Q & A with Petr Mrazek

The Griffins hosted a question and answer session with Petr Mrazek on Reddit.

Below are the questions and answers in an easy to read format, so you don't have to dig through the original post (unless you want to). It's apparent from his answers that Mrazek has a great sense of humor.

Enjoy!



Can you describe the general difference in average skill between each league? How much faster is each league than the level before it? Do you have any problems adjusting to the speed between leagues?

 NHL is harder in front of the net. AHL faster because they're younger guys who want to show up. ECHL isn't much different because you have to stop the puck everywhere.
No problems.

Who is the Griffins:
Biggest practical joker
Best roommate
Most serious
Who would you rather not face in a shootout: Nyquist, Tatar, or Jurco?

Triston Grant
Almquist
Jeff Hoggan
All three I would take. At the same time.

I'd love to hear your experience about when drafted by the wings (before called, when on stage, after) did you have any idea they were interested in you?

No idea.

I thought you played very well against St. Louis. What was the intimidating aspect of playing in your first NHL game?

You're excited. When I first stepped on the ice for the warmup I thought I could be nervous, but I wasn't.

Do you have any strange pre-game rituals? Apparently many goalies do.

I don't have anything special. Nap and just go and play.

You are Czech, is there a noticeable difference between Czech and North American hockey rituals/dressing room atmosphere/intensity etc..?

In dressing rooms it's the same atmosphere. There's more fans here. The rink is smaller so the hockey is faster.

Do the goaltending coaches work with your game, or do they try to get you to play a certain way?

We work before the game and at practice, we keep my style, just work on getting better at it.

Hockey goalies have a reputation for being somewhat weird. Do you think you fit the stereotype, and if so why?

Players think goalies are weird, but we think players are weirder.

Do you trust your eyes with Dr. Ramani?

Sure, like every player.

If you were a forward, what type of player would you want to be?

Center.

Why #34? If there is a reason

No, they gave me the number. I would love to have number three.

Your favorite post game meal? Besides a puck

Besides a puck, pasta with alfredo sauce and chicken.

Who do you think is the best goalie of all time?

Patrick Roy, Brodeur, Hasek

Before the red wings picked you were you a fan of any NHL team?

Detroit and Vancouver.

Favourite hockey moment/memory?

First NHL game.

Who had the hardest shot that you've every faced?

Ryan Suter.

How funny is Pavel Datsyuk in person? Thanks for doing this!

He’s a really good guy and funny too.

Have you worked with Chris Osgood at all? If so how was the overall experience?

We work with him often in Grand Rapids. Good guy.

Who is your favorite goalie in the NHL?

I like Fleury

What's currently on your ipod?

Hip hop or dance

What's your favorite thing about being a goalie?

I liked hockey when I was young and when Czech won Olympics in 98 I wanted to be in net.

Hey Petr! Could you give the story behind the paintjob on your lid? Congratulations on all your success thus far!

Our trainer Brad Thompson came up with that idea. I think it's cool because my name is Petr and our team is the Griffins. Get it?

Do you have any hobbies that you're passionate about?

Soccer and golf

What was your favourite thing to do in Ottawa other than hockey? This could be a tough question... lol.

Hanging out with the boys or Czech friends.

What's the biggest transition between international ice and North American ice? Which do you prefer?

North American ice. Faster and closer.

I have been to a few Griffins games this year and I'm always disappointed with the crowd size. Do players notice when the crowd is "light"? Is it disheartening?

I like when it's crowded. It's quiet when it's not. Better hockey.

Thanks for your time with the 67's. When you were in Ottawa what was your favourite restaurant ? What are your preferred pregame and post game snacks/meals.

My favorite restaurant was Johnny Farinas. Italian food you can't go wrong with.

Who has the best shot on the Red Wings?

Franzen

Have you ever eaten a puck?

No I didn't, but if you want to do it, put it in the oven. Maybe some salt and pepper.

