Knoxville Ice Bears

15 Questions with Eric Slais

date: 09/06/2011

 

For the upcoming season we are going to try to give our fans the chance to have more access than ever before.  This is the first in a series of articles and interviews to get to know your favorite Ice Bears.  Today we will be talking with returning Forward Eric Slais.

 

 

1. Most athletes have pre-game rituals or superstitions. What are some of yours?

ES:  I try to stay away from superstitions, but one thing I do is I put on my right-side equipment first. I also like to play a little soccer before each game.

 

2. What do you do in the off season to train and stay in shape?

ES:  This summer was a little different for me because I spent it in Santa Barbara, CA. The lack of ice forced me to spend more time in the weight room. I also played a lot of basketball, fast-pitch softball, and tennis. But now since I’m back home in St. Louis, I’m skating almost everyday.

 

3. What made you want to play professional hockey?

ES:  I think it’s every kid’s dream to play a sport and get paid. I’m no different than anyone else. When the opportunity arose to play professional hockey I knew I could not pass it up.

 

4. What does it feel like to play in front of the Knoxville fans?

ES:  It’s awesome. Knoxville is an amazing place to play. Growing up, I always visited the ‘best places to play,‘ and my home rink didn’t necessarily have a huge fan base. In Juniors it was in Lincoln. In college it was Cornell. But in the SPHL it’s Knoxville. It’s definitely a great feeling to have the support of such an incredible fan base.

 

5. Who was your favorite player as a child? Favorite team?

ES:  My favorite player as a kid was Steve Yzerman and favorite team was the Detroit Red Wings. It was definitely hard growing up in St. Louis and having my favorite team be the rival Detroit Red Wings.

 

6. How did you like your first year as a Knoxville Icebear?

ES:  It was such a great experience. It’s hard to put it all into words. I’m just excited to get back to the city and start a new season.

 

7. What game has meant the most to you throughout your career?

ES:  Two games stick out in my head that meant a lot to me, one at Brown and one last year in Knoxville. At Brown, our team always struggled. It wasn’t until my senior year when we won a playoff series. I ended up scoring the game-winning goal, back-hand 5-hole, to clinch the series. It just meant a lot for our team and University, with Brown-Harvard being the oldest rivalry in collegiate sports. The other game that meant a ton to me was Game 4 of last year’s playoff series against Mississippi. We had suffered a really tough OT loss the night before, so showing up the next night and putting on the performance in front of our fans like we did was absolutely amazing.

 

8. What do you do during your off time between seasons?

ES:  I try to spend as much time with my friends and family as possible. I also spend a lot of time working, working out, and playing as many sports as possible.

 

9. What legend would you like to face off with the most?

ES:  I would like to go one on one against Lidstrom just to see how stupid he would make me look. It would also be cool to take a breakaway against Brodeur or something.

 

10. Who is the best player you’ve ever played with or against?

ES: I grew up playing with Paul Stastny. We were linemates for like 6 years. He’s REALLY good. I also played against Alexander Ovechkin in a tournament in the Czech Republic when we were 17. It was right before the NHL draft so he was already hyped-up. It was a pretty cool experience.

 

11. What is going through your head when you “drop the gloves” and start fighting with someone?

ES:  Considering the fact that I don’t have much experience in this category, I don’t have much of an answer. But the few times I have fought in the past the only thing going through my head was “I sure hope I hit him first before he hits me!”

 

12. How much does the crowd play into the level of energy you put out during a game?

ES:  The crowd plays a big role. On the ice you really don’t hear much, but on the bench the crowd’s energy definitely fuels the team. And after a big goal, fight, or hit, the crowd definitely assists in momentum shifts.

 

13. If you could be drafted today to any NHL team, which one would it be? Why?

ES:  I would want to be drafted by whichever team would give me the best chance to play. When it comes to the NHL it doesn’t matter to me.

 

14. Of all the theme nights that the Icebears do (weiner dog races, baby derby, race night, etc.) what is your favorite?

ES:  Weiner Dog Races was a lot of fun. Seeing all the dogs in the stands is hilarious. Plus, the place is always packed.

 

15. Is there a certain team you look forward to playing or dread playing?

ES:  There isn’t one particular team I look forward to playing, but my old classmate is Mark Sibbald of the Huntsville Havoc. I’m definitely looking forward to scoring a few more goals against him.

 

 

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