Rats Off-Season Q&A With Defenseman Jerome Samson

Published on June 5, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Each week during the off-season, Albany River Rats broadcaster Owen Newkirk will catch up with a member of the 2007-08 River Rats to find out how their summer is going and what training preparations they are doing heading towards the Carolina Hurricanes and Albany River Rats 2008 training camps and the 2008-09 hockey season.

June 5, 2008

Describe what your first year of professional hockey was like?

I think my first year was incredible. I never thought I would have a first year like that, because if I compare my rookie season in the AHL to my first season in juniors, I had more ice time, I was able to provide more to the team and I had a good role in the squad. I'm pretty happy about it. Especially the first half of the season, I think I came out strong through training camp. After Christmas, with a couple injuries, I kind of slowed down a little bit, going on and off, on and off, but overall I'm pretty happy about it.

Did you notice a difference between schedules in the AHL and juniors?

I think the schedule is about the same. In juniors we had a very similar travel schedule; in the QMJHL there are some long trips between Quebec and the Maritimes. I remember with Albany in December, the whole month we had weeks of four games in five nights, three games in three nights, and then four-in-five again, that was a tough month. With the speed and strength of the players in the AHL it makes each game a little tougher, which adds up over the season to be a little more difficult than juniors. But I remember when I was 18 years old my team went to the Memorial Cup, and that year we played around 100 games because we went all the way to the final. It felt like a long season, but I think it helped me prepare for the pro schedule.

Being undrafted, do you think your strong rookie season proved something to all the teams that passed on you in the NHL Entry Draft?

I wasn't really looking at that. I would have liked to be drafted, but I was just hoping to get a contract and get my career started somewhere. Either way, I like that way things are going right now. I think it doesn't change the way I play on the ice and my chance to make the NHL one day. I look back at the start that I had and it doesn't seem to make that big of a difference.

What did the coaches say to you in your end of season meetings? What do they want you to work on to make you a better player?

We didn't really have a long chat about that. Tom was always coming back to the same point all year that the key for me to go to the next level is to become faster and quicker. He is always telling us that the big difference between the AHL and the NHL is the quickness of the players. He wants me to improve my speed, so I will try to focus in the gym this summer to increase my speed on the ice for next year, as well as to improve the quickness of my feet and my hands.

How does your summer training differ from what you do during the season?

Carolina sent us a training program, so I will try to include a lot of those things in with the workouts I do with my personal trainer. When I went to Carolina's training camp last year I didn't know what I would have to do. This year I know what kinds of exercises and what kinds of physical testing I am going to have to do in September, so it's helped me a little bit to focus on some exercises I need to work on. In order to increase my speed this summer I won't spend as much time on power lifting with heavy weights. Instead I'll probably go with some smaller weights and quicker repetitions and maybe it's going to show up with more speed on the ice.

Will going to Carolina's NHL training camp be easier mentally for you this year because you've done it before and you know all of the returning Albany players?

Yeah I think it will definitely be easier. Maybe not on the ice, but having a group of guys that I have gotten to know for a whole year will help to have more fun and be looser off the ice. On the ice, I think it's going to be pretty much the same, giving 100% every time you go out there. Training camp is still business, so you still have to throw body checks or try to score goals on your friends. Mentally it will be a lot easier because I know the layout and what to expect. Physically it might be a little better because I know a little more about how to prepare, but it probably will be the same because of the difficulty of the NHL.

Do you find this off-season more relaxing because you do not have to worry about finding a team or signing a contract?

No question it will be more relaxing. Last year I signed my contract in the first week of July and I remember going through the months of May and June not knowing where I was going to end up. I was 19 years old and undrafted, so it was kind of tough because I wasn't sure if I would go back to juniors to play my over-age year or get a professional contract. Now that I have my contract for the next two years it's great because I am relaxed and I can focus on getting myself ready for training camp in September.