Who are you beside in the Griffins dressing room and Red Wings dressing room?

I'm next to Billins and Howard in Detroit.

If you weren't drafted by the red wings what other team would you have liked to draft you?

Probably Vancouver, LA, or San Jose.

Dollar Hotdog Power Hour Podcast Episode 7.

We're back with more Hockey and Red Wings talk. The season has been a wild ride so far with ups, downs, side to sides and a few times it looked like we were going to crash so hard future generations wold feel it. There's a lot to be excited about though, and positive things to focus on. We address some of those things as well as a few things that we're not to excited about. Give it a listen and I hope you enjoy it.

Note- Please don't blast me for not talking about Mrazek more, I did in fact talk more about him but Mike cut some of it out because he's *turrible

*or possibly because my mic was cutting in and out and the quality would have done Mrazek an injustice


As always, you can check out Kevin and Mike's blogs for some great Hockey reading.

Hope you enjoy the podcast, and as always, feeback is appreciated.

Petr Mrazek AHL All Star Game Highlights

     It's all about Petr Mrazek today. In addition to being called up by the Red Wings yesterday, today he was named the AHL player of the week. 

     The AHL All Star game was last week and Gustav Nyquist, Chad Billins and Petr Mrazek got to participate. Mrazek was impressive and stopped all 6 shooters in the breakaway challenge, denied 9 out of 10 rapid fire shots, including all 5 from Derek Meech, and stopped 2 out of 3 shots in the pass and score event. Below are some video highlights

Mrazek stopped all 6 shooters in the Breakaway Challenge. I particularly love the save on Miller because Mrazek wasn't fooled for a second.

Mrazek stopped 9/10 shots in the Rapid Fire Competition. The announcers said (and it looked like) 2 went in, but the official results from the AHL said only 1 went in.

Mrazek stopped 2/3 in the Pass and Score Event

Petr Mrazek- Fast track to the NHL?

My excitement over Red Wings goalie prospect and current Grand Rapids Griffins Petr Mrazek is no secret.When we heard Sunday night that Mrazek (and Tatar) had been called up I got tweets and text messages from people expressing excitement for me and feeling sure that I was freaking out with excitement. I'm proud that when people think Mrazek, they think of me. I'm really excited for Mrazek, but I also feel sorry for McCollum.

     The best I can see for McCollum is for him to be a mediocre backup for a team that's not the Wings. I hate to say that because I like the kid and his only NHL experience was such a dumpster fire, fuster cluck that I won't even bring it up in detail. McCollum has ok skills but he's not great by any stretch of the imagination, but his weakest point is his mental game. For a first round pick I'm a bit disappointed, and I doubtful that his career will be with the Red Wings organization much longer. I don't think the Wings sending him back down is the last straw for him, although it's clear the organization has lost some faith in him and isn't comfortable starting him.  Bringing Mrazek up is a great opportunity to the Wings to play him in a game and sort of gauge what they have. Mrazek played 3 years in the OHL for the Ottawa 67's and started this season off in Toledo for Walleye (ECHL) he played a grand total of 3 games there (2-1) before being called up to Grand Rapids because both McCollum and Pearce left much to be desired. Mrazek has played 25 of the Griffins 44 games and has a 2.24 GAA, .916 SV% and 1 shutout (That I was in attendance for on Saturday!) .

Mrazek warming up right in front of me. I call this "Mrazeking". He also looks darn good in the Wings Red and White.

 
     I think the Red Wings are taking a serious look at what they have in Mrazek, not only because of how good he is, but because Jimmy is the only healthy NHL goaltender we currently have, and also because we only signed Gustavsson to a two year contract and Jimmy is a UFA at the end of this season and there are going to have to be some serious decision made in the goaltending department. I never thought I'd see Mrazek even get a sniff at the NHL for at least a couple years, so his being called up caught me completely by surprise. That surprise quickly turned to excitement, glee and an indescribable urge to run around the room screaming and fist pumping.  Of course there's no guarantee that Mrazek will get to play, but it sounds like Gustavsson is more than a few games removed from being ready to play, and Jimmy needs a rest. If Gustavsson isn't ready to play by this weekend, we will see Mrazek start a game, probably Sunday against the Kings.

