The following questions were put forward to Basingstoke Bison tough guy Brad Cruikshank by members of the www.HockeyfightsUK.com forum:

1. Brad thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer these questions, what did you do for Christmas here in the UK? ? Was it the first time you have been in another country for Christmas?

Cruikshank: "No problem it's my pleasure to be apart of this. Well Christmas was a good time this year, we had a big dinner at our house and about 10 of my teammates and there family's came over. This was the 6th year out of Canada for myself and my wife Jami. It's a tough time of year for alot guys in this sport because we don't get to go home and be with our family's so I feel it's very important for the guys on the team to get together and have good time"

2. How do you feel you have you settled in to the Elite league and UK hockey in general?

Cruikshank: "I feel that I've started to settle in good now, really it's not that much different then the game back home especially since the physical side of the game is here and the speed is also just as fast"

3. What do you think of the standard of hockey over here and did you know what to expect when signing for the Bison?

Cruikshank: "Like I said before the speed is very quick here and the skill level is great. I really expected the game to be similar just from all the players I saw that were over here"

4. What made you decide to sign for a UK team?

Cruikshank: "Well Keefer (Ryan O'keefe) was a major reason why I ended up in Basingstoke, he called in the middle of the summer and told me he was signing here so I asked him to pass along my number to Bernie and that's how it all started. From the first minute I talked to Bernie I knew that I wanted to play for him, not expecting to play along side him though ha ha"

5. Brad, I notice you had played previously with some of the guys over here, namely Jason Robinson, Trevor Koenig but more so Shawn Maltby, did this affect your decision to sign with the Bison?

Cruikshank: "This was also a reason why I signed here, even though I never really got to know Malts that well before because he was called up and injured most of time I was with Toledo, but I knew he was a great guy and played the same style of hockey as I do and I knew that I would really enjoy playing on the same team as him"

6. Your well know for your tough style of play and willingness to drop the gloves, how did this part of the game come about for you?

Cruikshank: "I played my first year of junior at 15 years old and back then the AJHL (Alberta Junior Hockey League) was very tough, so I had to learn at an early age to take care of myself. We also had a very tough team that year so fights were going on all the time"

7. Brad, I have been watching some of your fights on dvd from last season in the UHL, your not a typical tough guy size wise but certainly know how to take on the bigger guys, is there any particular style to your fighting?

Cruikshank: "Well not being 6 feet tall or bigger you have to be very careful or you won't last long doing this job. I've always been a guy who likes to get in tight then tire my opponent out and come on late in the fight, but the last little while I've been using Tie Domi's strategy and trying to spin while throwing bigger punches. And that's about it, I don't want to tell it all or the big boys in this league will have there way with me ha ha"

8. You spent the 2000/01 season with the Fayetteville Force of the CHL, I notice that one of my favourite enforcers, Marty Melnychuk, played for the Force that season too, did you know Marty well and can you tell me any stories about him?

Cruikshank: "Yes, I got to know Marty very well that year and he has been by far the toughest fighter I've ever seen or played with at the minor league level. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of tough guys here and in north America but he was something special. I remember the first time he walked into the room, I could not believe this guy was playing for us, he was 6"3" and about 240 lbs not a ounce of fat on him and looked like he should be in the WWE. One time he was fighting Curtis Voth and I was standing 5 feet away and all I could hear is Voth saying "just don't knock me out please". Marty is a great guy and I have alot of respect for him and what he's done, maybe I'll give him a call and bring him to Bisonland ha ha"

9. How does the Elite League compare to the other leagues you have played in?

Cruikshank: "Very much the same, even the arena's are similar. This league is more like the ECHL then the UHL and the reason for that is the UHL has a bunch of teams with anywhere from 2 to 6 tough guys on one team so it makes for some interesting games"

10. Brad, you have an impressive fight card, who would you say have been the tougher fighters you have faced?

Cruikshank: "Well over here Skiehar and Cornish have been the toughest of yet, and back home it would have to be Roger Maxwell, he was one big dude"

11. Have you ever sustained any bad hockey injuries be it thru fighting or just in general?

Cruikshank: "Yes I have had 2 shoulder surgeries on the same one and one of the surgeries being this past April, so I've had to be really careful this year not rush back in so quick and that's the biggest reasons I didn't fight alot at the start of the season as I was only 6 months out of major surgery. Other then that I have been very lucky"

12. Can you remember your first pro fight and if so who was it against and how did it go?

Cruikshank: "My first fight was with a guy named Brad Muller, he played for Memphis and it was a great fight we were both 21 and had alot to prove so we fought very hard to a draw"

13. The Elite league has once again shaped up to being a pretty tough league this season but last year we had the likes of Eric Cairns & Wade Belak playing over here, would you have liked to have played/fought against those guys?

