 Defenseman Christian Steingraber is featured in this edition of “Breaking the Ice with…” The feature showcases different Whalers so we can get to know them.
Selected by the Sarnia Sting in the 7th round (134th overall) in the 2005 OHL Entry Draft, Steingraber played junior hockey in the States and was thinking about going the college route before joining the Sting last season. He was acquired by the Whalers in a trade for a 10th round draft pick earlier this season. The Oregon, Ohio, native, took a few minutes after practice to help us break the ice and chat about growing up playing hockey in Michigan, representing Team USA a few years ago, and his love for baseball.
» On the best advice he has been given…
“Don’t worry about when you make mistakes, just play your game and work through it.”
» On how he started playing hockey…
“I think my dad got me and my older brother, Jeremiah, into hockey when I was around 5 or 6.”
» On his youth hockey highlight…
“It would probably have to be when I played for Detroit Honeybaked and we won the national championship in 2004.”
» On the championships he has won…
“Besides the national championship with Honeybaked, I have also won the USHL Championship with the Des Moines Buccaneers in 2006.”
» On his most embarrassing hockey moment…
“I was standing on the blue line for the National Anthem one time and took one wrong step and fell right on my face during the American National Anthem. That was probably my most embarrassing moment.”
» On who has influenced him in hockey…
“I’d have to say probably my dad, because he as always pushed me to be the best I can be and worked hard in everything I do.”
» On if he has played with any of the guys before…
“I have played a few tournaments with Jeremy Smith up here in Michigan.”
» On picking major junior over college…
“I think it was just a better fit for me playing in the ‘O’ than the USHL and college.”
» On growing up playing baseball…
“Baseball’s pretty big in my city, but then again in a way it isn’t. I enjoyed baseball. If I wasn’t playing hockey I’d definitely be playing baseball. I grew up playing on a pretty good team and we won a couple little league world series - not the big one obviously - but, yeah, we went all over. I went to Kentucky and West Virginia, I went to a few places and I had a good time. I like baseball a lot; it’s my second favorite sport.”
» On who he tries to model his game after…
“Nick Lidstrom.”
» On what he should bring to the team…
“I think I try to be an offensive defenseman, and try to help out defensively, obviously, because I am a defenseman and nothing beats that.”
» On the toughest player he has played against…
“I’d have to say Aaron Palushaj; he plays at the University of Michigan. I grew up playing with him and I actually played against him in the USHL for a little bit and ended up playing with him for a little bit. He just worked hard and he wasn’t always the best player but he turned out great and he’s a really good player now.”
» On the trade process…
“It was after practice one day, and I had a feeling I was going to get traded, but I didn’t know where. I heard Saginaw, but after practice one day I got called in and they told me that Plymouth wanted me and it was close to home so it’s always nice playing close to home. ”
» On why he doesn't think he got a chance in Sarnia…
“I don’t know what it is. We had a good defensive core there and I guess I wasn’t one of the greatest, obviously, but I don’t know exactly what I did or didn't do. We just had a lot of good defensemen and I got in and didn't take advantage of the chances I had.”
 » On the opportunity in Plymouth…
“I feel great. It feels real good playing and getting a chance to play and, once again, here, we have a lot of good ‘D’ so I just have to step up my game. It wasn’t too bad for me to adjust to the new guys. I’m pretty outgoing so it’s pretty easy for me to make new friends and I knew a couple of the guys through the grapevine so it wasn’t too bad.”
» On coming back to Michigan…
“It’s nice being back close to home seeing all my family and friends a lot more and actually showing them what I can do.”
» On billet life…
“I love my billets. My billets, the Gosztyla’s, are great. They’re nice. It’s not too hard for me to adjust to billets, like I said I’m pretty outgoing. I put myself out there and usually I have good billets. I don’t have any complaints. I tend to eat a lot, so it doesn’t matter. I eat everything! Every once in a while you get a billet that clashes with you so you just got to work that out. Thankfully, I’m in a great situation here in Plymouth.”
» On what Oregon, Ohio is like…
“Oregon is just east of Toledo. It’s a little farm town. There’s a little city inside, but a lot of farmers. Everybody knows everybody.”
» On playing for Team USA…
“I played for Team USA at the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Switzerland. That was a nice thing. It was fun and I actually played with Anthony Maiani, a guy I grew up playing with up in Honeybaked and Little Caesars a little bit, but yeah it was a good experience going over to Europe playing for Team USA. Nothing beats that.”
» On if he has any superstitions…
“Not at all, no superstitions.”
» On if he has any nicknames…
“Steiny, Grabber, just nothing out of the ordinary.”
 » On his typical day…
“Wake up, come to the rink, get a nice little work out in, go hang out with a few of the guys, come back for practice, and then go home and eat, and have a good time with the boys after dinner.”
» On his pre-game routine…
“I don’t really have any. Most of the time I just wake up early and either go for a bike ride or play some video games.”
» On his dream goal…
“I grew up playing as a forward, so I kind of always imagined myself going on a breakaway and winning the Stanley cup just like any other kid who plays hockey. But as far as whatever goalie I’d score against, it doesn’t really matter except that it went in the net.”
» On if there is anything behind his jersey number 8…
“It’s for my parents. I have always been number 8 or number 5. My mom’s favorite number was 8, my dad’s favorite number was 5, and I grew up playing with number 8, so it’s basically from my parents.”
» On what he'd be doing if he didn't play hockey…
“I’d be playing baseball or I’d be off enjoying myself in college.”
» On what reality TV show he'd be on…
“Probably Real World or Road Rules. I’d be the outgoing, fun guy who loves to make everybody happy and laugh.”
» On his funniest teammate…
“Probably either (Zack) Shepley or (Wes) Cunningham.”
» On the craziest thing that has happened on the road…
“When I went to Switzerland for that 5 Nations Tournament, we played in Germany and we were playing in some little, little town. We played in a nice rink, it was old, but nice, and there were tons of fans screaming at you, yelling at you, and spitting on you. Doing everything imaginable. It was pretty crazy.”
» On what one thing he could not live without…
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Blast from the Past. If there wasn't such an age difference, some might think Bryan Berard (1994-96) and current Whaler Christian Steingraber were separated at birth. |
“Probably video games.”
» On his dream vacation…
“I love California.”
» On the person he'd most like to meet…
“Gandhi.”
» On if he'd change any rules in hockey…
“No, not really. I like the way it’s usually officiated.”
» On what other players he would want on the ice with him…
“I grew up playing with Chris Chelios’ kid, Dean, and I always thought it would be fun to play with him. But who knows? It might happen still. He just never seems to get old and will probably play forever. Probably (Wayne) Gretzky, Gordie Howe, (Mark) Messier up front and the goalie would be Grant Fuhr.”
-Natalie Shaver, November 13th, 2007-
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