Q. When did you first start playing hockey and what inspired you to get involved with the sport?
A. I started playing when I was 3 years old and my ad was a huge hockey fan and always had hockey on TV and my interest grew from there.
Q. What teams did you play for before the flyers?
A. Before the Flyers, I played for the University of New Hampshire for 2 years and I also played for the US national team in various tournaments over the last 4 years
Q. How was the transition from college hockey to the NHL?
A. The transition from college to the NHL has been a full mental and physical change. The players in the NHL are better, stronger, faster and you play twice as many games as you do in college.
Q. How often do you practice and what is game preparation like?
A. We basically practice everyday. As the season goes on the less time we spend on the ice at practice because it’s vital to stay fresh and energized for the games.
Q. What has it been like being in the playoffs as such a young player?
A. The playoff experience so far has been great. The games are a lot more exciting, intense and fast, and you can feel the extra desperation and energy guys are playing with.
Q. What was it like to play your hometown team, the Devils?
A. Playing in NJ against the Devils was pretty cool. It gave me a chance to share my experience with a lot of people who have helped me to get to where I am.
Q. How has the experience been as a rising star in the NHL?
A. It is exciting to get to play in the best league in the world at such a young age. It’s a huge honor that comes with a lot of work and you can’t take it for granted even for a second. I try to work as hard as I can to get better every day.
Q. What was it like being the No. 2 overall pick by the Flyers in the 2007 draft?
A. It was an unbelievable experience. It was the first time Americans drafted with the first two overall picks. A ton of my family and about 20 buddies or so made the trip to Columbus to support me at the draft. They were pretty loud and rowdy and made the experience that much more memorable.
Q. What was it like playing in your first game as a Flyer?
A. Playing in my first NHL game was an incredible feeling. I worked my whole life to get to this point, and to have the opportunity to play in the NHL and to have it all pay off is a satisfying feeling. I still have a lot of work to do and a lot I want to accomplish to be the best player I can be.
Q. What are some of your greatest memories of being on the team?
A. Playing my first game, scoring my first goal, winning our final game to make the playoffs and playing my best friend in hockey (Colin Wilson of the Nashville Predators.)
Q. Who was your favorite hockey player when you were younger?
A. Adam Graves and Brett Hull
Q. Where do you see yourself in five years?
A. In five years I hope I have been on a few Stanley Cup winning teams.
Q. What are some of your goals for the rest of your career?
A. In my career, I’s love to win a few Stanley Cups and hopefully be an Olympian and win an Olympic gold medal, to represent your country on that stage would be a huge honor.
Q. Philadelphia fans are seen as some of the wildest in the nation, how have you adapted to the Philly culture?
A. Philly fans are extremely passionate and some of the best in all of sports. They live and die for their teams and it’s very exciting to play in a city where the fans are as passionate as they are in Philly.
