The Insider Interview - Playoff Edition

Nathan Saunders

The Brahmas enforcer talks about his career, joining the Brahmas and why it's not a good idea to mess with his teammates

Nathan Saunders signed with the Texas Brahmas on December 22nd after beginning the 2008-09 season with the Stockton Thunder and the Charlotte Checkers (ECHL). The 6', 3", 228-pound defenseman from Charlottetown, PEI is a fourth-year professional who has played in the AHL, ECHL and now the CHL.

Saunders played four seasons with the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) from 2001-2005. During his time in New Brunswick, he notched 87 points (14 G, 73 A) and 794 penalty minutes. He added 11 points (5 G, 6 A) and 70 penalty minutes through three straight seasons in the playoffs.

He was Selected by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in round four (#119) overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Saunders went pro during the 2005-06 season, playing 20 games with the Portland Pirates (AHL). He split the 2006-07 season between the Pirates and the Augusta Lynx (ECHL). Last season was split between the Providence Bruins (AHL) and the Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL).

With 36 games under his belt, Saunders has tallied 15 points (4 G, 11 A) and 159 penalty minutes as a Texas Brahma. He ended the season with a +15 rating. He has scored two powerplay goals with six powerplay assists and has scored a game-winning goal.

I spoke with Nathan yesterday about his career, joining the Brahmas and the upcoming playoffs. Here is our conversation.

Q: I noticed that you were from Charlottetown, PEI; did you know Greg McConnell and Mark Carragher growing up?

A: Yeah, actually me, McConnell and Carragher all grew up playing minor hockey together. Carragher’s Dad used to coach us all.

Q: You ended up playing for the Moncton Wildcats up in New Brunswick. That team had it rough for a few years before you arrived, but in the years that you were there and just afterwards, they really became a force in the QMJHL. How did you like playing up there?

A: It was a great experience. They treat you like royalty when you play for Moncton. They have great ownership and it was a pleasure to play there. They were rebuilding during my first year and they had a pretty young team, so I got to play with the same group of guys for most of the time I was there, so that made it a lot better too.

Q: In Moncton, You played with a number of guys who are in the CHL now, Collin Circelli from Odessa, Ryan Salvis from Laredo among others. Is it interesting nowadays to see those guys on the ice after playing with them back in those days?

A: Yeah, to see a guy show up in the league you play in from when you were younger, it makes the games a little more exciting. There’s someone to go and talk to after. You get a different point of view on things too – you see how they like it in their cities and how their organizations are.

Q: You also played with Corey Crawford and Steve Bernier, just to name a couple of guys who moved up to the NHL. Do you still keep in touch with those guys?

A: A little bit through computers. Not really so much. I’m going to go see Bernier when they’re in town playing Dallas, so I’ll see him there. Whenever I used to play against him in the American League, I would always make a point of going and saying hi to him after the game or before the game. You keep in touch as much as you can.

Q: Many people probably don’t realize that you played with Eric Lundberg and Brett Jaeger when you all were with the Augusta Lynx (ECHL). Did you know them very well when you played together?

A: Yeah, I knew them both pretty well. I was in Augusta for pretty much the whole season, so I got to know them pretty well. They’re both great guys and it’s been a great experience to be able to play with them again.

Q: How was it that you came to the Brahmas at the time that you did?

A: Well, I started off the season in Stockton, California (Stockton Thunder) and there were so many young defensemen that were signed to American League contracts that there just wasn’t room, so I got traded to Charlotte in North Carolina (Charlotte Checkers) in the East Coast League. When I got there, the coach decided that all I was good for was fighting, so he put me in, maybe one shift a period to send me in to fight guys. That’s not really what I was looking to do…I don’t think it takes much skill to go out there and take punches in the face. I like to play a little bit too, so I told them it wasn’t working out. I went home and relaxed for a month or so and then I came back down and started to play for Fonger.

Q: Was it Fonger that recruited you?

A: I talked to Fonger a lot during training camp…I knew he was going to put together a competitive team. I wanted to go somewhere where there was going to be a good chance to win and somewhere where I would fit in well with the team.

Q: You actually fill out the role as the enforcer for the Brahmas outside of your other defensive skills. Not to label you, but do you like being known for that?

