The Insider Interview - Topher Scott

Rookie forward is an instant fan favorite

"I know it's been said already this guy has a big heart, but WOW! He skated every shift like it was the last one he was ever gonna get to do. What an athlete."

That quote any many like it from the Brahmas.net message board typify the way fans feel about Topher Scott. The rookie forward was an instant fan favorite after taking the ice with the Brahmas against the Odessa Jackalopes on October 25th. After 12 games, Scott has four points (2 G, 2 A) and four penalty minutes. He is second on the team behind Grant Jacobsen with a .200 shot percentage

Scott takes Dale Lupul right off the ice with a hit during a recent game at NYTEX (Photo by John Blanding)

Scott made his professional hockey debut in March with the Elmira Jackals (ECHL). He played in seven regular season games and four in the post-season, tallying five points (1 G, 4 A). Jackals head coach Steve Martinson called Scott an excellent passer with great vision and hockey sense. Scott was to return to the Jackals this season, but the opportunity to play with Dan Wildfong's Brahmas took precedent.

Scott played for Cornell University (ECAC) for four seasons while pursuing a degree in Sociology. During his career with the Big Red, he appeared in all 137 games (playing through a broken wrist in his sophomore year), notching 107 points (25 G, 82 A) and only 52 penalty minutes. He was the team's leading scorer as a Junior after tying for the second-highest point total as a sophomore.

As a senior, Scott was elected by his teammates as a co-captain after being elected to serve as the team's lone alternate captain as a junior. Scott was also a two-time winner of the team's Bill Doran Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to the player combining all of the best attributes that mean sportsmanship, both on and off the ice, as well as being an excellent, competitive player. He was also named Honorable Mention All-Ivy League for his play as a senior.He helped the team win one ECAC Tournament Championship and two trips to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the national quarterfinals each time. He played alongside former Brahma Doug Krantz and current Brahma Kevin McLeod.

I spoke to Topher recently at the NYTEX Sports Centre. Here is our conversation:

Q: How did you come on board with the Brahmas?

A: I was up in Elmira in the East Coast League and I got released from there. I had been talking to Fonger a bit in the summer about coming down. After I got released, I really liked Fonger and what he had to say about everything. I've heard great things about coming here. My roommate from school last year was down here for the playoffs last season, Doug Krantz, and he said he loved it too. I came down here and its been great.

Q: What do you think about playing at NYTEX and the facility itself?

A: It's great. It's not the biggest rink but the fans are great, it's a great atmosphere. I really love the city that we're living in and everything so it's been really fun so far.

Q: What do you think about the team and all the guys...were you able to come on board pretty easily?

A: Yeah, it was nice to know Kevin McLeod from Cornell so I knew somebody right away when I got here. The guys were really great right away. I've been having a lot of fun getting to know them.

Q: You were a co-captain with Ray Sawada at Cornell. Do you still keep in touch with him as he's going through the process with the Dallas Stars organization?

A: Yeah, you always have to look up and see how everybody is doing. He's up in Manitoba right now, they're an AHL team. The way things are going, he might get called up sometime this year. I'll be one of the happiest guys. I'll definitely be at one of their games.

Q: Have you gotten out to a Stars game yet?

A: I haven't been to a Stars game yet. I haven't even been to the city of Dallas yet. I'm looking forward to it.

Q: You may or may not know this but you have been pretty popular with the fans. I don't know if you read the fan boards or that kind of stuff but I've read and heard a lot of good comments on your play. How do you feel about the fans here?

A: Coming from a place like Cornell where the fans are crazy too, it's been a lot of fun. Just seeing them cheer on the team when we're doing well and seeing them cheer loud at every game, it's been a lot of fun.

Q: I know at Cornell, you organized the teddy bear toss. Were you happy to see that sort of thing take place here at NYTEX?

A: Yeah, it's always great to see people reaching out to help others. Being a part of something like that makes you feel good about too about yourself even though you're helping out a lot of other people too. It's great to get on board here where that kind of thing is really big here too.

Q: What has been the key to winning for this Brahmas team?

A: Just going out there and putting 60 minutes together...If we do that against any team, we've got a good chance to win because we've got really good players in that locker room.

Q: What do you think of Dan Wildfong as a coach and have you been impressed with his drive?

A: I've been fortunate enough to play for a lot of coaches like Fonger in the past. Mike Schafer at Cornell is the same way. He's really intense and just really cared about the guys and about the program which is what Fonger does too. When I got here, the practices were really hard. I wasn't really ready for it but it's great now. I'm really just looking forward to going out there and playing for him and putting together some wins with this team.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith