“It’s kind of ironic when I broke in at 17, I was told I was too small, too slow and I wouldn’t make the NHL.”

I think that from the time you start playing sports as a child you see that your responsibility to your team is to play the best that you can play as an individual. And yet, not take anything away from being part of a team.

The game is played out of instinct, but everyone on the ice has habits – good and bad. So the key to the game is to exploit the bad habits of your opponent.

I heard people say, ‘Why would he want to do this?’ My answer is ‘Why not?’ It is what I love. It’s what I know.

In one sense we are a favorite because we won a gold medal in 2002.

I grew up such a fan. It was my life. Everything I did was hockey related and everything I have is because of hockey and the NHL.

I wasn’t naturally gifted in terms of size and speed; everything I did in hockey I worked for, and that’s the way I’ll be as a coach.

By no means could I play at the level of these kids who play in the NHL now but as 50-year-olds go, I feel really good and I feel blessed that I’m still healthy.

We played in an era where you were taught to hate your opponent. But life changes. I raise my kids differently than my mom and dad raised their kids.

And people who know me would tell you that away from hockey I’m really not that competitive.

I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.

Eight days ago, we were the toast of the town. Eight days later we’re Thanksgiving turkeys.

When you’re playing an exhibition, you’re kind of letting everyone get an opportunity.

No matter who you are, we’re creatures of habit. The better your habits are, the better they will be in pressure situations.

There’s no perfect coach in the world. Coaches are human, too. Mistakes are made. But, fundamentally, if you’re sound, you eliminate as many mistakes as possible.

Hockey is my life. I love every minute of it.

Growing up, I was always the small guy.