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| Aaron Ward: Hurricanes Chat Transcript | |
| May 1, 2002 | |
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| MODERATOR: Canes defenseman Aaron Ward should be here soon. Thanks for all the questions so far. We'll get to as many as we can! | |
| MODERATOR: Please welcome two-time Stanley Cup winner Aaron Ward to our chat room. Feel free to fire questions! | |
| MODERATOR: After some early technical glitches, the first question dealt with what the Hurricanes would change against Montreal, and what's Aaron's favorite part about being a Hurricane? | |
| Aaron Ward: The only change we need to make is to respect their speed. | |
| Aaron Ward: My favorite thing about Carolina is basically everything, from my neighbors, the state, the weather, the fans, the atmosphere . . . | |
| LCaniac: During the first round you played awesome! Your defensive presence was greatly felt by the Devils. What was your motivation? | |
| Aaron Ward: My motivation was just to have fun out there. | |
| canes4me: Aaron, do you still have bruises from all the shots you blocked against New Jersey? Good luck in the second round! | |
| Aaron Ward: Yes i do. I'm trying to nurse them. | |
| guyute: Hey Aaron -- How do you use your previous playoff experience to mentor the Canes, many who have not been this far before? Thanks! | |
| Aaron Ward: The best thing I can do is answer any questions they have, but you don't want to intervene too much with young guys. It is best to let them utilize their youth and excitement. | |
| kargon: Now that you have beaten the Devils, do you think a big burden has been lifted off the team and that they have finally proven themselves? | |
| Aaron Ward: No. It's tough being in a small market. It takes more to prove to the hockey purists that we are legitimate contenders. That will come the further we go into the playoffs. | |
| gossler1: Does the team take note of the fact that not one so-called hockey expert has picked you guys to win a series yet? Does that give you and the team some added motivation? | |
| Aaron Ward: The best approach to that question is to consider our team being below the radar so we can sneak up on teams. Experts don't play the game for us. | |
| bblock: How has the crowd helped the team during the playoffs? I have heard many people say that it is just as loud as the old Chicago Stadium! | |
| Aaron Ward: It is so loud that the Montreal media in our lockerroom were all asking what kind of factor the crowd played in our previous series. Others around the league are talking about our crowd and how much of a role they play in the game. | |
| ChickenParm: Aaron, when I hear you guys on TV or the radio, you're always so nice and humble. Are most hockey players that way, or are our Canes just really good guys? | |
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| Aaron Ward: That attitude is common among hockey players. | |
| Dave41: Aaron - How do you like the new helmet? Does it help on that seamless glass? | |
| Aaron Ward: Yes, it's more protective, and it stays in place better than the older style helmets. | |
| spiz: Aaron, as a defensemen, are there things you need to do differently depending on who is in goal? | |
| Aaron Ward: No. When you start to change your game based on who's in net, that's when you get yourself in trouble. | |
| LCaniac: Do you have a playoff beard growing? How many other guys on the team are sporting playoff beards? | |
| Aaron Ward: Yes i do. A little over half the guys have playoff growth also. | |
| hockey_jenn: Aaron, you played most of your career in Michigan, at UM and for Detroit. I, too, am a Wolverine who moved to the South. What were your biggest adjustments to living in the south? Go Blue. | |
| Aaron Ward: Adjusting to how nice people are here. It was tough! ha ha The toughest adjustment is focusing on playing a game when the weather outside is above 90 degrees and the golf course is green. | |
| AngelGirl27: Do you miss playing in Detroit? | |
| Aaron Ward: Not really. I enjoyed it while I was there, but new experiences and situations are great. | |
| Canesfan2004: What mindset is the team in going into the second round, are are you guys ready mentally and physically? | |
| Aaron Ward: I'm sure we are, but it is tough to tell so early. You can't always be on edge and ready to go so far away from game time. | |
| canes_fan_dan: Hello Aaron. Jose Theodore is so good, a great butterfly goalie who briefly gives the 5-hole, but is quick to close it, how do you shoot him? | |
| Aaron Ward: You may be asking the wrong guy ... I can't score on our goalies. I guess in viewing tape of his last series the best approach is just to shoot and shoot often because he struggled a little bit. | |
| icegoon: Aaron, who has influenced you most as a player and as a defenseman? | |
| Aaron Ward: As a player, that would be my father who taught me right from wrong from when I first picked up a stick. As a defenseman -- you may not like this -- I grew up watching and mimicking Scott Stevens and Al Iafrate | |
| defenseman18: Aaron, will the Canes need to be as physical as they were with the Devils against the Habs? | |
| Aaron Ward: Yes. We need to maintain our physical play but we must be smart when we do so. They are a faster team. | |
| little lebowski: How many times have you seen Slap Shot? | |
| Aaron Ward: At least 20 times, and I have a copy of the very poor sequel Slap Shot 2. | |
| MODERATOR: Thanks very much folks, and thanks to Aaron for sticking around through our technical difficulties. Stay tuned for more chats here on CH.com! | |
| Aaron Ward: Thanks everyone for taking time out of your day to chat. See ya! | |
| Source: CarolinaHurricanes.Com | |