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A conversation with ... Union's Jeremy Welsh

Published 11:22 pm, Saturday, March 31, 2012
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Q: This is the second time I have sat down with you for a Sunday conversation. I hope you are honored. It doesn't happen very often.

A: I am honored, big time (smiles).

Q: I'll bet you are. Tell me, what went through your mind when the horn went off in Bridgeport and Union was in the Frozen Four?

A: Honestly? I was pretty relaxed and pretty calm about it. Once we got into the (locker) room and knew we were going to Tampa, I was pretty excited about it. We had been thinking about it all summer when we were training, and trying to get there. On the ice, we were pretty calm, not really thinking what was on the line. We were just playing the game. We were still in the midst of a playoff run.

Q: Here you are, two games from a national championship. Is that kind of mind boggling?

A: It is, especially how fast it has gone. I know we have been in elimination games, but I don't think we have hit the point where we felt our season was all on the line, where it could all come to an end. Talking with the other guys, it feels like we are just in the midst of a good thing, and we're just kind of getting our mojo going.

Q: You are in the Frozen Four. The Final Four in basketball is huge. Here you are, one of the final four teams in the country, playing for a championship.

A: It's a big kick. When people are able to watch the games on spring break and talk to you about what happened, that's exciting. You are trying not to think about it too, too much. When the guys start talking about 'What if? We have a chance to win a national championship,' you kind of tell them to stop it. You don't want to get too caught up in it. You want to sort of stay in the moment kind of thing.

Q: Commentators on ESPN last week said you might sign in the NHL within a week.

A: That stuff is flattering, but I don't let it go to my head.

Q: What are you going to be doing next year (Welsh is a junior)?

A: I'm not sure. I've been asked that a lot. Honestly, we are playing such big-time hockey right now that I don't have to think about it. It's easy to stay distracted. The opportunity we have right now doesn't come along all the time, so, I'm just really enjoying being with my teammates.

Q: Have you been sleeping OK?

A: Yes. Earlier in the year, I would lay awake and maybe think about making the Frozen Four and how exciting it would be. You get pretty fired up. It was such a long shot at the time. When I thought about it back then, I knew we had the potential. There were probably 20 other teams in the country that felt that way. You really have to work hard to get there. No matter how good you are, if you have an off night, you're done. I knew we had the team to do it.

Q: Have you ever been to Florida?

A: I went once when I was about seven. We went to Disney World. All I remember is the Ninja Turtle show, and the Indiana Jones show. Other than that, I don't remember Florida.

Q: I'm assuming you won't see much of the beach this week.

A: No, nothing like that. I guess coming and going from the rink we'll soak up some sun.

Q: Will you have family going down to the Frozen Four?

A: My parents (from Bayfield, Ontario) were down at Atlantic City (for the ECAC Tournament) and they were in Bridgeport (for the NCAA Regional). They drove 12 hours each way to those places. They are driving down to Florida — 21 hours — and leaving Tuesday. My aunt and uncle are going with them. They'll drive for two days and then go home Sunday. They aren't really frequent flyers.

Q: The stakes are at the highest now, but it's almost like you guys are treating the Frozen Four like it's a weekend in January.

A: It really is. I know that's what I am supposed to say, that we are staying in the moment. It's just exciting. I just want to get into the game and feel the excitement and the emotion and the intensity. I don't worry about the outcome or the good or the bad that can come from it.

Q: What's it been like on campus?

A: It's been pretty exciting. We got back (from Bridgeport) and students were coming back from spring break. We've gotten a lot of emails from former students and teammates. People are telling us we did a good job and we're putting Union on the map. That makes it pretty special when you know you are doing something that is making a lot of other people proud.

Q: Is it different this year, the second time around for this team in the NCAA Tournament?

A: It's a whole different mind-set going in. Last year we did a selection show on campus and everyone on campus was already slapping us on the back and congratulating us just for getting there. This year, it was just business. We went (to the regional) expecting to win two games, and anything less than that would have been a big disappointment. We expected to win. We have progressed so much every year since I have been here. We just don't have too much panic. We are calm, cool and collected the whole time.

