Offseason Check-in: Kohl Bauml
EVERETT – It’s the time of year when Everett Silvertips players go back home and resume the lives of regular teenagers. They are back at home with their parents, finishing school, holding down summer jobs, and catching up with friends. Silvertips broadcaster Travis Huntington will be touching base with some of the players during the offseason to find out what they’re up to when they’re not spending every day on the Comcast Arena ice.
For our first summer check-in, Travis catches up with 18-year-old forward Kohl Bauml, who is spending his summer at home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Bauml, who is preparing for his third year in Everett, has scored 35 goals and 75 points over the past two seasons and was the Silvertips’ Rookie of the Year in 2011-12.
Travis Huntington: It’s been a couple of months now since the season ended. What have you been doing?
Kohl Bauml: Just kind of laying low, hanging out with friends and trying to take it easy. I’m almost done with school and getting ready for graduation. I just had my tonsils out last week too, so I’ve been in a little bit of pain since then. Other than that I’m just getting back into the gym and having fun with summer right now.
TH: Having your tonsils out doesn’t sound like having fun with summer. What led up to that?
KB: Just the fact that I was sick all year and I think I had strep throat about eight times while I was down in the States last season. My mom and dad said that’s enough and they’re sick of me being sick, so it was time to get that handled.
TH: I guess that means you can’t blame your teammates, (Athletic Trainer) Marc Paquet or any of us down here for you being sick all the time?
KB: I would like to blame Marc Paquet, but I guess I can’t (laughs). No, Marc did a good job with it all year. We got pretty used to each other when I was in his office every day, checking in with him. We had a lot of fun, but unfortunately it came at the expense of me being sick all year.
TH: I know you don’t want to spend too much time in the training room though – those guys can get a reputation, right?
KB: Yeah, you don’t want to be the “band-aid”. Me and Winny (Josh Winquist) were the two “band-aids” at times last year. We always seemed to be in there. Whether it was a shoulder or a wrist or we were sick, something was always wrong with us. We got pretty accustomed to laying on Marc’s training table trying to get healthy.
TH: But at least you were well enough to play in 66 games last year. So you just had your tonsils out; how does that feel right now?
KB: Terrible. It’s hard to talk right now. I’m surprised you haven’t said anything about my voice sounding weird. The last two days are the first days I’ve been able to talk or eat anything for about a week. It kind of sucks having to wake up every hour when I’m sleeping to take a drink of water so it doesn’t get too painful.
TH: Bummer.
KB: I found my own kind of cure though. It’s funny because all the guys bug me about drinking pop too much, but Pepsi seems to be my magic little drink that helps me a lot right now. Maybe that’s just mental and I just want to drink Pepsi, but it seems to be working so I’m going to stick with it.
TH: I’m guessing your family is a little bit thankful you haven’t been able to talk lately? It’s a little bit of a rest for them.
KB: Yeah, Bradley and Jackie (Kohl’s parents) have been telling people it’s a blessing that I had my tonsils out because it’s a little quieter around the house. I think they missed me teasing them and having someone give it back to them a little bit. But I think they liked telling me what to do and me not having any say in what’s going on.
TH: So you also mentioned that you’re getting done with school soon. What’s going on with that?
KB: Yeah I’ve just got two classes: calculus and a food/cooking class. Stads (Carson Stadnyk) is in that class with me, so we have a lot of fun in that one. The teacher is not overly impressed with us on some days, but most days we’re pretty good. Finals are coming up in about two weeks and then graduation is after that, so I’ve got to get all my friends together and get graduation plans figured out.
TH: So how pumped are you for graduation?
KB: I am pretty excited actually. It’s a last “hurrah” with all the guys from high school and getting to do a lot of fun stuff together. We’re all looking forward to it and talking every weekend about what’s going on. We never seem to come up with a plan, but we’ll figure it out eventually.
TH: So after graduation happens, what is the rest of summer going to be like in Saskatoon?
KB: Well, I think I’ve got to get a job to be honest. I’ve got to find some money somewhere. Bradley’s been harping at me, saying “you’re done with school now, time to get a job and start living in the real world”. So I’ve got to find somewhere to work and earn some extra money.
TH: That’s the second time you’ve said “Bradley”. I assume you’re talking about your dad?
KB: Yeah, I am. Sorry.
TH: Do you call your dad Bradley to his face?
KB: Actually yeah I do. It’s kind of weird I guess.
TH: You don’t call him dad?
KB: Very rarely. I’ve called him Bradley for probably two or three years now, I guess. It’s just something that happened. He used to call his dad by his first name, he calls his mum by her first name sometimes. So it’s a little weird in our family how we associate sometimes. Except my mum. She’s almost always “Mum”. So he’s Bradley for me and sometimes she’s Jackie. But that’s not too often. Unless I’m mad at her.
TH: Unless you’re mad at her. That probably doesn’t go over too well.
KB: No, she doesn’t like it when I bring “Jackie” out into the conversation. It’s usually “Mum” or “Mother”.
TH: That’s probably for the best.
KB: Yeah, I’ve got to play my cards right on that one.
TH: So you need a summer job, but you’re not going to have much time to work, so who’s going to hire Kohl Bauml? What kind of job are we talking about?
KB: I actually already had a job for a couple weeks with my buddy’s dad who owns a farming equipment company. They needed some help cleaning up their shop, so I did that. I think I swept the same huge shop floor probably four times a day. Then I would go out and pick up garbage and help out with a bunch of other things. So probably just something like that again.
TH: Well hopefully you feel better soon, and best of luck with graduation and the job search. It’s been good talking to you, Kohl. We’ll see you in a couple months!
KB: Thanks Trav. Looking forward to training camp and getting back to Everett for another year!
The Silvertips are currently preparing for our 11th year in the WHL in 2013-14. Visit our website throughout the offseason for updates on our head coaching search, the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, CHL Import Draft and much more! For more information call 425-252-5100. To keep up with all the latest team news and information, “like” the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club on Facebook or follow @WHLSilvertips on Twitter.
