SWSC: When it was announced that you are the new captain how did it make you feel?
Shane: It is a real honour to the named captain of your hometown team. I've played all juniors here and 5 or 6 seasons in the senior team. It's a real honour to be named captain of any team but to be named captain of your hometown team is really something special.
SWSC: What kind of captain are you going to be?
Shane: I'm going to be a very vocal captain. You know I'm not necessarily the best player on the ice but I am the guy who will stand up for his teammates and I'm the guy who's going to tell people when they are doing right and doing wrong. I like to keep a positive bench. You know, Aldy's (Ryan Aldridge) going to be the one shouting at guys and telling them when they are wrong and I am going to be the guy tapping them on the back and picking them back up ready for the next shift.
SWSC: The mantra of the last captain was very much 'lead by example'. Is this something which you are going to follow?
Shane: Aaron (Nell) leads by the way he scores goals and the way he plays. Yeah, I'll do that to a certain degree. Everyone knows I'm not the most naturally gifted player but I'll get stuck in and I'll stick up for my teammates and do my role. Hopefully guys will learn from that but at the same time, like I said, I'm here pick guys up when they are down, give them a tap and keep the bench positive.
SWSC: And take a few punches if necessary?
Shane: Yeah, if I have to I have to! I'm not going to let anyone pick on guys, whether they're Andrew Sharp (Guildford Flames) or whether they're Joe Henry (former Telford Tigers)! It just doesn't matter to me you know, whoever they are if they are taking liberties with the guys I will be the first one there. I don't care if I get put on my ass!!
SWSC: Are you trying to be a bit more clever about it though? What we've noticed is that last season you spent a lot less time in the box.
Shane: Yeah definitely. I've grown up a lot over the last couple of seasons. I think that's one of the reasons Aldy's put the 'C' on my chest. I am one of the guys now who players look up to and I need to be a bit smarter about things. I don't want to be sat in the box costing us penalties and costing us goals when I could be doing a job on the ice just as effectively and still play my game.
SWSC: Last season you fell victim to a bad ankle injury. Is that behind you now?
Shane: I've worked really hard over the summer with the physios, in the gym and at home with ice and rehabilitation so hopefully it is well behind me now and we can crack on with the season.
SWSC: So, is there a particular team which you think is going to be our biggest challenge?
Shane: I'm not really too sure, you know last year we had some trouble with Bracknell because they ran around and tried to bully us a bit and we fell victim to that, but I think this year we have a lot of guys who will play hard and not give in to that. So I can't see them being a problem to us this year, but the skillful teams are going to come in and play their game, we just have to play ours and I think we will be effective against every team.
No comments:
Post a Comment