A few minutes with...Brett Jaeger

The Brahmas goaltender talks about re-signing, his work ethic and winning a championship

As you know, the Texas Brahmas have announced the return of Brett Jaeger for the 2009-10 season. I’ve been in touch with Brett during the off-season and we spoke a little bit more in depth yesterday. Here is our conversation.

Q: I know there’s been some talk about you going to a training camp at a higher level…

A: Yeah, we’re looking at things in other leagues; in the American League and an NHL thing - hopefully that happens, but if I go to that training camp and get sent back down, this is where I wanted to be – with the Brahmas. The best thing for me was to get it done (the re-signing); this way if I’m down at the AA level, I know where I’m going and it’s a place where we’re happy. That’s a huge thing for me.

Q: You have only been paired with David Cacciola during your time with the Brahmas. If in fact, Cash doesn't return next season, how will you feel about whoever the team signs?

A: It doesn’t really matter who they bring in. I push myself in practice. I try to be the hardest worker on the team...I’m the guy that pushes myself. I just focus on doing what I do every day. That’s coming to the rink and working as hard as I can in practice and preparing to play in games – how I can play and how I want to play and giving the team a chance to win. That’s where my focus has been over the last couple of years with the Brahmas. Whoever they bring in, I’ll help them out if I can; If it’s a younger guy, I’ll try and show him the ropes.

Q: You are well known for your work ethic and your attention to improving your game. Many people have commented about how you are always out early and stretching, getting yourself prepared for the game, physically as well as mentally. Did you always have that ethic?

A: Well, you know I’ve grown up with it. My family – we farm back in Alberta. We wake up at 6:00 am and work until the sun goes down...staying out an extra half an hour isn’t work to me – I enjoy it. It’s something that I have to do to be ready and to be at the top of my game. All the stretching and stuff is something I found that helps me prepare for games and it relaxes the body. You’ve got to do that stuff, especially when you play a lot. Last year, I played a lot and you have to take care of your body. It should take care of you. It pays off, especially with being the number one goalie. You’re playing pretty much every night and sometimes you’re playing three games in three nights and you have to look after your body. All the stretching helps me play that many games and stay away from injuries.

Q: You started 44 games in the regular season and all 16 games during the playoffs. You led the league in GAA and save percentage during the playoffs – after the win in Game 5 against the Eagles, did you think to yourself, wow, all the hard work paid off?

A: Yeah, it was a pretty awesome feeling. I was happy – you know you really don’t realize how big it is until a couple of days after when it really sinks in. I was just happy to do it with so many great guys around me and it’s something that the team and the coaching staff will never forget and no one can take that away from us. It’s an amazing feeling when you finally do it – all the hard work and all the things you do away from the rink, like the off-season training and stuff like that really pays off.

Q: What’s your outlook for this coming season?

A: Any time you’re coming into a new season, you want to do well; win a lot of hockey games. With the guys we have coming back and with what we’ve been through the last couple of years, we’re a pretty experienced team and that should help us. How our coaching staff approaches preparing us for games, we should be ready. For me, I mean, my job is the same as it was last year and the year before – to go out and make the saves I’m supposed to make and make a couple of unreal saves (laughing) during the game and keep the team in the game and give them a chance to win. Stop the pucks. Just go out there and work hard in practice and try and get better every day.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith