Wolf Pack Pride : Casey Olson Interview
Casey Olson, a forward for your Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack, is all about pride. He prides himself in being a good hockey player. He prides himself in being a team player and being someone that the team can look to to make key contributions on and off the ice.Olson, a native of Rock Springs, Wyoming, has always excelled in hockey. He was an All-State hockey player in high school, captaining his team for three straight seasons. Olson was also the captain of Team Northwest during his junior and senior year of high school. Olson brought his leadership qualities to the Wolf Pack last season contributing to the team both on and off the ice, something he hopes to continue to do this season.
Mr. Olson was nice enough to take time out of his busy schedule to answer questions about his hobbies, how he got into hockey and how he hopes to continue to help this Jr. Wolf Pack squad.
PH: Casey, tell us a bit about yourself. Away from the rink, what do you like to do? Do you have any other favorite sports?
CO: Away from the rink, I love to fish and hunt. I am from Wyoming and that is just something we do a lot there. I also love playing soccer and football. Being around my teammates is also something that I like to do because they are a good bunch of guys.
PH: Who is your favorite NHL team? How about your favorite NHL player?
CO: My favorite team is the Dallas Stars, just because they used to be from Minnesota and that is where my family is from. My favorite player is Mike Modano. I think he's unreal.
PH: How did you get interested in hockey? At what age did you start playing hockey?
CO: I started playing hockey when I was about 3-years old. My dad played his whole life and he loved it, so he figured I would love it and that was why he got me started me at a young age.
PH: As a player, how would you describe yourself? Are you a power forward, a player who relies on his skill or more of a grinder? Name the tools that make up Casey Olsen, the hockey player?
CO: I am pretty much just a power forward. I like to think that I work harder than most players, but I think that I also have some skill. I'll keep working on it though. I can also shoot hard and that is something that I have always prided myself in.
PH: What do you think has made you successful as a player at the junior level? Which of these tools do you think will benefit you the most in your future as a hockey player?
CO: I think my dedication to the game is what has helped me succeed so far at this level of hockey. I enjoy working hard and I think everyone should work hard, and that is something else that I pride myself in.
PH: Last season, you were an AJHL all-star. Tell us a little bit about that honor and experience.
CO: That was great. I got to go up and play with some of the best junior players on the east coast. It was a great experience and the game itself was a lot of fun. It was amazing to see what our league has turned into because an abundance of scouts were there.
PH: In what ways do you think you contribute to your team?
CO: I think that I am a leader and someone the team turns to when they need some guidance or a spark. I love being on the ice in pressure situations and I hope that I am someone that my team can turn to when they need a big goal or a big hit or something of that nature.
PH: What do you see in the future for your team this season?
CO: We have a really strong team this year. If we come together and start performing day in and day out, I think that we can dominate the league. Our problem right now is being able to put more than one game together. We need to learn to be more consistent, but once we get that consistency, we will be unstoppable.
PH: What do you see in your future as a hockey player? Do you think you'd like to play professionally one day?
CO: I don't think about professional hockey. That would be nice but I am just looking forward to college at the moment. Pro hockey is a big step and you have to be really gifted to do that. It would be nice though.
Article by Patrick Hoffman.
