Adin Hill Summer Q+A
Among the players at Winterhawks Hockey School last week was goaltender Adin Hill. Fresh off being drafted by the Arizona Coyotes, we caught up with him to ask about the Draft, stepping into the #1 role last season and looking ahead to 2015-16.
What was it like to hear your name called at the Draft?
“It was a really cool experience. Sitting in the building in Florida, there’s a little bit of shock when you finally hear your name called but it was exciting. There are no words to describe the feeling.”
What was that day like?
“After I got drafted I went up to the box they had in the arena and met the staff. After that I hung out with my family the rest of the day. I was at the rink for three hours after I got drafted and after that I had the rest of the day to myself.”
What did you and your family do to celebrate?
“We had a nice dinner, some good Mexican food down in Florida. Then we went to the beach and the pool at the hotel, so it was a nice day.”
What was summer development camp like with the Coyotes?
“That was cool, they treat you like gold there, like you’re a superstar. It’s unreal the treatment you get. It’s a great experience, a high pace of play, it was fun for sure.”
What do they want to see from you at main camp?
“They want to see me work my hardest and be in the best shape I can be when I get there. They’re really keen on keeping your body in good shape, so I have to make sure I keep working out this summer and be in top shape when I show up there.”
At this time last year, could you have envisioned how the season would go where you’d become the number one goalie in January, lead the league in save percentage and then get drafted?
“You have those goals set in your mind. It’s one thing to think of them, but to actually do them feels a lot different. It’s a cool experience for sure, and I’m hoping I can set some other high goals this year and achieve those too.”
What are those goals?
“I want us to get to the Memorial Cup. It’ll be a tough journey but playing in that tournament would be an honor, and hopefully winning the championship.”
Does going into this season as the #1 goalie change your mindset?
“Not at all. You just have to work hard on and off the ice and make sure you’re getting better every day. You have to keep improving because your team needs you out there and hopefully it’ll be an exciting year this year.”
On another note,what’s it like getting on the ice and working with the kids at Hockey School?
“It’s a cool experience. You remember when you’re a little kid looking up to other older players, so it’s cool to be on the reverse side of that. Working with the kids and seeing their improvement through the week is really cool.”
Did you go to camps with notable players when you were a kid?
“I went to one camp that was Jarome Iginla’s Hockey School. I got to meet him there and that was just after he won the gold medal for Team Canada. I got a picture with his gold medal and so I can kind of relate to what these kids feel like, except I’m obviously not on the same level as Iginla. It was a cool experience for sure.”
Going into your 19-year-old year, do you feel like you can take a leadership role this season?
“Definitely. I’ll have to be more of a leader this season. Last year was my rookie season so I wasn’t in as big of a leadership role but this year I’ll have to do that a little more.”