     Should I be concerned about throwing Mrazek into an NHL game so soon? What if he gets the McCollum treatment for his first game and yet another goalie is ruined? Just hold on to your panic panties I say. Mrazek's mental game is rock solid, that's a big part of what makes him the complete package. Even if Mrazek has been in McCollum's skates and gotten hung out to dry and absolutely shellacked , he wouldn't have let it get to him like McCollum did. I'm not worried about treating Mrazek like he's fragile, because he most certainly isn't. He's incredibly talented, skilled, and works his butt off, he's also rock solid mentally and that's essential for a goalie. Mrazek has been on the fast track to the NHL and he deserves to be. OHL -->ECHL-->AHL-->NHL in only a few months? That would be an accelerated pace for any goalie or team, but it must be unheard of in the Red Wings organization. I know he hasn't started a game yet, and if Gustavsson heals and is ready to play by this weekend, I may cry bitter bitter tears of disappointment.

If you want a little Mrazek porn to get you in the mood, may I refer you to some Goalie Porn I posted earlier.  

Dollar Hotdog Power Hour: Episode 6

Wait, what is this wizardry? We actually have real, current, honest to goodness, Red Wings Hockey to talk about? Huzzah!

I'm a little behind the 8 ball getting this out, but I've had the flu and consequently am behind on a lot of things right now. Guess what though? WE HAVE HOCKEY! Wooo! We answer some tough questions, pay tribute to the Demolition Man, discuss what we're looking forward to this season, some Captain Zetterberg discussion and oh so much more.

As always, you can check out Kevin and Mike's blogs for some great Hockey reading.

Hope you enjoy the podcast, and as always, feeback is appreciated.

Who Doesn't Love Some Goalie Hockey Porn?

     I've been sick for the last few days and have barely managed to get out of bed, and with my first Hockey game of the season tomorrow night I'm trying desperately to will myself to get well enough to play. There's plenty of sad Hockey news everywhere we look and I consequently I think we could all use some cheering up. What could cheer us all up right now? How about Hockey Porn! I've a little something special planned for today, it's not just Hockey Porn, it's Hockey Goalie Porn, and not just any Hockey Goalie Porn, but Prospect Hockey Goalie Porn... Specifically Petr Mrazek Prospect Hockey Goalie Porn. (Whew, try saying that ten times fast).

     I have a confession to make... being a goalie myself I have a special place in my Hockey Porn collection for goalies; I love watching their style, their moves, their positions and their attitudes. I first saw video clips of Mrazek on YouTube and I was intrigued; he was dynamic, engaging and had a passion and swagger that kept me watching him even when the puck wasn't near him.

He raised quite a stir for his celebration at the 2012 World Juniors for his celebratory display and I loved him even more for it.Just look at his passion and enthusiasm, that's what Hockey is about!

He also almost scored an empty net goal. 

 

Think you'll get a penalty shot past him? Think again.I know there are a lot of people who think that players celebrating a goal or save is gloating or disrespectful or may hurt the other players' feelings... But come one, this is Hockey and I LOVE seeing passion and celebration from the players.

 

I had the pleasure of watching Mrazek in person at the Development Camp back in July and he's mesmerizing. From the interviews I've read, he also has a great attitude and a strong, dedicated work ethic. I'm planning to attend a few Grand Rapids Griffins games this season and I'm greatly looking forward to seeing him in action and I can't wait to see him suit up in the Winged Wheel. 

I'll leave you with one final video... Just look at him flash that glove.

  

Happy Petr Mrazek Prospect Hockey Goalie Porn day!