Jon Matsumoto sits down with Following Football for today’s
20 Questions. Matsumoto is a professional hockey player from Canada currently
under contract with the Florida Panthers and San Antonio Rampage. Jon came into
my sights to interview after a brief Twitter discussion about David Moyes and
the signing of Marouane Fellaini. It’s clear that Matsumoto is a Manchester
United fan, and in particular, a Rooney fan because that’s his dog’s name.
Matsumoto is 26 years old and hails from Ottawa. His hockey
passport has stamps from the Cumberland Grads, Bowling Green State University,
Philadelphia Phantoms, Adirondack Phantoms, Charlotte Checkers, Carolina
Hurricanes, San Antonio Rampage, Florida Panthers, Worcester Sharks, and the
Chicago Wolves. He’s a six foot tall left handed center who is one of only
three players to ever lead the Bowling Green State Falcons in scoring their
freshmen year. Matsy went to the Philadelphia Flyers in the third round of the
2006 NHL Entry Draft.
1.
I had some really good, smart first questions for you, but
as I sit down and put pen to paper, the first question that comes to mind is:
how much shit will you get in the locker room for participating in a SOCCER
blog interview?
I don’t think
it will be a big deal at all. The majority of players in Florida and San
Antonio warm up by playing a soccer game called two touch. You have a circle of
players, a soccer ball and two touches to keep the ball in the air. Whoever’s
fault it is that the ball drops is out, until you have one player left who is
the winner.
2.
Under direct orders of my wife, tell us about your puppy,
Rooney?
Great dog. We
actually adopted him when I was in [San Antonio] two years ago. Tyson
Strachan’s girlfriend rescued a litter from near the AT&T Center and my
wife and I adopted him. He is very similar to his namesake; he can run for
hours on end.
3.
We had a brief Twitter discussion about Manchester United’s
transfer window moves. What’s your opinion on the signing of Fellaini?
Obviously you
get excited about a player like him signing, the mid-field is the area that
needed improvement the most on paper and this will definitely help.
4.
Why do you think Moyes couldn’t sign any of the other names
he was looking into, like Ronaldo, Ozïl, or Fabregas?
Disclaimer: I
don’t think Moyes got off to a good start with his first few press conferences
and the way that he treated Wayne Rooney. It is obviously too early to judge
him but he is Sir Alex Ferguson’s (SAF) chosen one. With Fabregas and Ronaldo,
it is tough to put blame on Moyes for that. I think that those two definitely
didn’t want to move and even SAF would have faced an uphill battle enticing
them to come. With Ozil, I am not entirely sure that Moyes actually wanted him
since he had intended to play Rooney or Kagawa in the #10 role.
5.
How did you end up being a Manchester United fan?
Well, Wayne
Rooney is my favorite player, so naturally MUFC is my favorite team. If he was
sold this summer, I cannot actually decide where my allegiance would be.
Although it would probably stay with MUFC since I cannot see them selling Rooney
to anyone inside the Premier League.
6.
Favorite car?
My truck.
7.
Favorite color?
Black, if that
is not considered a color, then Red.
8.
Favorite movie?
Hot Fuzz
9.
Favorite TV Show
Anything on the
Military Channel
10. Favorite song?
Hollywood
Undead - Undead or Been to Hell
11. The zombie
apocalypse happens tomorrow, how do you survive it?
Somehow get my
hands on an AR-15 and head to the roof.
12. What’s on your
iPod/mp3 playlist right now?
A lot of
Afrojack & Avicii since it is really good workout music.
13. What’s your
game day routine?
Don’t think I
have enough room to write down all my superstitions.
14. Did you ever
play soccer before picking up a hockey stick?
Played hockey
first, but played soccer until around 11 or 12 years old.
15. What skills as
a hockey player do you think would transfer over to the pitch?
Maybe the
footwork, or the counterattack mentality.
16. Growing up, who
were your sports role models?
Paul Kariya and
Alexei Yashin.
17. What was your
favorite hockey team growing up?
Ottawa Senators
18. You’ve played
all over North America, what was your favorite city to play in?
Each city I
have been in has had something nice about it, but it is tough to beat the
weather in San Antonio.
19. Congrats on
your assist in the matinee pre-season game on Monday the 16th; how did it feel
to have the ice back under your feet?
It was
definitely nice; it was a long summer.
20. United visits
their noisy neighbors on Sunday; what’s your prediction?
3-2 MUFC,
Rooney with a pair along with one for Welbeck.
Well,
we all know the outcome of the Manchester derby last Saturday. It sure wasn’t
the score line that Jon Matsumoto guessed. It was certainly a lot worse than I
had planned, too. Unfortunately, it was much the same from the Reds at Etihad
Stadium. No originality/creativity in the midfield and a lack luster defense.
The
National Hockey League drops the puck on October 1st for the
2013/2014 season. The American Hockey League faces off on October 15th.
Whether Matsumoto pulls on the black and silver of the Rampage or the red and
white of the Panthers this season, he brings with him a love for the fastest
team sport on earth and the beautiful game.
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