Features > Player Spotlight- #16 John Strahle
Player Spotlight- #16 John Strahle
by Chris Bilder, Generals Staff Writer
Eugene, OR-
Chris Bilder: This is your second year with the Generals. Compare this season’s team to last season’s team.
John Strahle: We’re a lot more of a high energy team, and we work a lot better together. There’s probably more chemistry on this team than any other team I’ve played on, and that gives us an edge over last year’s team.
CB: You are playing with a fairly young defensive core this season. Have you done anything to help develop or mentor some of the young defensemen?
JS: Just guiding where I see mistakes. Usually they’re pretty understating in taking constructive criticism, so it’s easy to teach them the right things to do in certain situations.
CB: Do you consider yourself a “stay-at-home defenseman” or an “offensive defenseman”?
JS: For sure a stay at home defensemen. There was a GM once that told me you have to pick what kind of player you are, and if you don’t know you shouldn’t be playing defense. I think I’ve come into my own in the last couple of years as a stay at home defenseman.
CB: As a “stay-at-home defenseman” you have been able to put up 12 goals and 21 assists this season, which puts you tied for sixth in points among NORPAC defensemen. Are you satisfied with your point production?
JS: Yes. As a defenseman you’re not required to get points. It’s a perk of being in the right place at the right time. I do my on the defensive end, and the points just come.
CB: Describe your ideal game.
JS: There isn’t really a stat for 3 on 2’s that you stop or how many times you hold your gap at the blue line. Any game that our team wins, and I play a solid game is fine with me.
CB: What is one goal you would like the team to meet before the season has ended?
JS: I would definitely like us to finish first in our division this year.
CB: What is one goal you would like yourself to meet before the season has ended?
JS: I’d just like to play solid all the way through Nationals, where I think the team will end up this year. We have a good shot at Nationals, so I want to be at the top of my game.
CB: What has been your favorite moment with the Generals this season?
JS: Definitely the road trips. Its fun to be able to hang around with 25 guys, that you get a long with, from the start of the day to the end of the day.
CB: The Generals will face the first place Seattle Totems this Friday. What does the team have to do to get a win?
JS: Play as hard as we can. We’ve been looking forward to this point of the season, and we’ve been looking forward to reaching that first place goal. We just have to work hard and run our systems like we should.
CB: Where do you see yourself next season?
JS: Likely in college playing hockey. I doubt there’s really anything else I’d be doing.