Marc-André Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins

An Interview with a Hockey Goalie in the NHL’s Eastern Conference

Mar 3, 2009 Lori Henry

Marc- André Fleury, star goalie for the Pittsburgh Penguins, talks about the Stanley Cup Finals, Team Canada, his Jersey Retirement and growing up in Sorel, Quebec.

Number one goalie of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Marc-André Fleury takes his NHL career in the eastern conference in stride. Learn more about this young French Canadian goalie in the below interview that covers his run to the Stanley Cup Finals and and playing for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins

Q: How did it feel to be drafted as the first round choice and first overall pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003?

A: “It was pretty shocking. As a young kid, I was always thinking about the NHL, but I never thought I would be able to play, you know? I knew there wasn’t many guys that would make it, so being drafted first was very special.”

Playing Hockey in the Stanley Cup Finals

Q: What was it like to play in the Stanley Cup Finals after only three seasons?

A: “It was a great accomplishment for our team to make it to the finals and those are the best times of my life playing hockey. But at the same time, we have to start all over again. We can’t just think about [losing] that last game.”

Marc-André Fleury: Youngest Goalie in the NHL

Q: Being the youngest goalie in the league in 2003 (then 18 years old), how does it feel now?

A: “It just feels like time goes by so fast. I feel like I’ve been in the league for a long time. Now I start to see younger guys coming up and I just feel like I’m an ‘older guy.’ It’s kind of weird, but if I can help some younger guys with stuff I’ve been through and experience, then that’d be good.”

Playing Hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Q: What was the experience like to play in the QMJHL League?

A: “I left when I was 15 to play [for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles] and it was the first time away from my family. It was all English, too, so it was hard at the beginning. I missed home and my friends, but it was a good step to play lots of games. I had a good coach and good billets.”

Marc-André Fleury on Team Canada

Q: What did it mean to play twice for Team Canada in the World Junior Hockey Championship?

A: “It was great; I had a great time. Canada is so known for their hockey team, you know, so to be able to represent the country around the world was pretty amazing.”

Jersey Retirement by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

Q: What was the ceremony like when the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles retired number 29?

A: “It was emotional. I played there for four years and just to go back to the place where… it was because of there that I got drafted and now play in the NHL. To be back there to see my family, the organization, the people that helped me make it, and the fans, was really fun and honouring.”

Growing up in Sorel, Quebec

Q: How did playing hockey start?

A: “My dad was a hockey player when he was younger. I started skating and I was a goalie by six, which is pretty young. I got the gear and just started diving around. I wasn’t good at scoring goals, so I just had fun in the net. And I didn’t have to change, I could just stay on and play the whole game.”

Marc-André Fleury: NHL Hockey Career

Q: How does a young, multi-million dollar player stay focused in this elite league?

A: “That’s the bottom line, I’m just playing hockey. No matter how much money I make, I have to come to the rink, I have to practice with the guys, I have to play games. That’s all that I worry about.”

The story of Marc-André Fleury began in Sorel, Quebec, where he strapped on his goalie pads at the age of five. Growing up to play for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and then being drafted to the Pittsburgh Penguins when he was only 18 years old, sums up the success of his hockey career so far.

After taking his team to the Stanley Cup Finals, he now holds down the number one goalie spot for the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he signed a seven-year, $35 million contract last summer. Barring injuries, it’s most likely that Marc-André Fleury will have a long career ahead of him in the NHL.

The copyright of the article Marc-André Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins in Ice Hockey is owned by Lori Henry. Permission to republish Marc-André Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Marc-André Fleury, goalie of Pittsburgh Penguins	Marc-André Fleury, goalie of Pittsburgh Penguins	Marc-André Fleury, goalie of Pittsburgh Penguins
Marc-André Fleury, goalie of Pittsburgh Penguins	Marc-André Fleury, goalie of Pittsburgh Penguins