Cruikshank: "I would have liked to play against them but fight them "Hell No" if I had to fight them to stand up for a teammate I would no questions asked but I don't think I would really want to just for the sake of doing it, if I were making $450,000 a year then yes I would do it just for the hell of it"

14. What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Cruikshank: "Honestly I haven't won a championship yet, and I loved playing in Pensacola Florida for 3 years, but I'd have to say the highlight so far would be having the chance to come over to the UK, myself and my wife are very grateful and happy to be here, the fans and people in general have been very nice and a pleasure to be around. I have an ancestry stamp for the UK through my grandmother so I plan to use it for as long as I can"

15. Did you have any hockey idols/role models while growing up? If so who were they?

Cruikshank: "Yes, I think most kids had the same idol that being "The Great One" Wayne Gretzky, I always looked up to him and I think he is a great role model for the youth in this sport"

16. Brad, do you follow any particular hockey teams either NHL or minors?

Cruikshank: "I follow alot of minor league teams just because my buddies are all over the world playing. As for the NHL it would have to be the Calgary Flames, they are one of the hardest working teams in the sport and I respect that alot"

Thanks a lot Brad for your time out to answer these, it is most appreciated by all the forum members! ? Have a happy new year and wishing you all the best for the rest of the season!

Cruikshank: "I just want to thank you and all the fans here in the UK for giving me this opportunity. Have a very safe and happy new year"


www.HockeyfightsUK.com
(Thanks to Brad, the forum users and BisonDan & NewJersey for making this Q & A session possible)

Cardiff Devils tough guy Brad Voth very generously took time out to answer questions put forward to him from the forum users.

A Newcomer to the UK, Voth took up the number 26 spot on the Cardiff Devils roster for the 05/06 season, that particular number having previously been worn by a certain Mike Ware, it may be a big pair of skates to fill but so far Brad has more than stepped up to the plate when it comes to the rough stuff and has proved to be a pretty useful player along the way too!

Q & A with Brad Voth of the Cardiff Devils:

Firstly Brad, a big welcome to the UK, we all hope you are enjoying your first season over here and thank you for taking part in this Questions & Answers session.

1. The Devils fans have warmed to you and you always seem to play with a smile on your face, are you settling in over here and how do you rate UK hockey in general?

Voth: ''I am settling in here really well, its been an easy transition for me coming to the UK I am not your European type player, so the North American style here suits me. Cardiff is a really nice place to live also which helps a lot. Overall the hockey is good I have no complaints''

2. I’m sure there were a few contract offers for you in the off-season but why did you choose to join the Cardiff Devils and did you know much about hockey in the UK before coming over here?

Voth: ''I knew some of the guys here which helped, but the league I knew little about I knew it was of a North American style which helped in my decision but I have been pleased with what I have seen''

3. When you joined the devils you were given the number 26 which was originally worn by Mike Ware, are you familiar with who Mike was?

Voth: ''No''

4. You are known as a guy who can handle himself, how did the tough guy role come about for you?

Voth: ''well I have always been big, it started in Midget hockey and I basically made the transition into Junior, when I was younger I didn’t really have my skills toned so I started to be the tough guy, but as I got older I worked harder on becoming more than just a tough guy''

5. The Elite league this season has shaped up to be a pretty tough league, how are you finding it and is there a particular toughest player you have fought in the league so far?

Voth: ''I don’t really want to single anyone out, everyone’s got their tough guy and you have to watch out for some of the smaller guys as they can pack a punch as well and catch you out. There are some real tough players over here though''

6. Brad, you faced Trevor Baker earlier this season, what was this like, and what is it like to face an ex-team mate, were you surprised that he dropped the gloves with you?

