The Aeros would like to thank Matt Foy and all those who participated in the online Q&A session. Next week's Q&A session will involve Chris Bala. Questions can be sent beginning Sunday. Don't forget, the Aeros are at home Friday versus Grand Rapids and Saturday against Utah. Saturday the Aeros will give away 3,000 Rickard Wallin Mouse Pads.
Malia from Houston
Q:What is your personal goal for this 2003-2004 hockey season with the Aeros?
Matt Foy: To adjust to the pro game and to help the team out offensively.
Q:Other than game time, what is your favorite thing about being an Aero in the Houston community?
Matt Foy: Trying to be a role model for other kids. When we go out in the community it’s always good to help the kids with their game. (Editor’s Note: Matt Foy and Erik Reitz helped out at a local youth hockey clinic three hours after this interview).
Q:What did you guys think of the movie, Miracle?
Matt Foy: It was a good movie. I didn’t know what it was about really because it happened in 1980 and I wasn’t even born yet. But it was a great movie. Some guys on our team knew some of the actors.
Jane from Houston
Q:I am interested in how you train during your off season? Is there anything specific regarding off season training you do that you think helps you during the season?
Matt Foy: One day I lift weights, and the next day I do cardio work. I work out with Matt Stajan at Mind to Muscle. It’s five minutes from my house. We work out two hours a day. One day we work on footwork and speed, the next day weights.
Brian from London, Ontario
Q:What is your favourite hockey memory of your playing career thus far?
Matt Foy: My last season with Ottawa. Our team did so well and we made it to OHL Finals and had a great run. I played on a good line (Corey Locke and Scott Sheppard), and everything seemed to click.
Danny (your friend in the penalty box) from Wexford
Q:How do you like the AHL? Also were you nervous on your penalty shot? When was your last one?
Matt Foy: The AHL’s a grind. There are a lot of games, and the travel was a big adjustment to me…leaving the day before a game, coming back the day after…always being on the plane.
The penalty shot was pretty nerve wracking. It was my first game back…my first shift. It was really weird. It was good to get the goal. My last penalty shot…I can’t even remember. It’s happened but I don’t even know when.
Krystina from Houston
Q:It's great to have you back out on the ice! Glad to see you're doing so well. On your first game back Friday night in San Antonio you came out on fire and scored two goals and then another goal the next night in Houston. What do you think attributes to the improvement in your play compared to before you were out with mono? Also what do you think the Aeros need to do to secure a spot in the playoffs? Thanks so much for your time and everything you have contributed to the Aeros! I look forward to seeing bring some of that energy from the past two games against Grand Rapids this weekend!
Matt Foy: Just the excitement of getting back. I was home for awhile.
The AHL is a tough game. I’m only 20, and there are a lot of physical guys and older guys. It’s tough to get used to. I had been looking forward to getting back for a long time.
As far as the playoffs, we just need to play a good solid game. We have two top lines playing well and our goaltender is playing well. We’re confident. We were in a little slump for a bit but we’re getting back on track.
Abby from Ottawa
Q:Did you find it to be a big jump between OHL hockey and AHL hockey?
Matt Foy: In the OHL I was 19, playing against 17 and 18 year olds. Here I’m 20 playing against guys 25, 26 and older. The age a big difference but so is the size and strength of the guys. It’s a big jump but you can adjust if you keep your head on right and can focus.
Clay from Mississauga, Ontario
Q:Matt keep up the good work but shoot the puck a little more. Is the change from college to Canadian Junior to Minor Pro as hard as you expected? Hope you can join Matt Stajan in the NHL soon.
Matt Foy: It’s good to hear from you. I expected it would be hard. It’s been a grind and it has been tough. You just have to get in the swing of things and get on a roll. Once you get one goal you get two…You can’t stay down, you play almost every night in this league. You can’t get too high if you play well, or too low if you play bad.
