Q & A With Thomas Pock
by: Joe McDonald | Publisher and Editor-in-Chief | Saturday, April 9, 2005
 BRIDGEPORT, CT - Late last season, Rangers GM Glen Sather signed a defenseman from the University of Massachusetts that didn’t shatter any news. But, when Thomas Pock made his New York debut on March 23, 2004, he scored a goal and then followed up with an assist the next game to make him the first Rangers rookie to record points in his first two NHL matches since Ken Gernander in 1996. With the NHL on hiatus, Pock was sent down to Hartford of the AHL this season and has five assists in 44 games. NY Sports Day recently caught up with the Austrian native and he was kind enough to answer a few questions.
NY Sports Day: Has there been less pressure to play at Hartford because of the lockout? Thomas Pock: I don’t think it makes a difference. I come in here to give 100 percent, whether the NHL plays or not. I want to do the best I can and win a Calder Cup. When the NHL starts back up again, it would be nice if they call me up, but this is what I have to focus on. NYSD: What was it like being in the NHL last year? TP: It was like a dream. When I was a little kid, I used to dream about that every day and when it happened, it was a dream that came true. It was the 15 minutes of fame so far, so I hope to continue that one day. NYSD: What is the difference between playing here, playing at UMass and playing in New York? TP: Obviously in the AHL, the skill level is higher than in college. It’s the second best league compared to the NHL, so it was hard to adjust. Then here [compared] to the NHL - we don’t have any superstars like Jaromir Jagr or Mark Messier down here, who do the right things at the right times. Some of us here will hopefully get to [that level] some day. They are at the top of the food chain and we are working to get there. NYSD: Would you play in NHL next year if they are using replacement players or would you go back to Austria and play? TP: Oh I wouldn’t go back. I am 23 years old and here is where my best development will be. I don’t know if I would play as a replacement player, but I think so. NYSD: What do you think this team needs to do to win the Calder Cup? TP: I think we need to show some consistency. On our best days, we can beat anyone and we can do it well. And on our off days, we can lose against anyone. We need to play better on the road. We need to perform for 60 minutes. NYSD: Do you see yourself as a NHL player? TP: Oh of course. When I was four years old, I thought I was NHL material. That’s the first step. If you don’t see yourself playing in the NHL, it’s not going to happen at all. You don’t do it because you don’t have anything else to do. You have to want it. Until 30 teams tell me that I can’t play and they don’t want me...well even then I am not going to believe it. I will always want to play.
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