IIHIRN EP.1 S.3

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This is the IIHIRN and I am Nathan Walker.

 

Welcome to today's segment and I have Jared Spaz sitting next to me for a one on one interview.

 

Welcome back Jared, it's been a minute since we last spoke, how have you been?

 

{Spaz}: I'm doing good. I just got done winning an off-season tournament with good friend of mine Kris Rice before the season started. I also finally bought a condo, I figured it would be a lot cheaper than renting my place.

 

{Walker}: Oh really what tournament was it? And I'll agree with you on that one, I just bought my own place two years ago after starting here.

 

{Spaz}: Zetterberg's Off-Season Tournament we're on our third season you have to sign up during the VHL season.

 

{Walker}: Interesting, I'd love to sit here and talk about it but I think we should move on to the important stuff now. 

 

{Spaz}: Agreed.

 

{Walker}: Let me start off with the ending of last season. You guys finished fourth in the league and clinched a playoff spot to face off against Moscow. The Titans won game one but would lose two, three, and four, before winning game five, and eventually falling short in game six. What do you think happened as a team and what would've done differently?

 

{Spaz}: Oh man, let me start off with saying we all believed we should've won that series, and I think the biggest thing that got us was that we were too cocky. Now don't get me wrong anytime you make the playoffs you're always going to believe you can beat any team as they do say the playoffs are completely different and anything can happen. You can not write a team off, Moscow is a great team and they showed us that in the playoffs. I slacked big time in the playoffs and that's something I worked on in the off-season and I'm hoping to see change if we can get there this season.

 

{Walker}: Do you think you will?

 

{Spaz}: Of course, yes we did lose some key veterans, but we still have enough talent to make it in. We traded for goalie Samuel Ross and called up three rookies in Zamboni Driver, Spencer Elsby and Bob Helminen. Don’t count Helsinki out.

 

{Walker}: I agree so far you guys have a 5-3-0 record sitting in fourth again with Vancouver at 5-2-1 at third, Malmo in Second 6-2-0 and New York with a 7-0-1 in first. Biggest surprise to everyone are two teams that missed the playoffs last season, Vancouver and Malmo. Speaking of surprising teams, the league introduced four new teams Chicago Phoenix, London United, Los Angeles Stars, and Warsaw Predators, who do you think will surprise you and have the biggest chance of making the playoffs?

 

{Spaz}: Honestly it's too early to tell but Warsaw I think is going to be a dark horse even if they do miss the playoffs I think they'll be the team to make it close.

 

{Walker}: Interesting, I think I would have to go with Los Angeles, but that's probably me being biased since I grew up in LA. I think we will be back after this commercial break.

 

{Walker}: Welcome back, So Jared I don't think I asked you this last time but what are your future plans? Do you plan on staying in Helsinki or do you plan on testing the waters? I believe I saw your contract is either up this season or you have one more.

 

{Spaz}: I have one more season on my contract. I honestly would like to stay in Helsinki the rest of my career. I love the staff here and my teammates are pretty great, and Jubo is an amazing GM and has helped me out a lot. I obviously can't see the future but I hope to remain with the Titans and work into their plans going forward.

 

{Walker}: I get that, one last question. Last season you had 19 goals and 17 assists for 36 points. Those are solid numbers, but what are you focusing on to improve as the season progresses?

 

{Spaz}: Capitalize on any opportunities that are given to me and to not slow down my pace. I'm hoping the tournament and not traveling to Italy last off-season helped out a bit as I was able to focus more on improving myself.

 

{Spaz}: Thank you for having me again Nathan it is always a treat to join you, I'm hoping next time we get to talk Helsinki will have brought the cup home.

 

{Walker}: You're welcome as always, and best of luck to you and Helsinki as you guys have a long season ahead of you.

 

That was Jared Spaz, Right Wing of Helsinki and after this commercial break I will be finishing up and signing off.

 

Welcome back I think that interview went pretty good as Helsinki will be facing off against Riga and Moscow in their next two very important games. They will need their A game as these games could help them in their fight for first place. New York will take on D.C and Toronto in their next two as those will be big games to hold position on first place. Malmo is only 3 points behind as they take on Warsaw back to back. Earlier today they defeated the Predators 6-2.

 

Tomorrow I will be travelling out to Tokyo for a segment with Josh Squire in a new series that we are doing called 5 Star Elites. We will be interviewing 5 Star recruits for baseball and hockey around the world and get to know them better. Tune in around 9:00 pm est. to check that out.

 

Thank you for joining me tonight as I will give you back to ESPN for world wide sports news, and live updates. I am Nathan Walker and would like to wish you all a good night and would like to see you here next time as I might have a special guest. It could get pretty interesting.

 

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