A: I like being known as a guy who is always going to be there to stick up for his teammates and don’t get me wrong, I have no problem fighting. I enjoy it sometimes. It’s not something I want to do day in and day out. But I’m always going to stick up for my teammates. I don’t mind being labeled as that because I can always say no or yes to guys. You get chased around a little more being called a fighter, but I’ve got no problem saying no to guys if I don’t feel like fighting. So, it works out well for me.

Q: You are a good fighter, probably one of the best in the CHL. Did you ever train as a fighter or did that develop for you as a hockey player through the years?

A: I think it’s something that you’re born with a little bit of an edge maybe. But you always want to be able to look after your teammates and look after yourself. I’ve also put a lot of time into it, learning from some pretty talented guys throughout the years. Like Trevor Gillies and Todd Fedoruk. Any time I got a chance to pick those guys brains, I always would after practice. I’ve tried to pick up as much as I could with the guys that I’ve been on teams with.

Q: You seem to have become a popular person among the players. Did you find it easy to fit in with this group of guys, especially coming in when you did?

A: I found it easy to fit in with this group of guys just because they’re such a good bunch and they made it so easy when I got down here. Everyone is a super nice guy and they would do anything for you. I found it really easy to fit in and I have a great time with the rest of my teammates.

Q: You are playing with some very talented defensemen in Minard, Vellinga, Kinnunen, McLeod and the others. What do you think of this group of guys?

A: They’re extremely talented. I’m really surprised how many of our defensemen, I think a lot of them could easily make the move to the American League, if not all of them. I’m just surprised of the amount of talent that’s down here. I’m really happy to be playing with anyone they put me out there with and I have all the confidence in the world in guys like Ross Rouleau and anybody else they put out there.

Q: Yeah, I wanted to ask you about Ross. He was originally signed out of the prospect camp and then was waived before the season got started. He was available to come in and fill a spot when Lundberg went down and he seems to be developing really well. What’s your take on Ross and how he has improved since he’s been back?

A: I think he’s a really solid player…We had a pretty deep line-up on defense so that probably would have hurt his chances through the training camp but I give him all the credit in the world. He kept at it and stayed in shape. He got his opportunity and he’s definitely making the most of it. He’s played a lot of important minutes for us and he’s playing really well.

Q: One of things I enjoy the most in the pre-game is the banter between you and players from the opposing teams. Sometimes guys come up to directly challenge you; sometimes they are just trying to mark their territory with you. At the last game at NYTEX with Laredo, I remember you skating up and telling a few of the Bucks players that you had a really nasty staph infection and if they got too close, you’d wipe it on them. I remember the wide-eyed look on Erick Lizon’s face – it really cracked me up. Does that kind of thing amuse you – that type of challenge, pre-game?

A: I don’t know (laughing); I just like to keep it loose. I mean guys like Lizon for Laredo, I have all the respect in the world for him, he’s a tough kid, and he does his job for the team. Guys like that are usually just being friendly; but if it comes through during the game and we have to fight, then that’s the way it goes, right? Sometimes, there’s other ways of doing it too like guys like Clark coming in here and going after the coach – you want to let those guys know that’s not going to be tolerated and I just tell them that I’m going to do something about it if it keeps up. I mean, it just depends on the situation.

Q: You immediately made a big impact with the fans at NYTEX and you’re definitely a fan favorite. How do you feel about the reception you’ve received from the fans and the experience in general, playing at NYTEX?

A: It’s been great. Everything since I’ve been here has been great. I’ve gotten a lot of help from a lot of different people and I’ve been treated really, really well. So it’s been nothing but a good experience since I’ve been here.

Q: You’ve had a lot of playoff experience and now you are with a team that not only had the talent and drive to make it to the post-season, but a team that many believe have what it takes to make it to the finals. What is your excitement level, going into this weekends games?

A: With the team that we have right now, it’s really exciting going into the playoffs, knowing that you have a chance to win it. At the same time, I think playoffs are a whole different season. Nothing we’ve done means anything now. The last game against Rio or the last game against Corpus, both teams played tough. But it’s that simple, if you don’t come to work, it can be done in four games. Hopefully everything will be clicking for our team and we’ll take a good run at it.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith