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 Minor league update: Matt Climie interview

Monday, May 05, 2008

By Kevin Wey

The Dallas Stars started with only three goaltenders under NHL contract to begin the 2007-08 season and it was looking like the organization was going to finish with that same low number to end the season, but that all changed March 20 when the Stars announced that Bemidji State netminder Matt Climie had been signed to a one-year two-way contract. The 25-year-old Alberta native concurrently signed an amateur tryout with the Iowa Stars to finish the season in the AHL, adjusting to the pro game after a standout career in the College Hockey America conference with the BSU Beavers. Andrew’s Stars Page was able to talk with the tall, 6-foot-3 Climie prior to the end of the I-Stars’ season and discussed his signing with Dallas, his time at Bemidji, playing in the Maritime Junior Hockey League, and the development of his game.

Andrew’s Stars Page: You signed with Dallas for a one-year contract on March 20, at least that’s when it was announced. What was it like to sign that first NHL contract?

Matt Climie: It’s obviously exciting. It’s always exciting. I mean, everybody growing up playing hockey, especially in Canada, you always dream about signing an NHL contract and maybe one day playing in the NHL. So, obviously, I was a little overwhelmed at first, but when it really set in, it was just really exciting.

ASP: When was it that you became aware that Dallas was interested in you?

MC: I know being a senior goaltender, playing college, I knew there were scouts watching me for most of the year and stuff. It really came down to the last tournament of the year, and Andy Moog was at the game, and there were a bunch of other scouts. I just knew it was a possibility, I guess.

ASP: What was it that made you decide to sign with Dallas?

MC: Just a great opportunity. I know they’re not really too deep in the goaltender position in their system. I mean, really, that’s all you can really ask for as a goaltender, is just that opportunity.

ASP: If I may ask, what other NHL clubs showed interest in you?

MC: There were a few other ones, and Providence I guess, with Boston, and a couple other ones, but Dallas definitely showed the most interest and, really, the opportunity was there and it was too good to pass up.

ASP: It kind of works its way out when Dallas only has three goalies under NHL contract. Now, they have four, obviously. What are your initial impressions of the American Hockey League?

MC: It’s definitely a good, good league. I mean, it’s fast. Guys have a lot more skill than, obviously, college. Guys are smart with the puck and when they get a scoring chance, a lot of times they’re going to bury it.

ASP: You’re coming off four years with Bemidji State. What were the areas of your game that improved the most while you were there?

MC: Probably playing the puck. I played the puck a lot in college, and just being more patient, being aggressive, and really every year becoming more and more confident.

ASP: What are the areas of your game that you’re still working on improving to continue to make those jumps upward?

MC: Just, really, adapting to the speed of the game and becoming more patient and not really biting when a forward makes a move.

ASP: How would you describe your style in net and some of your strengths?

MC: I think I’m definitely an assertive, aggressive goaltender. I like to challenge, and I compete, I really don’t give up on too many pucks. I’m a big, big kid, too, so I think that definitely helps.

ASP: Dallas does keep ending up with those (big goalies). What were some of the highlights of your collegiate career and some of your favorite memories?

MC: We went to the NCAA tournament twice, which is, obviously, just a great experience. Really, all four years, we had a lot of success, and all four years I started and played a lot of games. That’s also very important.

ASP: On a semi-related question, where do you foresee the future for Bemidji State, because things are kind of…?

MC: It’s still in the air. I’m definitely, definitely hoping for the best for Bemidji, obviously, going to school there and just having four great years. It’s just really up in the air right now. I’m calling and talking to some guys on the team. They’re a little bit worried, but I think they just have such a strong tradition there. It’d just be a shame if they lost college hockey.

ASP: Definitely. In regards to the College Hockey America conference, not a lot of players sign NHL contracts out of the CHA. What do you feel it means for you that you did?

MC: You know, obviously, it feels good. It feels really good to sign an NHL contract. There’s definitely some good hockey players in that conference. Maybe they don’t get that break or they don’t get seen as much as the other conferences.

ASP: Good point. I saw that you’re from Alberta and ended up playing in the Maritime Junior Hockey League with Truro. How did that end up coming about?

MC: I was playing junior A in Bonnyville, Alberta, and I kind of got a call during the summer, in the off-season, and it just was too good of an opportunity, too good of a chance to pass up. I mean, a free trip out East. I’d never really been out to Eastern Canada and never really knew a lot about the league, but I just thought it was a good opportunity.

ASP: In that regard, since you did play in the AJHL, how did the Maritime League compare to the AJHL?

MC: I don’t think the Maritime is as skilled, but I think there’s some better players in that league, just because there’s a lot of 20-year-old major junior players from the Q and the OHL that they come out and they kind of finish their junior career on the East Coast.

ASP: Sure, since there’s a limit to the number of overagers in the Canadian Hockey League. On the flip side, how is it that someone who was playing juniors out in the Maritime League ends up at Bemidji State?

MC: You know, it’s funny. Really, the hockey world, it’s small. If you play good, I think teams are going to find you, you’re going to get recruited, and it’s just really based on your performance and bringing it every game.

ASP: At what point did you learn that Bemidji was interested in you?

MC: Toward the end of the season. They flew out and watched me a couple games, and just a few other universities and stuff, and they really just kind of stuck with me and really pursued me.

ASP: And that was the end of your second season with Truro?

MC: Yep.

ASP: Back to the present in Iowa, what are your living arrangement here with the Iowa Stars?

MC: I was in a hotel room for the first couple nights and then I moved over to the Polo Club Apartments. Just moved in with Brett Westgarth, the tough guy on the team, so it’s pretty cool. He’s just a great guy.

ASP: What happens with you in regards to finishing school?

MC: You know, I graduated last semester, so I’m all done with it, with the teaching education, I was just taking some grad classes online. So, I’ll probably withdraw from those, just because it’s pretty tough to pursue pro hockey and continue with grad classes.

ASP: Did you take any classes while you were juniors at all, too?

MC: I just took a couple, and then transferred them, and that obviously helped out a lot.

ASP: That’s impressive to do it in three-and-a-half years while playing hockey. Lastly, what are your goals for the remainder of this season and then also for the summer heading into next?

MC: To really just improve every day, just get better and get my feet wet and adapt to the speed and the skill of the players in the American Hockey League.

Kevin Wey is a correspondent with McKeen’s Hockey that scouts/covers that American Hockey League and the United States Hockey League.