On getting his start in hockey:  I started playing in the backyard rink when I was five or six years-old and from there it just kind of progressed when my parents kind of noticed I had a little bit of skill. 

On what he enjoyed about playing outdoors:  Well, the best part about the backyard rink was the freedom I felt and the ability I had to do whatever I wanted without anyone telling me what I could or couldn't do. 

On watching the Avalanche:  The first time I watched the NHL was the 1996 Final with the Avalanche.  That's why they're my favorite team and Joe Sakic is my favorite player.  If there was a team I was looking up to, it was the Avalanche.

On his grandpa:  My grandpa's a very special person to me and all of my family.  He's been through a lot, and he has a lot of experience in a lot of areas.  He's just a really fun guy to be around, and he's still got a great sense of humor even though he's 80-years-old.  So he's just a neat person.

On his superstitions:  Well, it kind of depends on what is working for me.  But I have a lot and pretty much too many to tell you at one time.  But I usually start with the right leg, the right side of my body first when I'm getting dressed. 

On the biggest influences in his career:  Definitely my mom and my dad -- they were always supportive of me – driving me to the rinks at 6:00 a.m. for practices.  And they knew they had a special boy, so they pushed me.

On his most memorable gift:  My favorite gift was the composite stick I got when I was about eight years-old, it was a really big deal back then. 

On his most embarrassing hockey moment: My most embarrassing hockey moment is in the Vancouver Giants' training camp, I fell on a shootout.