Blackhawks Prospects Jack Pridham has Immense Potential

I want this to be more of like a conversation just to get to know you a little bit more. But the first one would be um what’s one thing your teammates know about you that fans probably don’t? Team uh say I love to play baseball. Baseball. Okay. Yeah. I think uh baseball’s, you know, was my kind of one a one B sport growing up with hockey. Um so I just love, you know, love playing catch, love just still still just playing baseball and stuff. though. Who’s your favorite team and what’s your position position for for baseball? Yeah. My favorite team would say the Blue Jays just because it’s closest to home. You know, it’s nice going down with uh with some buddies or or my dad to the Jays games and stuff. And I’d say my my favorite position would be shortstop or pitcher. Those are kind of the two positions that I was when I uh played. The Blue Jays were uh close to getting Otani there. I don’t want to bring that up, but uh they were he was they said he was on the plane ride there. Yeah. Yeah, I saw that. Um I I also one thing was Jos Batista when he did his bat flip, they put in NHL, so that was like my go-to celebration for that season. Yeah. Kind of kind of a little uh tidbit there. Do you remember the first time you signed an autograph? I don’t know. Okay. Okay. Um, okay. So, how would you describe your biggest strength, do you think, on ice? Yeah, I’d say my biggest strength is my skating. Um, using my skating ability to, you know, jump on loose pucks or take pucks to the net, just using my speed. And your jump from the BCHL to the OHL was huge. Um, and you did it in flying colors. What was the biggest thing that you learned during that transition? And how do you think your play excelled so much be is was it something you did in practice or some drills or you were just ready? Yeah, I think that you know I was excited for the opportunity. I think just obviously playing with with a great team in Kitchener. We had a great great coaching staff, you know, very detailed coaching and I think also reflects back on our team teammates as well too. We had a great group of guys and you know from the moment I got there everyone was very welcoming and you know it was a very exciting experience and I think just you know obviously playing with those guys helped helped a lot for sure. And you played with the guys like Cameron Reed and Luca Romanov. Can you tell me a little bit about their game and I know they’re top draft picks so can you tell me a little bit about their game? Yeah for sure. Um you know both are very exciting exciting young prospects and great players as well as uh great great people as well too. um you know, Reer, he can fly uh when he has the puck. And um you know, he’s very exciting to to watch and and to play with as well, too. And same with um Romes. He’s a great player as well. Um you know, a great skater, has a great shot, too. So, they’re both uh very exciting to watch in the draft. And Okay, so what was your favorite moment with Kitchener or so far last season? Or what was your favorite moment ever on ice, you think? Yeah, I think probably uh this past season would be I think our second round series against Windsor. Um you know was was pretty exciting just being down 3 0 and um you know we had the mindset as a group just one game at a time and um you know it was great obviously to come all the way back and and win in game seven. So, I think that was that was a great moment for us as well, too. As well as, you know, there’s a few individual awards kind of as our team. Um, you know, our goalender winning overage and goalie of the year was great, as well as our head coach Jussi winning coach of the year. So, um, yeah, some great accomplishments as well. Yeah, that was a fun series to watch. I was, uh, on the edge of my seat. Yeah, it was really fun. Um, can you describe who your NHL comparison is? Yeah. Um, you know, obviously I like to watch I wouldn’t say um these players, but I like to watch Eel and um Adrien Kempe. Just the way they skate um you know, the the way they use their shot um you know make make their teammates around them better and um have great great hockey sense and um passing as well too. So I like to watch those guys. Yeah, both playoff players. I mean was killing it yesterday. So um yeah. So, have you been keeping up with the Blackhawks prospect pool and some of their exciting talent over there? I have. Yes. Yeah. It’s It was cool this year, too, when I came and made the transition to OHL just being able to, you know, play play against Lardis and Van Aer, Spely, Missak, Henry, um, you know, all all the players that I saw at development camp last season. So, that was that was cool. So, speaking of Lardis, can you tell me a little bit about his game? I mean, he had an incredible I mean, he led the OHL in scoring. So, so yeah. Yeah, he’s a great player. Um, you know, I I met him for the first time last summer at the development camp and he’s a great great guy as well, too. Um, but yeah, obviously, you know, his skating and shot and playmaking ability and hockey sense is is very strong. So, he was definitely a you know, a fun player to play against. And like development camp, do you guys are you guys in like a group chat with all the Blackbox prospects or do you guys talk during the season or anything like that? Yeah, we talk during the season. We do um we do sometimes some like prospect uh Zoom calls and stuff just with their staff and just kind of reflecting on on our year um and stuff. So, it’s it’s been great. So, some of the fun ones are do you have like a fun karaoke song that you might have to sing for your rookie year or anything like that? Is is there one you jam out to? Uh like not not really. No. Don’t have don’t have one off the top of my head. I hear I hear a lot of Rihanna. So, uh maybe put that in your arsenal. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe. Can you say the best chirp you’ve ever heard or is that something for off the camera? Uh probably something for off the camera. Okay. Yeah. Um, so looking five years down the road, what is your ideal five-year plan? Yeah, to be honest, I haven’t even really looked that far. No, I totally get that. Yeah, I’m kind of just, you know, in the moment, just kind of taking it, you know, one day at a time. I like to go one day at a time, obviously. I think I think that’s something kind of my dad’s advice he’s given to me as well, too. Just he’s in the hockey business as well. just kind of, you know, it’s a one day at a time kind of business and everything can, you know, you got to take it one day at a time and just be in the moment. So, it’s kind of what what I’m doing, just, you know, focusing on having a great summer of training. What does your offseason training look like? Do you train with specific players or Yeah. So, I’ve actually been been fortunate to uh work out with um at the Toronto Maple Leaf facility for the past two summers and just being able to, you know, skate with with their players and um their strength coaches and skating coaches and skills coaches. So, I’m very fortunate for for that opportunity. That is pretty awesome. Have you got to meet Matthews or any of those Billy’s players? I have. Yes. Yeah. That’s uh you know it’s it’s really fun when be able to skate with them and kind of see what they do and how they carry themselves on a day-to-day basis just being around them and stuff. It’s it’s helped a lot. Yeah, it’s really cool. Who’s the most famous contact in your phone? Probably Daryl Siller. That’s a good one. Yeah. Um how would you describe or what is something you’re currently working on to take your game to the next level? Yeah, I think the biggest thing uh for me right now is just continue to get stronger. I think that um you know, as I continue to do that, I feel like that will kind of help in all aspects of my game. Um but I think kind of just you know, growing into my frame and stuff and just adding continue to add um you know, weight and muscle I think is what I’m looking forward to. So when you’re do you cross trainin or um any sports other than baseball that you play? basketball, soccer, football, or anything like that? Uh, no. Growing up it was always always uh baseball and hockey. Okay. Um, so who was your favorite hockey team growing up? Favorite team was the Washington Capitals. Okay, cool. Yeah, I um always loved Ovashkin growing up and I was number eight number eight basically my whole minor hockey career until I got to St. Andrews when eight was taken. So, I had to go with number nine. So, closest closest to eight. Um, so yeah, Washington was my favorite team. What would your preferred number be in the NHL? Honest. Uh, I mean, number I feel like I kind of like 24 right now, what I wear. Um, but honestly, it’s that’s kind of something to worry about later down the road. Just, you know, just working to get there. So, whatever number it’s Kobe’s number, so I have to ask, do you hate losing more than you love winning? Yeah. Yeah, I hate losing. Um, losing pisses me off. Um, so yeah, definitely don’t like to lose. Is there something you’re ultra competitive about other than hockey and baseball? Like board games, uh, video games like Fortnite or anything like that? I I’d say just kind of any competition or like board game. Um not really a big video game guy, but I say board games get pretty competitive and kind of just just any any uh kind of anything that results in winning is is competitive. So what um what’s the one thing that you’ve experienced the most as a Blackhawk for dev I mean dev camp or anything like that? Have you gotten to explore the city or eat some deep dish pizza or anything like that? Um, yeah. I think just kind of being around all their staff last summer was great. Um, you know, meeting all them and just kind of experience being at their facility um, you know, was it was off the charts and it was, uh, really special place. Just, you know, walking around too and just seeing all the history and stuff was was great. And um I did go to uh In-N-Out or not. Oh, sorry, not In-N-Out, Shake Shack. Shake Shack. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, it was it was pretty good. So, have you been to Portillos’s? I haven’t. No. Portillos is a staple. But, um when you said In-N-Out, I was I was like, “Yeah, yeah. Shake Shack.” I was like, “Weren’t they open that location?” No. Um Yeah. Shake Shakes Shack is good for sure. So, after a long successful career, do you see yourself becoming a GM or a coach? Yeah, I think kind of I’d like to I think that’s something that interests me for sure. Um, you know, that’s my dad. He’s the assistant general manager with the Toronto Maple Leafs. So, I think just kind of being around him growing up as a kid and stuff and, you know, like seeing um, you know, the business side of it, it definitely interests me. So, for sure. Yeah, that is really cool. I asked an NHL prospect if they would be a GM and they actually said yeah and they would be the GM of the Leafs and they they said they what they would do and their plan to trade one of the core four and do all this stuff and it was actually pretty cool. But um yeah, I think just staying in hockey would be pretty cool. But that’s very cool. I can’t imagine what is like the coolest thing you’ve experienced with your dad being the assistant GM and being in hockey for that long. What like what is the coolest thing that you remember? Yeah, I think uh the 2015 NHL draft when it was in Florida, I was actually the the runner for the leaf, the little kid with the jersey and hat for Marner. Um so that’s uh definitely a very cool experience I’ll never forget. Yeah, that is awesome. I actually I wouldn’t have any idea of that, but we got to get Martner to the Blackhawks. So hopefully uh hopefully. No, but that’s that’s really cool. Can you tell me your sports goat? Sports like greatest of all time. Okay, so hockey uh Gretzky, you know, obviously um basketball, Jordan. Jordan, baseball. Like I didn’t I don’t know. I feel like just hockey and basketball are kind of the two I know off the top of my head. Yeah, totally get that. Um, so can you build your perfect forward? Like who has past or present? Uh, hockey IQ, skating, shot, physicality. Yeah. Um, I do shot ovetchkin. Um, you know, obviously lethal shot most goals. Um, IQ. I would do Marner skating McDavid. Yeah. Um, stick handling. I’d do McKinnon. Physicality, I’d do just thinking present right now. I would probably do Wilson. Wilson. Okay, that’s a good one. That’s a good one. I’ve I’ve heard that a couple times. So, um, yeah, McDavid skating is just absolutely incane, too. Yeah. Can you talk me through your pregame rituals and is there something that um you do? I know the or the weirdest pregame ritual you’ve actually ever heard as well. Yeah. So, I’ll just walk through mine. Um, so I always have a nap at 2. Nice. Okay. Uh, wake up at 3:18. Nice. I don’t know. I don’t know why it’s 3:18, but um, it’s always 3:18 and before my nap, I always lay out my suit on the other side of my bed. Okay. So, if I’m laying on the say left side, the suit’s just on the right side laying there. I don’t know why, but just off the bed or just position just kind of like hanging over the end. Gotcha. Okay. Just laying there. Uh once I get up, I um you know, have a quick shower and put the suit on. Um, and then I’d go upstairs in in my suit and eat my pregame meal, which is uh kind of kind of weird to think that I’m eating in the soup, but um I’d eat uh chicken chicken and pasta. Nice. And I would um head over to the rink. I’d either depending I’d either go to Starbucks or Tim Hortons to get iced coffee and then just just basically just get ready for the game. So, it’s kind of a I wouldn’t say it’s like a necessarily like weird ritual, but there’s definitely some weird components for sure or different components. I’m Italian, so I love the pasta. Um, your everyday meal for me. The suit was awesome. Um, eating in the suit. I mean, you got to dress for success while you’re eating. That’s great. The weirdest one I’ve ever heard was Moonwater. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of that one. Um, on the Oh, yeah. I think I have. like on the on the nightstand table or or Yeah, I’ve heard of that. He scored a goal. I’ve got that like four or five times. So, I always like to bring it up. But, uh I like yours, too. Why 318? Is do you set an alarm or do you just wake up at that time? I set an alarm. I don’t know. I actually don’t know why 318 just it’s just kind of I just kind of, you know, did it one game. I guess we won and stuff and played well, so just kind of stuck with it. Well, keep doing it. I mean, that’s awesome. Um, how do you want to be remembered in hockey or as a person? Yeah, I think I just want to be known as a I think great teammate. Um, you know, a great teammate, a great person obviously first. I think, you know, once you’re a great person, everything else will kind of take care of itself. Um, so I think just, you know, being that great person and great teammate where guys can come and come and talk to and, you know, um, so I think that’s obviously very important to me. And then I think just, you know, I want to obviously play in the NHL. Um, you know, I want to make a career out of out of playing in the NHL. Who in your eyes is the best player under 23 in the NHL? It’s a tough one. There’s a lot of lot of great young great young players. Uh, might have to come back back to you on that one. Totally get that. Um, what’s the most underrated skill a forward needs in the in today’s NHL? under most underrated skill on uh I think just I wouldn’t say it’s underrated but just you know making sure you hit the net I think it’s huge you know I think especially on you know twoon- ones or oddman uh threeon twos like just I think hitting the net is just obviously you got to hit the net score but just so important for for many reasons just either you’re going to score rebound just set up plays you know going off the fire pad but I think kind You know, just hitting the net is is really important. Would you rather dangle through two defenders or score a Michigan? Probably probably two defenders. Mhm. Have you ever scored a Michigan? I did. Yes. This year um against G. I scored one. I’m making a highlight video uh of some of your answers and stuff and then flipping them. So, I’ll definitely add the Michigan there. I didn’t know. I should have done more research, but I didn’t know you you had a Michigan, so that’s sick. Um, so what is one aspect of your game that you think goes overlooked that you believe shouldn’t be overlooked? I don’t really know to be honest. I think that, you know, I think I just love to use my speed. You I think that especially on the penalty kill too. just love to using my speed for like down ice pressure and just getting right on them and just pressing. I think it’s it’s so fun. Just chasing just chasing them around. Yeah, I love doing that. What’s the best game that you’ve ever played where you felt like you were on fire? Um like your speed, you you just like felt different that game. Uh yeah, I got to think honestly like I don’t think I have played best game yet. Okay. I think there’s always kind of ways to improve and stuff throughout the game, but I think kind of just, you know, any game where we won and, you know, maybe a big game, maybe that game, game six against Windsor when we won in Kitchener, I think was was a good game. I played well. So, obviously getting the win is most important thing, but um just helping helping my team win. Anytime we can do that, it’s it’s a great game. So, let’s zoom out and you win the Stanley Cup. What does your day with the cup look like? Oo. Uh, probably honestly, I don’t even I haven’t really thought about that to be honest. Um, maybe bring it up to our family cottage on uh Balsam Lake. um just you know take it around around where I grew up, Stoville maybe into you know the places I grew up like elementary school and um just a lot of day a lot of just time with friends and and family. Is there something you would uh drink or eat out of it? I know you probably haven’t thought of Yeah. Uh your Starbucks or Tim Hortons order. Maybe maybe just pass it straight out of it in the suit in the pregame meal. Yeah, the Stanley Cup laying on the other side of the pillow and you’re sleeping. Yeah. Yeah, maybe that. So, you’ve made so many jumps in your career. What do you think was the thing that was the hardest or what was the thing that was the hardest to learn for those jumps? Like, was there a transition that was harder than the other and what did you have to do to overcome that? Yeah, I wouldn’t say there was necessarily a transition that was harder. I think just, you know, anytime you’re moving leagues, it’s going to be harder. That’s just the human nature of it. And I think just believing in yourself and, you know, I think going anytime you go to a new spot, it’s just earning the trust of uh your coaches and and teammates. So, just wanted to do that wherever I uh played. And can you tell me like the difference between the OHL and the BCHL and the O and what do you think the difference will be in other levels of hockey like uh AHL, NHL? Like how has the OHL prepared you for those levels? Yeah, I think um you know obviously BCHL is a great league. I think you know I played moved to OHL the first game. I think just, you know, everyone’s stronger. You know, there’s obviously the caliber of players for, you know, necessarily like NHL talent. Like there’s a lot of, you know, first round picks and and stuff in the league. So, I think just playing against them and even playing with them, like we had some great we our team was great. Everyone was a great player. Um, so the practices and stuff were were really good. just being able to, you know, see what other guys do and work with other guys and stuff and having great coaches too was was awesome. So, I think on any level you go up the, you know, it’s it’s more physical and um you know, guys are obviously stronger. They’re turning to men. So, yeah, for sure those things. Well, the reason I wanted this interview is because Blackhawks fans and I are very excited for your play with your speed, your skill. I mean, you just fit the player profile of the players that have been drafted here recently. So, um, my question is like, is there somebody in the prospect pool that you’re very excited to play with or a player in the NHL that, um, like Bernard or someone like that? But is is there someone on the Blackhawks that you’re very excited to, you know, finally meet and play with and, uh, you know, do that? Yeah, I think just uh you know it’d be nice to play with you know the players I played against in junior. Um so Lardis, Van Aer, Spely U Missak like I think just you know being able to play with those guys and um you know the forward the forward group would would be awesome. And have you thought about your first NHL game like uh helmet on or off the lap? I haven’t. No, I mean obviously it’s anytime you see it on on TV, someone making their debut, it’s it’s uh very special, but just kind of just staying in the moment and just um you know, working to get there. Is there a stadium that you would want to play in? I think Toronto would be really cool just because um you know, kind of grew up around there and and in the rink and stuff. Is there something on your bucket list that you haven’t done that you would want to do? Honestly, yeah, like going to a concert. I’ve never been to a concert. That’s awesome. So, uh, you know, looking forward to do that this summer hopefully. Who you going to see? I’m not sure yet. Um, just I love country music, so definitely. And then the last one is just um is there one thing that you would want to be or Okay, so sorry. In your career, is there something on your bucket list in your career that you would want to accomplish? Yeah, I think obviously it’s everyone wants to win. I think kind of winning is obviously the ultimate goal. All right, so thank you so much for joining me, Jack. No worries. Yeah, thank you. Have a good one. All right, you too. Okay, bye.

Chapters

00:00 Getting to Know the Player
02:20 Transitioning to Higher Levels of Hockey
05:15 Training and Offseason Preparation
07:49 Personal Insights and Competitive Spirit
10:12 Career Aspirations and Family Influence
12:42 Game Day Rituals and Superstitions
15:31 Reflections on Skills and Game Performance
17:33 Future Goals and Bucket List
19:46 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Summary

Jack Pridham shares insights about his journey in hockey, from his love for baseball to his experiences transitioning from the BCHL to the OHL. He discusses his training regimen, personal goals, and the importance of being a great teammate. The conversation also touches on pregame rituals, skills that are crucial in today’s NHL, and aspirations for the future, including the ultimate goal of winning in the NHL.

#NHL #ohl

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