 Rookie forward Taylor Carnevale is featured in this edition of “Breaking the Ice with…” The feature showcases different Whalers so we can get to know them.
Selected by Plymouth in the 2nd round (30th overall) in the 2007 OHL Entry Draft, Carnevale is playing his underage year at just 16 years old. Despite being a dual citizen, he has grown up knowing he wanted to play in the OHL as his father coached Owen Sound when he was younger. The Mississauga, Ontario, native, took a few minutes before teaching the Learn to Play class to help us break the ice and chat about the places he has lived, being caught on camera in London, and why he tapes his stick the way he does.
» On the best advice he has been given…
“Greatest lesson is just to work hard all the time. It’s not about having fun, it’s more about playing good. That’s the thing I think about when I’m working out. When stuff is not going good, I know I have to work hard off the ice. You need to put in the time, otherwise you won’t play well and that is never fun.”
 » On how he started playing hockey…
“My dad was coaching in Germany, and he took me out to skate in Austria when I was little. I have played hockey ever since. I lived in Germany for a year, Italy for a year, Austria for a year, and California for about 6 months. Now I get to play it every day. It’s the thing I love. Doing it doesn’t seem like work. It is something I want to do to get better.”
» On his youth hockey highlight…
“Being captain of my team, the Mississauga Rebels, last year.”
» On the championships he has won…
“When I was in AA, I won All-Ontario’s with the Mississauga Terriers. We won tournaments and stuff too. I also won ROPSSAA and OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletics Association) with my school team, St. Aloysius Gonzaga.”
» On his most embarrassing hockey moment…
“We were in London and me, (RJ) Mahalak, and TJ Brown were sitting on the bench. We didn’t play much that game. Brown jumps onto the ice when he wasn’t supposed to and then he gets back off. Then he jumps back on again when he wasn’t supposed to and we start cracking up and the camera comes on us. We all looked up and we’re on the screen just cracking up. It was like 2nd period, but it was a pretty serious game. It was funny and we were all just laughing, but it was kind of embarrassing. The TV guy said something about it, too.”
» On who has influenced him in hockey…
“My dad and Nono (grandpa), definitely. My whole family, but really my dad is the main one. He has always been and is always around me and lets me know what’s right and wrong.”
 » On his most memorable game…
“My most memorable game was probably when I scored my first OHL goal. It was against Oshawa. I always thought about how I would score my first OHL goal, so it was cool to actually score. It was on a power play and we just came out of our zone. Vally (Brett Valliquette) took the puck over to the blue line and I went to the net, Vally threw it to me and then I just put it in.”
» On if he has played with any of the guys before…
“I worked out with (Chris) Terry this summer, but never played with anybody.”
» On picking major junior over college…
“I am a dual citizen since my mom was born in California. I thought the way I played, the ‘O’ just suited my game better. It just seemed right; I have always wanted to play in the OHL.”
» On growing up around an OHL team…
“I was little, so I could run around the rink when my dad had practice. I could go into the dressing room and look at who’s around and watch them. It was pretty cool to be around hockey so much when I was younger because my dad was coaching. It was definitely good for me. Since I was like 13, I have been practicing with my dad’s junior team and I have been practicing against older guys for like 3 or 4 years which helped me develop when I came into the OHL since I’m still playing against older guys.”
» On billet life…
“It’s different being around all new people. The families are great, it took a while for me to get used to, but I’m trying to adjust. I have a brother who is 17, but now I live with new parents and younger kids. It’s different for sure.”
 » On who he tries to model his game after…
“I think I try to take a little bit of everything. I don’t really have one player. It’s a little bit of a lot of people like Joe Sakic’s shot or Jarome Iginla’s speed or just the way someone can score. It’s not a specific thing; I just try to take a few things from different guys.”
» On what he should bring to the team…
“I try to be a playmaking centerman that tries to throw his body around, but that doesn’t always happen. I try to take pride in my defensive play, too, and my face-offs, but all around I think a playmaking centerman describes me.”
» On the toughest player he has played against…
“Ryan Ellis that plays for Windsor. He just has big hits, is a defenseman that can score, pass, and is an all-around good player.”
» On his rookie year adjustments…
“I have to get stronger and faster. The game is a lot faster than I thought it would be.”
» On attending the Ontario U17 Camp…
“It was different. It was the first time I had ever gone away to play hockey and it was tough. I went there and wanted to work hard and show them what I was capable of doing. It was a learning experience, but definitely something that helped my career.”
» On his typical day…
“I wake up about 7:40, go to school, come to practice, work out, and go home.”
» On his pre-game routine…
"I wake up around 11:30. I go for a walk, stretch, have my pre-game meal around 3, and then go to the rink around 4:30.”
» On his "favorite" class…
“I had no choice, I was the last one to choose my classes. I don’t know why though. I had to take fashion class or naval history and I didn’t want another history class, so I went with the fashion class. I guess it is good to be around 30 girls, but I didn’t have a choice.”
 » On if he has any superstitions…
“I have a lot of superstitions. I put my left skate on before my right skate. Before I go on the ice I do certain stuff. I tape my stick a certain way. I always thought - and everyone says - it’s the biggest knob they’ve ever seen. I have had that knob since I was like 12. I never changed it. I have always tried to change it to see what I like better, but I always went back to it. It was always the best knob. I saw one of the guys from my dad’s junior team do it one time, and I just copied it and have used it ever since.”
» On if he has any nicknames…
“It seems like every team I have gone to, Carney has been my nickname.”
» On his dream goal…
“In the NHL, Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, scoring the overtime goal. It would be pretty awesome. In the OHL, at the Memorial Cup and scoring the goal to win it.”
» On if there is anything behind his jersey number 27…
“I always thought it was a centerman’s number. I used to be #9 my whole career, but the last few years I have been #27. It just looks like a centerman’s number.”
» On what he'd be doing if he didn't play hockey…
“Nothing. Hockey is my life. I would probably try to play another sport, like football.”
 » On what reality TV show he'd be on…
“The Amazing Race. That would be cool.”
» On his funniest teammate…
“TJ Brown for the stupid stuff he does.”
» On what one thing he could not live without…
“Hockey.”
» On his dream vacation…
“If I am drafted to the NHL, wherever I play because that would be the greatest thing, so that’s a vacation for me!”
» On the person he'd most like to meet…
“My great grandpa - my dad’s dad’s dad.”
» On a rule change he'd make in hockey…
“Putting the puck over the boards in the defensive end. I don’t like that rule at all.”
» On what other players he would want on the ice with him…
“Sidney Crosby on left wing. On right wing, I'd put Wayne Gretzky even though he shoots left. On defense we’ll go Nick Lidstrom and Scott Niedermayer. For goalie, if I can pick anybody ever, I’ll go with my buddy from my old team, Scott Stajcer. He plays for Owen Sound now. I trusted him in net more than any other goalie I have played with.”
-Natalie Shaver, November 28th, 2007-
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