Voth: ''Me and Baker are pretty good friends we played together for a few years back in North America, I wasn’t planning on fighting him but he dropped the gloves and we went, he’s a real tough guy not the biggest but he’s real tough, he’s one of the smaller ones you have to watch out for''

7. Tell us a bit about the craze of taking off the elbow pads before a fight is this something new or something that often happens?

Voth: ''I have seen Cornish do it and so when he did it I thought I may as well join in I didn’t want to feel left out, so I did it too. I haven’t seen it done before other than Cornish doing it though''

8. Have you ever received any bad injuries in a hockey fight? If so what’s the worst?

Voth: ''Knock on wood no I haven’t, I fractured my nose once but that’s it''

9. Who to date would you say has been your toughest fight\opponent?

Voth: ''Well I would say Andrew Peters I think that’s what his name was he’s pretty tough, when I was 17 I fought Corey Sarich and he give me a little bit of a lesson. He hasn’t done badly for himself since then though''

10. Can you remember your first big fight? How did it go and who was it against?

Voth: ''My Very first I cant remember who it was against but it was in Camp and I can remember being really excited about trying to prove myself to the coaches, funnily enough that’s when I fractured my nose''

11. Do you follow any hockey teams or have any favourite players?

Voth: ''I don’t watch much NHL anymore but when I was growing up I was an Oilers fan, I used to love watching Doug Weight I liked the way he saw the ice, he’s a completely different player to me though. John Leclair is another guy I really liked watching''

12. You were drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 1998 when you must have only been 18, how did it feel? Did you attend camp or play any pre-season games? If so what was the experience like?

Voth: ''I went to Camp for four years straight but sadly didn’t get any Exhibition games, in camp though it was great just to be part of an NHL set up getting to play with guys who were of NHL standard. I learnt a lot from going to them''

13. Another tough guy on the Devils roster is Regan Darby; did you know Regan before joining the Devils? Had you guys ever had a run-in with each other while on opposing teams?

Voth: ''I played against Darby a couple of times in Junior, and maybe once or twice on the East coast but I never fought him. I did fight Gerad Adams in Junior though. As I recall he turtled!'' (Said with a grin on his face)

14. Brad, you have spent a few seasons now between the ECHL & the AHL, do you feel your role changing according to the league you play in or do you keep to the same style of play each time?

Voth: ''In the first few years of pro I just tried to stick to the basics, I have tried to make sure I am not just an enforcer though as in the East Coast and over here you’re expected to play a more active role. I guess it depends on what a coach wants you to do sometimes you have to be a mind reader with that in North America so I would say my style changes with the coach and not nessicerily what league i am playing in''

15. And finally, just to settle everyone’s minds, are you related to Curtis Voth of the documentary ‘Tough Guys’ (did you see this documentary?)

Voth: ''I am not related to him as far as I am aware, and no I haven’t seen the documentary I have heard good things about it though I may check it out soon''


Well thanks for answering all our questions and good luck for the rest of the season!

www.Hockeyfightsuk.com
(Credit and thanks to Gareth Huish & Anne Hall for help with this Q & A session)

London Racers tough guy Jeremy Cornish very generously took time out to answer questions put forward to him from the forum users.

Only just entering his second season here in the UK Jeremy has certainly been a name on peoples lips for his rugged no-nonsense play, willingness to protect his team mates and his lack of fear to take on any opposing player of any size or reputation:

Q & A with Jeremy Cornish of the London Racers:

1.First up, thank you for taking the time out for this Q & A session, we have set the following interview based on the most popular questions that have been put forward by the users of the Icewars forum.

2.You are now about to start your second season over here in the uk icing for the Racers, how have you found it over here so far and how do you feel you have performed? Also what do you think of the league over here and how does it balance?

JC: ''I really like the UK and London is a great city. I am looking forward to this season and the team is shaping up really well. The league is competitive and hockey, in the UK this season will be good. I hope to keep improving over the course of the season and work really hard to become a better player''

3.Who would you say is the toughest player you have fought?

