Player Story – Dave Andreychuk
In this interview with former Lightning Captain Dave Andreychuk, Tampa Bay Lightning Care staff sits down with Dave to find out what advice he has for youth hockey players, how to handle pressure situations, and more!Tampa Bay Lightning Care: What sports did you play growing up?
Dave: I played all sports growing up but the main ones were hockey, basketball, and lacrosse.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: What other sports do you play today?
Dave: Golf - I started when I was 20 years old.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: How and when did you end up playing exclusively hockey?
Dave: I left at the age of 15 to play hockey exclusively, I just didn't have time to play any other sports because of the training I needed to do throughout the year for hockey.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: How did you get discovered?
Dave: Playing hockey in the major junior A league for the Oshawa Generals.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: What were your keys to making it to NHL?
Dave: Hard work and love of the game.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: Describe the role your parents had during/with youth sports experiences.
Dave: My parents were always there for support and made sure I had fun at all times.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: Who had biggest impact on your success? How?
Dave: My Dad. His hard working attitude was passed on to me.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: What advice do you have for kids today playing youth sports?
Dave: Enjoy the game and all your teammates.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: How do you handle failure?
Dave: Learn from your mistakes and work on getting better from them.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: What advice do you have for parents of youth sports players?
Dave: The number one priority is that the kids should have fun playing the sport.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: What is your game day routine?
Dave: It's the same every game: Breakfast, pre-game skate, lunch, long walk, short nap, then its game time.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: What’s it like playing in the NHL?
Dave: To play in the NHL is the ultimate dream.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: What tips do you have for handling pressure during big games?
Dave: Relax and have fun. Be that player that makes the difference in the game.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: What do you give up during season… activities, food, etc?
Dave: Definitely time with my family.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: If you weren’t involved with hockey what would you be doing?
Dave: I would follow my Dad's footsteps and work for the steel mill in my hometown of Hamilton.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: How important is time off?
Dave: You have to get away from the game and do some fun things with your family such as golf, boating, and fishing.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: Who do you admire the most outside of sports? Why?
Dave: Our military. Their love for the country is inspiring to me.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: Who would you choose as a role model for kids today in hockey? Why?
Dave: Martin St. Louis. He is a great player and fought against everyone saying that he couldn't play hockey.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: How does “keeping the game fun” play a role in the pros vs. as a kid?
Dave: Kids should look up to pros and see that we enjoy ourselves when we do play.
Tampa Bay Lightning Care: What’s it like seeing fans wearing your jersey and interacting with fans who look up to you?
Dave: It's an honor and always makes me realize how lucky I am to have done the things I've done.
Thank you to Dave Andreychuk for taking the time to share his player story!
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