You had a great rookie season, finishing the regular season tied for second on the team with 21 goals and your 12 power play goals are tied for the fourth highest single-season total in franchise history. Have you thought about what your individual target numbers would be for the 2008-09 season?

I think everybody has personal goals that they want achieve, I know most players set goals for themselves at the beginning of the year. In order to achieve your personal goals I think you have to play on a good team, a team that is able to play together. If you think about the team, your personal goals will follow. If you win games as a team, more often than not you'll be able to achieve those individual goals.

Do you want to see your role within the team increase next season to where you become one of the offensive leaders?

Yeah, obviously I think everyone wants to have a bigger role every year. With what I accomplished last year and not being a rookie any more, showing up at training camp as a second year player, knowing the coaching staff, knowing the guys, I am hoping to have a better season than I had last year and I think the coaches are going to expect more from me. It's going to be my job to show then what I can do and what kind of leadership I can bring this year.

A lot of pro hockey players hire their own personal trainers to help them with their off season training. Do you think that is a vital part of being a pro athlete?

I would say that a big part of the success of a season is the preparation that you put into it. I think a trainer is not a must, but it definitely can help. For example, a guy who is just by himself in the gym won't usually work as hard as if they had someone to push them to the limits. I think I am the kind of guy that is able to push myself and work 100 percent even without a personal trainer, but it just makes it easier. For the most part my trainer is mostly there to show me certain exercises to improve certain aspects of my game and how to do those exercises. He's not hovering over me every second of the day, but he's there when I need him.

Are you back in Montreal for the summer?

Yeah, I'm living at home with my family. I haven't even turned 21 yet, so I'm not really looking to have an apartment by myself.

After a busy schedule during the season, do you like being able to see your family a lot more during the summer?

Yes, but I get to see my parents more than some of the other guys get to see theirs. Montreal is only a three hour drive from Albany, so my parents came down a few times to see some games this year. But I really like living with them during the summer. Plus my brother is only a year and a half younger than me and we get along really well.

Does your brother play competitive hockey?

Not really. He plays, but mostly just for fun. He's going to school right now and next year he's entering college to study physical therapy, so he hasn't decided if he's going to play for the university or not.

What are some non-hockey activities that you like to do during the summer?

During the summer I like to play golf. I've been golfing for seven or eight years and I really enjoyed getting out on the course when the weather is nice. My family has a cottage on a lake about 45 minutes south of Quebec City, so we go there all the time during the summer. My brother and I go water skiing a lot. It's great to do different outdoor sports during the summer to get your mind off the rink and the things you do all season long.

Any vacations coming up?

Not really as a family. I'll travel a bit to see some friends and I am going away for a long weekend with my girlfriend soon, but otherwise no big plans. We go to the Cottage almost every weekend, which is great.

Run through a typical day for you during the summer.

Monday through Friday I usually wake up in the morning, eat a good breakfast and head to the gym for a workout. A couple times a week I go on the ice for a little scrimmage with some friends. We have a fun little game going, but it's not really an intense workout. As the summer goes on, maybe in August, I'll start doing real workouts on the ice, twice a day. On weekends, I play a lot of golf. Saturday and Sunday are my two days to relax, have fun and enjoy the summer.

Has life changed for you at all now that you're a pro hockey player?

Not really. I'm a simple guy. I don't want to act selfish or weird about playing hockey and collecting a salary for it. I'm just the same old guy that I was in juniors and I want to keep it that way for a long time.

This past season you drove a bright yellow Pontiac all decked out with racing colors; are you sticking with that vehicle for now?

Yeah I'll stick with it for not. When I get back into the season I'd like to get a new car, but it depends on how the budget's going. I'm not really set on one model yet.

If you had to choose, would you go with a smaller sports car or a bigger SUV?

I'm more of a sports car type of guy. I don't think I'd go with an SUV; it's not really me. Sure you get more room and you can travel with more people, but with the price of gas right now I'd probably look at a small sports car or a coupe.

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American Hockey League Stories from June 5, 2008


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