further or send me on up to the VHL. My immediate performance, however, is secondary – my commitment and passion in practice is going to be worth about as much as my numbers on the ice. Q: How do you feel about your chances of making an impact on the Blades, or your drafting team in season 46? SH: One step at a time. I’m barely out of the amateur scene as-is, and I’m going to focus on demonstrating my value to this team first and foremost. Ask this question in a few months, and I’m sure I’ll have a more informed response for you. Q: It seems as though you’re very tentative about your skills or performance in the upcoming months. SH: I’ve set very high expectations for myself, internally. I’ll be honest in saying that my hockey-specific skills aren’t as honed as some of the incredible individuals coming up – just take a look at Nezhmetdinov! The guy’s eighteen – and seems to have a vision of the rink that’s a few steps ahead of some of the current pros. He skates powerfully and handles the puck like a veteran. But I digress – what I mean to say is that the upcoming season will shape a lot of my future. I’m what scouts call a very “raw” prospect – maybe the athleticism’s there, maybe I’ve got some semblance of game sense – but nobody’s going to know until they give me a shot. I’m incredibly grateful that the Blades have taken a chance on me, as short or long as my time with them may be. There you have it folks – his first interview in the books. Is he an entertaining, fiery personality? No – but Hackett comes off as an individual grounded in realism, with dedication and a passion for self-improvement. He conducts himself professionally, but it’s hard to say exactly where he’ll end up. One major question coming in: does he have the confidence in his own abilities to make it as a pro? As he’s said himself – maybe we’ll need to take it one step at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tylar 219 Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 Content: 3/3 - Nice first media spot/interview. Good luck with your player. I hope you stick around Grammar: 2/2 - I didn't catch anythingAppearance: 1/1 - Looks fine Overall: 6/6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowboyinAmerica 2,844 Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Claimed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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