JH: That it’s growing everywhere. Back when I was younger, it seemed like it was Minnesota, Massachusetts and Michigan. Now you have kids from all over the country that are making it to the NHL and growing the sport. That’s what I think is the most exciting part about USA Hockey. It doesn’t matter where you live, you can still make it to the NHL.
USAH: Why did you choose to be a goalie, and what advice would you have for young goaltenders today?
JH: I was a rink rat growing up. My dad was the high school hockey coach in upstate New York for the first five or six years of my life. I used to just always love being around the dressing room. When I was in the dressing room, I was just always drawn to the goalie stuff. It was just so unique, it had the team colors on it, and then painted masks were just starting to come out and were really cool to me. I remember my first year of 10U, I said I wanted to play net. My dad always thought it would be a phase, but he’s thankful now it wasn’t.
As far as advice, I think the biggest thing is you have to be a good skater. The old song and dance of putting a kid in net that can’t skate, once you put the equipment on, it’s even harder to skate. The good goalies out there are good skaters before they put the pads on. If you enjoy being a goalie, just have fun with it. That’s what I always did up until the last day.
USAH: Now that your playing career is done, what are your plans?
JH: I don’t have any aspirations of coaching in the NHL, but right now I really enjoy spending time with my kids at the youth level. My two older boys play hockey here in Detroit for the Oakland Junior Grizzlies. I am the head coach for the 2011 team here and I am the assistant for my other son’s team. I really enjoy coaching my kids. I’m just taking everything in stride now. I’m trying to be a family guy, right now I pretty much just chauffeur the kids around with a driver’s hat. As far as what’s on the horizon for me? I’m not too sure, I’m just enjoying family time here since everything just came to an end.
