Elsbys return Interview from BlaideMaidden HelsinkiTitans Press Conference Raid

[Spence King 387]

1.) How excited are you to have won your wildcard series?

Im still ecstatic, the wild card series has gone and passed , and now the conference finals ending in a sweep over Malmo proving the league what I and all of my Titan brothers have already known is where here and here to play. The playoffs is what we practice all regular season, this is where the games REALLY matter.

2.) Show me the best sweeping gif you can find, gotta get ready for next round ; )

3.) What do you think makes a team successful in the regular season vs the playoffs?

The team chemistry growth throughout the season , staying close and buying into the system and doing everything and anything our GM and team asks from us on a daily basis. The key is without a doubt our off-ice chemistry that leads to this unbelievable on ice success with chemistry, Its not an accident. From seasoned  vets to rookies to even prospects watching on from the M keep the LR active and the positive environment really leads to great success and growth as a team and each player individually which is evident with the recent on ice success

4.) Are you washing your Hockey socks or are they now considered lucky socks?

My socks are always getting washed hahaha . The Equipment manager here in Helsinki is like no other and i wouldnt trust anyone more with cleaning my gear and keeping my drip in check.

5.) Who do you think is on fire atm? Who has been the MVP this far?

This is in a impossible question for me to answer first off, the team as a whole have been phenomenal and thats the reason we have achieved the current record we have standing, from our first to third line everyone has been playing there best hockey . However Okada and Driver have put up some incredible numbers along the way throughout the first ten games of the offseason that cant go unrecognized.

6.) Do you think playoff hockey is more or less exciting than  the regular season?

This is another no brainer, I've said it before , ill say it again , and ill say it a millions times. The regular season is inevitably just practice for the real show .... which is the playoffs , no one really cares who wins the regular season title , and the end of the day everyone dreams of winning the playoffs and going all the way four round and sixteen wins and achieving the ultimate goal with your brothers that have been there with you from the beginning and the only imaginable surreal feeling to raise the cup after such a long hard fought road .

7.) What do you do for good luck before a game?

Before every game it has always been part of my routine before any exceptional game i have ever played starts with a perfect warm up with the boys and if not alone, Starting off with a good lower body stretch and then running 4 laps around the rink, weather depending and also with regards to the arena i will do this inside or outside. Afterwards stickhandling for AS long as possibly before i must start getting suited  up i will spend time fine tuning my hand eye and intight quick puck movement and finding ways to make a pass with the puck/ball in my feet with my head up and staying strong on my feet and aware of all options, making myself an elite threat from the blueline. Afterwards during warmups i will be the guy making passes from the corner for the majority of practice and usually making sure no one is fooling around (Laine) otherwise working hard on my edges around the net and gaining as much speed with two strides and always maintaining a head up position swiveling finding passing lanes no one else see coming.

8.) Playoff hype song?

Playoff hype song without a doubt has to be Saturday night is alright to party - Nickelback , LETS GO TO THE FINALS

9.) Who is the Helsinki Hype Guy? What is the wildest thing they've done to get the guys pumped?

The Helsinki Hype guy is without a doubt Spaz and secondary Seabass and Vaak and then Laine is always active , can sometimes be a little negative if were being honest , still love the guy to death and would take a bullet for him any day no matter what and nothing will change that #TitanForLife

10.) How far do you think the Titans will make it?

I know the TItans are more than capable of winning 4 more games and taking home the trophy , I know we were also a good enough team to take it home last year in this position. No matter what this comes down to effort , were going with two incredibly skilled teams and its going to be effort that beats skill and all inches and seconds and bounces , its going to be a series for the record books.

11.) How do you feel about being the underdog that is going for victory against all odds? 

There is no better feeling than being the underdog , most of all creating buzz in the media , good or bad , people are talking Titans hockey and alot of users seem to be surprised and refer to us a a "mediocre" roster that only performs in the playoffs. Well to anyone that believes that , i have a simple answer , look at our roster and the MAJOR changes we have made already since the previous season, Jubo has managed to find a way to continue to build a championship quality roster two season in a row after making some big and risky moves.