Polly from Pearland:
Q:Great to have you as a part of the team. Do you have any superstitions when you're on the ice or before a game? What do you think of the fans in Houston, are they different from the ones in Ottawa? Who do you room with on road games?
Matt Foy: I have no superstitions at all believe it or not. I eat at Macaroni Grill every gameday with my roommate Erik Reitz and that’s it. I have chicken parmesan.
We get about the same amount of fans here as in Ottawa. Houston’s fans are very supportive as well as Ottawa.
Nic from Mississauga, Ontario
Q:Matt Foy, you are one of the brightest young prospects in all of the American Hockey League, and the best young prospect for the Minnesota Wild. How much did doing things like playing ball hockey with friends in your neighbourhood help in the development of your hockey skill? I have one more question. Did your dad ever make a backyard rink in the winter to help you develop your skill? I know my dad did for me, and I used to have friends over all of the time, and we'd play.
Matt Foy: It’s always fun to get out and play ball hockey with friends. I look forward to doing it again this summer. My dad never made a backyard rink but I could always walk down the street and play. We’d all get together and have a big game.
Editor’s note: Nic and Matt were “neighbours” in Mississauga
Erin and Caroline from Spring, TX
Q: Hey Matt...So how is it rooming with the crazy Erik Reitz?
Matt Foy: It is crazy. He’s a crazy guy. A real wild one. I have to calm him down sometimes (laughs). He’s a great guy. He’s calm behind close doors though. He’s more my big brother than anything.
Vicky from Cleveland
Q: Who were some of your favorite players growing up?
Matt Foy: I liked Gary Leeman from Toronto. I was always a big Maple Leafs fan. Ed Olczyk. There were guys like Eric Lindros still around when I was 13 of 14 too.
Q:How do you guys like Houston?
Matt Foy: I like Houston. It’s really warm. We golf whenever we feel like it. It’s great compared to Ottawa. It’s snowing there now. Houston’s really spread out. It’s a big city.
Q:Is it hard for you to live away from your family or do you get to go home on the off season?
Matt Foy: It was hard a couple years ago when I first moved away (from Mississauga to Ottawa). You talk to them every day on the phone if you feel homesick. I get to go home during the off-season other than some camps we go to in Minnesota.
Q:Congrats on last Saturday great game and good luck this weekend.
Matt Foy: Thanks for the congratulations. We’ll try to do the same this weekend.
Jim from Pasadena
Q: Hello Matt - Have you ever played roller hockey? Have you ever used roller hockey or inlines to work out in the off season? Good Luck in the playoffs!
Matt Foy: I own a pair of skates but I never did play inline hockey. But it’s a good idea…I may try it this summer.
Christiane from Houston
Q: Overall, how do you feel about your rookie season? Are you pleased with your level of play compared to some of our more seasoned players? Good to have you back in the line up!
Matt Foy: It’s gone okay. It’s been a roller coaster. I went from not playing to playing a little more, then I got hurt, suspended, and sick. I’ve only played 34 or 35 games. It’s been tough. It’s just something I have to adjust to. Every year it’ll get better. It’s good to see guys on the ice you recognize from watching them when you grew up. Guys like Derek King in Grand Rapids.
Kevin from Kingwood
Q:Would you rather win the Calder Cup here or get brought up to the NHL and not play a minute all season?
Matt Foy: That’s a tough question. You stumped me Kevin. They are both awesome things to have happen to you. The Calder Cup’s nice because it’s a team thing and I’ve never won a championship. But the NHL…It’s every kid’s dream to play in the NHL. I’ve never done either of them, but I’d like to do both eventually.
Sherry from Ray Township, Michigan
Q:Hi Matt. I met you up in Traverse City for the prospect tournament, and I've seen you play in Grand Rapids. Your #1 fan in Michigan. My question for you is who was your favorite hockey team/player growing up?
Matt Foy: The Toronto Maple Leafs were and still are. I’ll still call home on the road and ask how they are doing.
