Interview with Ontario Reign Goalie Peter Budaj
- Updated: February 9, 2016
With the Ontario Reign competing with the rest of the American Hockey League in defense of the Calder Cup that they had won as the Manchester Monarchs last season, the Reign are off to a great start while on top of the Pacific Division. One of the major reasons for their current success is due to their NHL experienced goaltender Peter Budaj, (pronounced as Boo-die). Known as Budaj “The Jedi” up here in Canada and with 26 wins, 8 shutouts, (including in two games in a row just before the AHL All-Star Classic festivities had started), a goal-against average of 1.58 and a stellar save percentage of .935, Budaj has been lights out for the Reign and just the medicine they needed after the departures of the Calder Cup winning goaltending duo of Jean-Francois Berube and Patrik Bartosak.
Born in 1982 in the former Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia), Budaj was drafted into the NHL by the Colorado Avalanche in 2001. Later he became the more than reliable back-up to Carey Price for the Montreal Canadiens and where hence his “Jedi” nick-name was born (and let’s be honest, the Canadiens could sure use his services again right now, am I right???) After finishing his contract with the “Habs” with their AHL affiliate the St. John’s Ice Caps, Budaj signed a try-out contract with the Los Angeles Kings last summer and impressed general manager Dean Lombardi and assistant GM Rob Blake to such a degree that they immediately signed him to a one year, two-way contract to play with the Reign, (and what’s not to like about the guy? He has NED FLANDERS painted on to his goalie mask! Now that’s just cool!)
With the successful season that Budaj has enjoyed thus far, the AHL rewarded him with becoming an All-Star for their annual All-Star Classic weekend. Joining the Pacific Division team along with his Reign coach Mike Stothers and his fellow teammates Vincent LoVerde and Sean Backman, (and mascot Kingston), my colleague Ryan Cowley and I were fortunate enough to briefly talk with the all-star goaltender and talk about his year so far playing with the Reign.
What did you find were the biggest differences between playing in Ontario, California in comparison to St. John’s Newfoundland?
Every team has a number of differences, not much else. There’s obviously the big difference of being in Canada. St. John’s you know has been in the league for a while and it has a very good fan base too. I was really positively surprised with
Ontario. They get a really good crowd and they do a really good job. They’re loud and very proud and they know how to have a good time and its pretty fun to play there and I like it a lot.
You are having an amazing season with the Ontario Reign. What has been your favorite moment playing for them so far this year?
Just to be able to play and get a chance to play. You know when I was able to sign a contract with the LA Kings, I was very happy and very thankful for the opportunity and that was my favorite so far and hopefully [there is] way more to come.
Who is your favorite player or players of all time?
Tough question. [There are] so many good ones. You can’t compare the guys you know. I played with Joe Sakic. He was a tremendous player, a Hall of Famer. You have Robert Blake, you have Peter Forsberg. I was their goaltender so you really can’t pick a favorite. I played games with those Hall of Famers and I learned so much from them and I was happy to watch them play every game and learned from watching them play so much hockey.
With the second half of the AHL season already under way, (which started with yet another Peter Budaj and Ontario Reign shut out victory, THE THIRD IN A ROW!!!), the Los Angeles Kings’ organization could not have been more pleased than they are right now with the level of play and maturity that Budaj has contributed to the Reign and the Kingdom thus far. The Hockey Gods forbid but it is also settling to anyone’s paranoid nerves to know way down deep inside, that if (and I mean “IF”) something unfortunate happens to one of the Kings’ current goaltending duo of (fellow “Jedi”) Jonathan Quick or Jhonas Enroth, and one of them becomes (GULP) injured, that Peter Budaj is more than ready, qualified and experienced to step in and protect the fort in their absence. Peter Budaj would shine in Los Angeles as he always has, and even more so than he currently is in Ontario, (and trust me, the man is shining brightly!) But then again of course he would, he is a “Jedi” after all!
*Special thanks to Peter Budaj, AHL Vice-President Jason Chaimovitch and Ryan Cowley of MakeWayForTheKings.net for their help with this article.
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One Comment
About Jeff Duarte
Ange Duch
February 11, 2016 at 5:02 pm
Very happy with his success this year…he is sorely missed in Mtl….look forward to seeing him with the Kings this week!