Shell
02-14-2004, 12:58 AM
Q&A with Rob Zepp
Written by Holly Gunning on 02/11/2004
Goaltender Rob Zepp is in his third year pro under contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, who drafted him as a reentry in 2001. He was called up to Lowell of the AHL last season for five games, and again this season for one game, but otherwise has remained with the ECHL Florida Everblades, largely due to the logjam in goal in the organization, exacerbated by the split affiliation in Lowell. The 22-year-old is 10-11-6 on the season, with a 3.02 GAA and a .918 save percentage.
Hockey’s Future caught up with Zepp following the Everblades’ 5-3 loss to the Gwinnett Gladiators on Tuesday.
HF: How do you think your season is going so far?
RZ: Things have been going pretty good. The team’s been struggling as of late, unfortunately, and we’d like to correct that. I’m pretty happy with the way things have been going so far and hopefully we can make a good run here in the playoffs.
HF: With Maund being injured, you’re having to play a lot of games right now. Have you ever played so many so close together before?
RZ: Yeah, I did it quite a bit in junior, and last year I did it quite a bit too. It’s pretty tiring, it’s my fourth game in five nights tonight, so you’ve got to kind of dig deep for it. But yeah, I’m used to playing quite a bit like that.
HF: How do you feel physically right now?
RZ: I’m disappointed that we lost, and physically a little tired, but a couple days off will help that.
HF: You’ve been in the league for three years now. What kind of change have you seen over time?
RZ: Yeah, the league’s getting better, there’s a lot of younger guys, a lot of affiliations with NHL teams. A lot of younger prospects in the league making it more competitive. There’s not many bad teams in this league, every game is a good game.
HF: Who would you say is the best shooter in the league right now?
RZ: I’d have to say the best in the league would be Steffon Walby from Mississippi. He’s a veteran player. He’s got a heck of a shot, and he’s a real smart, experienced player, so he’s probably the toughest.
HF: Was there anything in particular that you took away from the three training camps you attended with Carolina?
RZ: Yeah, just the experience of playing with those players, you know what level you have to get to and you watch them and the professionalism they carry about them every day and you try to pick up on that, and their maturity level and their work habits. It’s been a real positive experience.
HF: Did they give you any instructions when you left as far as what to work on?
RZ: Yeah, they told me a few things to work on, and I’ve been working hard on it. I’m always trying to improve my game and get suggestions from whoever. So yeah, I went away with a lot of positive feedback and I’m trying to improve myself.
HF: Is it a secret what they told you? You don’t want to give away your weaknesses?
RZ: [laughs] I don’t want to give away everything to you, I’ve got to keep something a secret.
HF: I’ve talked to a lot of goalies and no one wants to talk about their weaknesses.
RZ: They don’t want everyone else reading about it. [laughs]
HF: You talked about the maturity level of the NHL guys at camp. What is it exactly that you can see it takes to be an NHL goaltender?
RZ: The fundamentals of the game. They don’t make many mistakes. They play big all the time. Their rebound control is excellent. Very quick laterally. Physical maturity and maturity out on the ice, reading plays and all the stuff that comes with experience and a lot of talent.
HF: You have a plain white mask right now. Do you have anything personal that you think you want to put on one day?
RZ: That’s why I have it plain right now. I couldn’t decide on anything quite yet. I was supposed to get it painted, but I couldn’t really come up with anything so far this year.
HF: What is the thing that people would be the most surprised to learn about you?
RZ: I’m trying to play the guitar. I’m a big music fan and I’m really trying to be a student of music and develop myself that way.
HF: Acoustic or electric?
RZ: Acoustic right now, but I’m getting an electric.
HF: You want to play in a band?
RZ: I’d love to play in a band. I’ve got some buddies back home who are excellent hockey players who are really good too, so I wouldn’t mind doing that. Just for fun.
Written by Holly Gunning on 02/11/2004
Goaltender Rob Zepp is in his third year pro under contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, who drafted him as a reentry in 2001. He was called up to Lowell of the AHL last season for five games, and again this season for one game, but otherwise has remained with the ECHL Florida Everblades, largely due to the logjam in goal in the organization, exacerbated by the split affiliation in Lowell. The 22-year-old is 10-11-6 on the season, with a 3.02 GAA and a .918 save percentage.
Hockey’s Future caught up with Zepp following the Everblades’ 5-3 loss to the Gwinnett Gladiators on Tuesday.
HF: How do you think your season is going so far?
RZ: Things have been going pretty good. The team’s been struggling as of late, unfortunately, and we’d like to correct that. I’m pretty happy with the way things have been going so far and hopefully we can make a good run here in the playoffs.
HF: With Maund being injured, you’re having to play a lot of games right now. Have you ever played so many so close together before?
RZ: Yeah, I did it quite a bit in junior, and last year I did it quite a bit too. It’s pretty tiring, it’s my fourth game in five nights tonight, so you’ve got to kind of dig deep for it. But yeah, I’m used to playing quite a bit like that.
HF: How do you feel physically right now?
RZ: I’m disappointed that we lost, and physically a little tired, but a couple days off will help that.
HF: You’ve been in the league for three years now. What kind of change have you seen over time?
RZ: Yeah, the league’s getting better, there’s a lot of younger guys, a lot of affiliations with NHL teams. A lot of younger prospects in the league making it more competitive. There’s not many bad teams in this league, every game is a good game.
HF: Who would you say is the best shooter in the league right now?
RZ: I’d have to say the best in the league would be Steffon Walby from Mississippi. He’s a veteran player. He’s got a heck of a shot, and he’s a real smart, experienced player, so he’s probably the toughest.
HF: Was there anything in particular that you took away from the three training camps you attended with Carolina?
RZ: Yeah, just the experience of playing with those players, you know what level you have to get to and you watch them and the professionalism they carry about them every day and you try to pick up on that, and their maturity level and their work habits. It’s been a real positive experience.
HF: Did they give you any instructions when you left as far as what to work on?
RZ: Yeah, they told me a few things to work on, and I’ve been working hard on it. I’m always trying to improve my game and get suggestions from whoever. So yeah, I went away with a lot of positive feedback and I’m trying to improve myself.
HF: Is it a secret what they told you? You don’t want to give away your weaknesses?
RZ: [laughs] I don’t want to give away everything to you, I’ve got to keep something a secret.
HF: I’ve talked to a lot of goalies and no one wants to talk about their weaknesses.
RZ: They don’t want everyone else reading about it. [laughs]
HF: You talked about the maturity level of the NHL guys at camp. What is it exactly that you can see it takes to be an NHL goaltender?
RZ: The fundamentals of the game. They don’t make many mistakes. They play big all the time. Their rebound control is excellent. Very quick laterally. Physical maturity and maturity out on the ice, reading plays and all the stuff that comes with experience and a lot of talent.
HF: You have a plain white mask right now. Do you have anything personal that you think you want to put on one day?
RZ: That’s why I have it plain right now. I couldn’t decide on anything quite yet. I was supposed to get it painted, but I couldn’t really come up with anything so far this year.
HF: What is the thing that people would be the most surprised to learn about you?
RZ: I’m trying to play the guitar. I’m a big music fan and I’m really trying to be a student of music and develop myself that way.
HF: Acoustic or electric?
RZ: Acoustic right now, but I’m getting an electric.
HF: You want to play in a band?
RZ: I’d love to play in a band. I’ve got some buddies back home who are excellent hockey players who are really good too, so I wouldn’t mind doing that. Just for fun.