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Q&A with Ice Pilots' Brian Eklund
PUBLISHED THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2003 in the Pensacola News Journal
by Monique Walker

How would you rate the season for the Ice Pilots and yourself?

Eklund: So far this season has been quite exciting for both of us. As a team we've been playing extremely well. We've won our last eight of 10, and you can't take anything better than that right now. It's great for me. I've been playing more minutes, and I'm progressing the way I'd like to.

At what point did you realize you could pursue hockey professionally?

Eklund: Probably the first time I really realized it was when I got drafted after my sophomore year. Before that I never thought about hockey beyond college.

While at Brown University, what did you study?

Eklund: I was a biology major. That's what I got my degree in, and I fulfilled my premed requirements. I'm not exactly sure what I want to do with it. I'm interested in computers as well. It would be nice to combine biology and computers. In what way, I'm not sure.

How have you settled into your role this season?

Eklund: My role has been evolving. When I first got here, I was a backup goaltender. And now, I'm still a backup to (Pilots goaltender Maxime Gingras), but I'm getting more minutes.

You mentioned making adjustments in your game at the beginning of the season. What did you do?

Eklund: Mainly it was being more aggressive. In the beginning I wanted to be more passive, but I found it wasn't working for me. Then I tried to be more aggressive in goal. I'm trying to attack a little more as much as I can. A lot of that has come from talking to Max. He's helped me a ton and helped me evolve my game by being more aggressive but at the same time playing deeper in my net.

So are you focusing on using your size to your advantage?

Eklund: Exactly. That was something in college, I used my size, but I used it as a crutch. I didn't use it to my advantage, I used it as something to rely on. Before, I would rely on my size to make saves. I would leave myself in position on rebound shots and I would hope it would hit me at some point. In working with Max, he's a small guy who uses his size really well. He's worked with me on rebounds and helped me to learn to make saves because of my size and my position.

Do you think you could play any other position on the ice?

Eklund: Not professionally. Back in college, on days we didn't have practice, I'd try to play forward. I'd kick it around. Of course I'd be terrible, at best I would be a nobody out there.

Was there a point where something just clicked for you this season?

Eklund: When I got called up to Springfield in November. I was losing confidence at the time. I came off a bad game in Greenville. I was hoping to go (to Springfield) and sit and watch. When I got up there, I really felt like I could be there. I felt confidence. I could sit there and play with this level of player. When I came back down, I saw what I had to do to make it to that level and make it at that level. I tried to incorporate hard work, and I've felt more confidence in my game because of that.

What do you do for fun?

Eklund: Video games has been a big thing of late because of how cold it's been. On warm days (teammate/roommate) Trevor Allman and I have been out boogie boarding.

What would select as your best season?

Eklund: I would honestly say right now. I always look at it that my game's evolving. I've never had a goalie coach before. Every game I feel like I'm getting better. And with Max and (Tampa Bay goaltender coach Jeff Reese) I feel more confident in everything I'm doing.

Brian Eklund
No. 30, goaltender

I'm afraid of ... failure.

Transcript from Brian Eklund's interview with Paul Kennedy from the Sunshine Network and Brian Bradley during the 1st intermission of Friday's Lightning vs Islanders game 4/16/04. (Special Thanks to Kathy Cauwels for emailing the transcript)

Paul:  At this time of year, hockey teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs welcome what they call the "Black Aces" to the locker room and here is one of them for the Tampa Bay Lightning, their top netminding prospect, Brian Eklund.  It's good to have you here.  So what did you get out of this tonight so far? 

Eklund:  It's just a great experience to be here and be able to see this type of an atmosphere.  Being around the players on the team and seeing everything that's here, it's really amazing.

Paul:  He's been skating in Pensacola in the ECHL, tell us about that.  The other night, are we right on this, 83 saves?

Eklund:  Yeah, you're right but it was in double overtime, it wasn't like it was in regulation or anything.

Paul:  They say in that league that you see alot of pucks, and that goaltenders can jump from the ECHL to the NHL rather rapidly.

Eklund:  I'd like to say yes to that, I mean I'd love to able to believe that but obviously it takes alot of work to be able to make it to that point.

Bradley:  One of my questions I gotta ask you is being a goaltender, what do you think the style of play is between Khabibulin and DiPietro?

Eklund:  Really they are different types of goaltenders. Both of them are competitive.   I played against Ricky growing up and I know that he's a great competitor.  He handles the puck great.  But Nik is a different animal, he goes out there and competes everyday as hard as anyone I've ever seen.  He's a great goaltender.

Paul:  What benefit do you get from coming in here today and working with this team and being a part of the atmosphere, does it feel different say, than when you were in training camp?

Eklund:  Oh, it's definitely different, there's just a different air of expectancy.  During training camp it seems like everyone's just trying to survive.  During this time of year everyone is just trying to win. There really is a great, great feeling being around these guys and really learn about playing hockey and what it really means to be able to win.

Paul:  Brian Bradley, you were talking about how this arena is electric this evening, sold out as it is, tonight like you haven't felt that before.

Bradley: There's no question, the crowd's into it and we've got to get that goal to get it going.The 2nd period has to be the key to get that power play goal to tie up the score.

Paul:  Give us your take on this Brian. (laughs) The two Brian's here, your take on how the Lightning get this going the other way?

Eklund:  Definitely this power play is huge right now but also just keep putting shots on the net.  I mean, at this point in the game it's still early and there's a lot of hockey to be played.  You can't start worrying about if you don't get a goal right now, the game is over. You just have to go out there and keep playing your game and get the win.

Paul:  Brian we wish you well, thanks for your time.

Eklund:  I appreciate it, thank you very much.

Paul:  One of the half dozen "Black Aces" as they are called up here for this playoffs series against the Islanders.

SCHOOLS; Eklund steps up:[Al Edition]
SEAN SMYTH. Boston Herald. Boston, Mass.: Feb 18, 1998.  pg. 065
Copyright Boston Herald Library Feb 18, 1998
(Special Thanks To Casey Elder for emailing this article)

When Archbishop Williams goaltender Brian Eklund walked onto the ice at the Pilgrim Arena in Hingham during his freshman season three years ago, he carried big expectations on his shoulders.

Anyone stepping between the pipes at Williams will quickly feel the pressure of following the legacy of past Archies netminders.

Among those who have toiled for coach Frank Quinn are 1980s Beanpot MVP Tim Marshall (Northeastern), Maine standout and former Quebec Nordique Jeff Nord, and Yale netminder Mark Fitzsimmons.

"We've always had great goalies in our system," said Quinn, who led the Archies to the Division 1 state championship last season.

"And Brian stands up to any of the goalies that we have had in the past."

With that solid endorsement - and with equally solid academic credentials on his resume as well - it was not hard for Eklund to find a school willing to harbor his talents. He chose Brown for its educational value more than its hockey tradition.

"I've always strived for the best education, and that's why I have always gone to Catholic schools," said Eklund.

"When I had a chance to go to an Ivy (League college) for the education, I couldn't turn it down. It looks great on a resume and it helps for life after hockey."

While he couldn't turn away the top-notch education, Eklund has found the ability to turn away lots of shots during his high school hockey career.

Eklund played on the freshman squad his first year but made the leap to varsity starter by the time he was a sophomore.

"At that time, I knew he was something special as far as a goaltender," said Quinn.

One of those things that makes Eklund special is his size.

At 6-foot-5, Eklund's body nearly covers the entire front of the goal cage, providing valuable protection.

"The first thing you look at in a goalie is what he can cover in front of the net," said Quinn.

"Being 6-5, he can cover the net pretty good. He can get down on his knees but still cover the net."

Despite that size advantage, Eklund wasn't always into manning the pipes. That was, until a youth hockey coach changed things.

"Dan Eberly was my coach in Squirts," recalled Eklund, who knew Eberly as the man who gives out the Eberly Award at each Beanpot to the tournament's top goaltender.

"He got me started playing goal. From then on, I loved playing the position.

"There was also Mr. Albrecht in youth hockey. I don't even remember his first name, that's all we used to call him. He taught me the position, the fundamentals, and I just grew on them."

While making the NHL is not a top priority for Eklund, it is a goal. Right now, though, he is just trying to make it through this season and into college.

"Hopefully I will be successful in college, then maybe there is the NHL," said Eklund.

"With each step, there are so many question marks. I hope with each step I progress better.

"Right now, we're taking one step at a time. We want to win the league title and make it to the Super Eight. Each step we take, and each game we win, brings us closer. We keep on setting goals for everything."

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