Q: How physical of a player are you?

A: I guess it varies game by game. I try to mix it up. Freshman year, that was my main thing: forecheck, take the body. Sometimes it gets me going during a game. Sometimes, I feel like I try to take the body too much and I get out of position. As a bigger guy (6-foot-3, 210 pounds), it's something I have to do.

Q: Do you like it?

A: When you are knocking guys over and feeling strong, it's good. You try to finish hits and you chase a little further out of the play and you might miss a few hits. That gets a little frustrating.

Q: You had one hit against UMass Lowell and you got a penalty. Was it deserved?

A: Yeah, it was a deserved penalty. We were both coming up the ice, side-by-side, and I leaned into him, I think he kind of felt me coming and sort of lost his edge. He went into the boards funny, but they had to call it. The ref came over to our bench and said it was a clean hit.

Q: When you have a hit like that, everyone sees it. Do you think your opponents might start looking around for you?

A: Yes. I've experienced that before. You hit someone pretty had, they are a little slower next time to go get the puck. Coaches are always preaching that. Everyone in hockey knows that a couple hard hits, you will get guys maybe not wanting to go back the puck as quick.

Q: Do you like that?

A: Yeah. That means I get to take the puck and make a play on the net or make a pass.

Q: Hockey is such a team game, but during this run, they don't mention Union hockey without mentioning your name. A lot of people think you are the engine for this team. Are you comfortable with that role?

A: No, obviously we have a lot of other guys. A lot of casual hockey fans don't understand that our team defense is one of the best in the country, and that is something we have all worked on. We paid the price early in the year doing that. It's the most underrated part of our team. As far as me being the engine, you can't do it without your teammates. I have been fortunate enough to put the puck in the net, but I would not say my shot has gotten tremendously better since I've been here. I went from 10 goals my freshman year to 27 now. ... When you are playing with better guys, you are going to look better, individually.

Q: The Final Four is also this weekend in basketball. Those guys go into games and fans can see what they look like. In hockey, you can't because of the helmets. Is there an identity issue here? You will probably be able to walk down the street in Tampa and people won't know who you are.

A: I know it's something they are working on in the NHL to make the players more visible to the fans. With the cages, it doesn't help.

Q: If you had your druthers, would you be wearing a cage?

A: We would all be wearing visors, like we did in juniors. I think that's the best way to go. As far as identifying players, I don't think it's a big deal. As long as they can identify you on the ice; you have your number and your name on the jersey.

Q: The Union faithful have waited a long time for this.

A: That's just it. When we win, we're really excited that we're moving on, but it makes all the supporters, some of our professors, the people who have followed us for 30 years ... they are so excited for us. Sometimes we come out and they are more excited than we are.

Q: This team is very business-like, right?

A: We really are. There is emotion. Our team is just that way: business as usual. Regular season, you win one, you lose one. What really matters is what happens from March on.

Q: Tell me something that most people don't know about you. Do you play the cello or anything like that?

A: No, nothing like that. I grew up on a farm. It's a four-generation farm.

Q: So, you know how to milk a cow.

A: I was a farm-hand for two years and I milked cows. Made a lot of money doing that.

Q: You like cows.

A: They're all right.

Q: Have any special cow friend?

A: No. No. No.

Q: Ever tip a cow?

A: No. Never. I have more exciting things to do than tip cows. We see cows all the time so it's not something fun, really.

Q: Who is the biggest clown on this team?

A: We don't really have one. Everyone kind of pipes in and everyone is kind of ribbing each other and going right from freshmen to seniors. Most of the guys are pretty funny.

Q: Best dresser on your team.

A: I guess I would have to say Greg Coburn or Kelly Zajac. They have good style. Nice, business, casual, things like that. They look like the guys on Wall Street who go out for a walk with their dog on Saturday.

Q: Where do you put yourself as a dresser?

A: Pretty average. I keep saying I am going to work on it. I would wear just what I am wearing now. Jeans, a T-shirt, maybe a hoodie. No v-necks or fancy button-ups or anything like that.

twilkin@timesunion.com 518-454-5415 @tjwilkin

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