JC: ''The toughest players I have fought has to be Wade Belak or Mel Anglested. Mel is a player I have followed for a long time and it was great when I got a chance to fight him in Belfast. For Wade, it was pretty cool fighting someone who is in their prime and a solid NHL heavywieght''

4.Are you looking forward to playing newcastle next season? They have some tough guys on their roster in ferone & angelstad and Payette do you expect there to be fire works?

JC: ''I think all the teams will have a tough guy, I don't get to worried about it. Just as long as we are winning I will do whatever helps the team''

5.Is there any player you really would not like to fight?

JC: ''No, not at all. It's always exciting to fight someone new, if I don't do well the first time I will make sure we fight again''

6.There was a bit of a line brawl last season after a certain celebration from a Nottingham panthers goal What was the build up to the event and your interpretation of what happened?

JC: ''It wasn't to big of a deal, one of their players showboated and our bench didn't like that...you guys have seen the tape!''

7.There was a rumour going round that you sparred with Cairns during training sessions. Is this true? If so did other Racers spar with each other; or get fight tips off one another?

JC: ''Ya, Eric helped me with that part of my game, he is one of the toughest players in the NHL and it was great to have him around all season. We are always talking about other players, it's the same with every team''

8.What is your most memorable fight?

JC: ''not sure, maybe the one against Mel. I was pretty pumped to fight him, he has been around a long time and is very respected''

9.One of your big targets for a fight last year was Rob Davison, with you offering him out on countless occasions, but never getting a fight from him. Why did you want to fight him so badly, and if you had dropped them with him, what do you think the outcome would have been?

JC: ''I want to fight all the tough guys, I do every year. I wanted to see how I would do against the NHL'ers, I had heard he was tough, but I think I would have done fine against him''

10.Seeing you fight Cugnet was definitely strange! Have you ever done anything like that before? (and it looked a big slash he gave you, did it hurt?!)

JC: ''No, the slash didn't hurt, and no, I have never fought the goalie before''

11.Andre Payette, not a big fan of him this season were you? (ha ha) care to expand?

JC: ''No, I think he's a good player and he always wanted to fight everyone...so good for him''

12.Have you ever sustained any bad injuries thru playing hockey? if so what was your worst?

JC: "Knock on wood!, don't ask hockey players that type of question any time near the season!!!!''

13.Which players did you admire most while growing up playing hockey?

JC: ''Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky and Bob Probert''

14. One of my personal favourite enforcers was Marty Melnychuk, you played in the same league as him (UHL) at a time when he was still playing, did you ever have any run-ins with him or do you have any story's to tell?
JC: ''I fought Marty twice when I played in Flint. He was really tough, didn't wear shoulder pads and still filled out his jersey!''

15.Who was the first guy you ever fought in pro hockey and how did it go?

JC: ''My first fight was against Chris Wheaton, he played for South Carolina and I was in Dayton. He suckered me off the draw and then we had pretty good fight...made the paper the next day!''

16.Whats been the highlight of your career so far?

JC: ''Has to be coming to London last season and being appreiciated for sticking up for my teammates and being rewarded with a good amount of ice time and improving my game''

17.Have you ever fought a guy who you are friends with?

JC: ''No, but I have talked to a couple guys I have fought before''

18.You had a couple of fights with Wade Belak last season,what are your thoughts on Wade Belak?

JC: ''I think he is one of the NHL's toughest players and it was a great opportunity to fight him a couple times last season. He plays tough all the time and is a pretty good all around player''

19.Whats it like having Dennis Maxwell as a coach?

JC: ''Dennis has been the best coach I have had in 5 years as a pro, he treats his guys good and all he asks for is hard work. He knows the game, and plays with a lot of emotion. He gave me a good amount of ice time last season and worked with me to become a better player''

20.How has your summer gone? have you been on the ice,training etc.. what about working?

JC: ''This summer has been great, got married in June and have been getting ready for the season all summer. I have been skating every morning for the end of July and all of August. I hink the Raceres are looking good this season and I think we will be the team to beat this year''

Thankyou Jeremy from all the guys on the HockeyfightsUK forum and good luck next season!!!

JC: ''Thanks, any time!''

A big thank you goes out to Paul and all the forum collective for their input toward my first Q & A, all that can be said is that Jeremy is a top guy and has certainly made an impact on these shores, we all look forward to seeing Jeremy in action over the forthcoming season.