Jane from Sugar Land
Q:It is good to see you back and playing again after being out for such a long time. Was coming back hard or easy in a way of getting back into the routine of things with the rest of the team? Also, which NHL team are you rooting for to win the Stanley Cup?
Matt Foy: It’s tough getting back into game shape. I was back in Houston for a couple weeks skating every day trying to get back into shape. Before that I was just sitting at home trying to get over mono. It was freezing cold and it was good to get back. I was looking forward to it for a long time. I’m rooting for Toronto, and Minnesota of course.
Brittany from Houston
Q:What kind of car do you have and/or wish you could have? Who is your favorite music artist? Do you have any pets? And do you speak french?
Matt Foy: I have a Cadillac Escalade. Musical artist – Mathew Good Band. Pets – no. French – I failed it in high school.
Jan from points unknown
Q:How does it feel to be playing for one of the best, if not the best coach in hockey, Todd McLellan?
Matt Foy: He’s a good coach. He’s very understanding. He’s not one to yell and bite your head off. He’ll tell you how it is but he’s calm and collected with it. He’ll call you into a room and tell you straight up what you’re doing wrong. He’ll be around for awhile for sure.
Ken from Mississauga, Ontario
Q:The hockey coaching staff at St. Paul Secondary School in Mississauga Ontario want to know if our hockey program was beneficial in your development as a professional hockey player. Do you prefer white or black tape on the blade of your stick? The AHL is a very tight checking league. Are you able to utilize your speed like you did in Ottawa? Congratulations on your 2 goals last weekend. How about a phone call once in a while. Schlarp wants to know if her yoga class helped you become the person you are today. (apparently, yoga is the answer to everything)
Matt Foy: Great to hear from you. Say hi to all the staff and students at St. Paul for me. I prefer white tape. I have my speed but I have to pick my spots. It’s very tight checking like you said. I have to start back in my own end to pick up the speed. I’ll give you a call later in the week. And yoga is overrated!
Jessica from Ottawa
Q: Hi Matt, the 67's miss ya this year, not to mention the fans. You brought so much energy and spark here last year and I'm sure you are doing the same in Houston. I was wondering if you still keep in touch with last year’s squad (Ones in the AHL or ones who are still here). Thanks, Ottawa is cheering for you!!
Matt Foy:
Yeah I keep in touch with Brody Todd. He’s still one of my best buddies. I always keep an eye on the stats and how they are doing. I miss the guys and coach Brian Kilrea as well. Oh, and I want to say hi to Pat and Nancy Conroy in Ottawa too.
Sarah from Spring
Q:I think you’re an amazing young hockey player with a lot of potential in your future with the Aeros and Minnesota Wild. I’ve learned as a college athlete that one of the most important things about any sport is the coaching. Every athlete needs a coach they can respect and look to for guidance under any situation pertaining to their sport or just life in general. So I was wondering if you feel that Coach Todd McLellan possesses all the qualities an athlete looks for in a coach?
Matt Foy: Definitely. He’s not one of those guys who yells at you. He’s very honest and if you’re not playing well he’ll let you know. He spends a lot of time with guys watching video. He’ll get you motivated for a game. He’s a really honest guy.
Laura from Ottawa
Q:What's it been like changing residences all the time throughout your career. Not only from Ottawa to Minnesota to Houston but from your hometown Mississauga to Ottawa too?
Matt Foy: It’s tough. It feels like living in a suitcase for a bit. But once you finally know where you’re staying it’s not too bad.
“Scooter” from Ottawa
Q:What did you learn while playing for the 67s? Were you close to a particular player and why?
Matt Foy: I learned how to play more of a pro style game. I played 68-70 games and it got me used to playing one game after another after playing one or two games a week at Merrimack. I lived with Brody Todd. We had the same personality, both outgoing guys who like to have fun.
Matt Foy:I’d like to thank all our great fans and everyone back home and across North America for their great questions. See you in the playoffs.
