Game photos by Pam Milthorp

ROB MURRAY: I’m speaking with Canmore Eagles defenseman Drae Gardiner. I wanted to congratulate you – we’ve named you the Mountain FM Player of the Month for October!

DRAE GARDINER: Thank you very much.

RM: If my count is correct, you had a three goals and five assists in 13 games in October and was named the Player of the Game for the Eagles twice. How do you feel your month went?

DG: Good. I think the first month of the season I wasn’t performing at the standard I wanted to, so I definitely wanted to amp that up for not only myself but my teammates. They kind of mean everything to me. This past month I’ve really dedicated myself to the game and to them. I’m really pleased with how my game is going right now.

RM: How long have you been with Eagles now?

DG: I came to the Eagles when I was 18 years old, so I’ve been here for about two and a half years.

RM: I believe you came from the WHL?

DG: Yeah, I played in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

RM: What made you move to the AJHL at that time?

DG: When I was in Moose Jaw, it was a good experience for me. It taught me a lot, not only about hockey but about life, but I think for my individual game it wasn’t what I believed it was. I felt the best thing for me was to come back to Junior A and play more minutes, get on the power play, do what I can to help out more effectively than I was in Moose Jaw.

RM: What do you consider a skill that you’re really good at, a particular skill on ice? What’s something you’re working on this year to get better at?

DG: One thing I’m really good at is I’m able to read the play very well. I can see things before they even happen, which really helps me help my team. I think one thing I’m working on right now is just getting shots through. I’ve been struggling to get shots through from the point. I think that’s definitely something I need to improve on and that’s what I’m working towards.

RM: From the defensive end of things – at the beginning of the season it seemed that your goaltenders were facing a lot of shots and that seems to have decreased as the month of October went on. Is that something that the team has been working on as well?

DG: For sure. We have two really good goalies behind us in Proctor-Ramirez and Malin. Those guys fight every night for us. They’ve taken a lot of shots, but we’ve agreed as a team that defense wins championships and we’re willing to block shots and do what we can on the defensive side before we go on to offense. We’re willing to win games 1-0, or 2-1. That’s the main goal of this hockey club right now as we push forward.

RM: What are some things you’ve been working on this week as you head into a couple of games against Bonnyville and Fort McMurray?

DG: The thing right now is to keep pushing. We had one win on the road last weekend and two losses. We felt that we fought pretty hard. I mean, we played some pretty good teams – Bonnyville up north, they’re a good team, and we have them this weekend with Fort Mac. Those are two top contenders in the north. I think for this week, it’s just all about battle, you know, push, push, push. Don’t let the guy next to you let you down. I think that’s kind of the main goal for us right now.

RM: Is this your final season in the AJHL? Are you aging out?

DG: I am, yes.

RM: What are your future plans or your future goals?

DG: The plan for next year is to hopefully get offered a roster spot for the CIS teams, for example, Mount Royal University in Calgary or U of A in Edmonton. I’d love to do that and continue my hockey career, but also on the educational side I’d love to get a degree.

RM: Any field of study you’re looking at?

DG: I’m definitely interested in business, for sure.

RM: The Canmore Eagles play a pair of games here this weekend and on the blue line, you’ll find the October Mountain FM Player of the Month for Drae Gardiner. Thanks for joining me on the show today.

DG: Thank you very much.

Filed under: AJHL, Canmore, Canmore Eagles