So you've fitted in like a glove, to be quite honest, into the organisation and into the league.
Before you took your injury, you were our leading points scorer.
What do you think helped that, the guys you're playing up?
Because you're good friends with Mario Trevico.
You train in the off-season together.
But am I right in saying you've never actually played professionally together?
Never. We just played pick-up back home in Oshinihaki.
It was kind of an experience to come here. We knew there'd be a little bit of pressure,
but we kind of knew what each other brought to the table.
I think it showed, especially in that first half of the season.
Will you be getting together in the off-season like you normally do?
Or are you going to need a bit of time apart?
Well, he actually has to stay an extra month after the season for his NBA.
So that'll be my month off from him, I guess.
So I can't wait, but I can't say enough about my teammates.
You know what, whether I'm playing with Mario or Darian,
or you know what, I play with Cardsier too a little bit.
All these guys, they make me better.
You know what, I read off them, and I'm a passer first, but I could score too.
And you know what, playing with Drozinski, you guys see this guy.
I'm going to have to do something to skate so he slows down with all the points.
But you know what, they make me better.
You know what, we've got a good group of guys in the room, and we just build off each other.
It must be quite refreshing in the fact that we are short benched.
We're a small team, but all you guys are getting good ice time.
There's not the guy who sat on the bench.
You might not even ice during the night, so you're all getting double-digit minutes.
Yeah, it must be fun.
Oh, that's the best.
You know what, I think me and Mario had this conversation a couple of days ago, actually.
Where, you know what, if you played for a big team like Shaft,
you love Redhead, you know what, there's four lines.
And you know what, you're not playing every other shift like we are here.
Me and Zee actually talked about it too, Darian.
We were saying, you know what, we might not be the first guys on the ice for the PK on a bigger team,
or Powerplay too.
So you know what, we get to take advantage of all that here, show what we could do.
We like, I can't complain.
You know what, I've never wanted to say I didn't get enough ice tonight.
No, and it's not just the lack of ice.
You could be up in the press box.
You know, depending on these teams are carrying extra imports.
Yeah, exactly.
And I should imagine it's one of the reasons why you came to the Elite League,
because you wanted to play big ice time.
That's it.
That's an offseason pass, said, you know what, you want to play, you're going to play here.
You know what, you be our best player.
You know what, you want me to make a difference.
And you know what, that's what I'm trying to do here.
And you know what, I'm surrounded by the right guys that make me better.
And that's it.
So it's a no complaining to pass when you're tired at the end of the season?
No, I'll complain once in a while to them.
But you know what, I can't complain after a game.
That's for sure.
I can barely breathe after a game.
And you know what, I love it.
That's what we're here for.
How have you found, obviously, not being able to ice against the Devils tonight?
You've come up against them plenty of times over the season.
Atop of the league.
They top of the league for a reason?
I think so.
You know what, I hate to say it, but Sheffield's pretty good too.
I think those, I know, I know.
But they're so tough to play against both these teams.
They're big teams.
And you know what, I'm kind of excited to see what happens on Sunday in that final
between these two teams.
Because no, I've never seen them play each other.
I just see what, when we play against them.
So we'll see.
The Devils are really good.
I think they have a good chance of winning the league.
But you know what, even Belfast and stuff, they're right behind there.
So you never know what's going to happen in the last month.
Me and Simon, we're just saying it during the commentary day.
They just keep coming at you.
They keep coming at you.
That was a, that was a, for a long possession in the, in the first period there.
And it's just wave after wave after wave.
I think that, that's just us because we have less players, right?
So I think we always have to take those little, I don't know, say it, like storms at a time.
You know, they come at us a few times.
You know what, you just got to bear it, like handle the storm.
Just weather it.
And you know what, eventually it's going to pass.
And then we capitalize on our chance like Darian did.
The storm will never pass, Matt.
Yeah, there you go.
So, I mean, how did you think that first period went?
We looked to come out of the blocks flying.
Real, real notable difference from last weekend.
Yeah.
You know what, past stress that all week, you know, we got to have a better start.
We got to play better at home.
It was kind of embarrassing last Saturday.
And you know what, the guys are ready today.
And that's it.
That's the difference.
Guys came out, a lot of guys finishing their hits first on the puck.
And you know what, we, we had a game plan all week.
And that was chip pucks skated down because we have speed.
You got guys like Darian, Karts, Trebuco, Val and all these guys.
They could skate.
So, you know what, on that first goal is what we practiced all week.
They chipped it off the board and Darian was gone.
And it was a beautiful goal, too.
So, our game tactics changed.
The game goes on because obviously we mentioned earlier we are a smaller team.
We are a short bench.
That third period comes.
They're going to keep coming.
Yeah.
Well, I think as long as we stay out of the penalty box,
I think we could keep up with them for three periods.
No problem.
If we get into penalty trouble, that's when you got a, I don't know,
the third period is going to be a little longer, you know.
So, we'll see what happens.
Very disciplined in the first period so far.
It's been great.
Well, Matt, it's been an absolute privilege to have you on.
And it's been an honour to watch you play as well.
And I personally hope we get to see you for further years.
But that's obviously not down to me.
But thank you very much, Matt.
And hopefully see you on the ice very soon.
Awesome.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Matt.
