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TPS defender Lee Sweatt will be interviewed online by TPS Supporters at tps-kannattajat.net on Friday 26th of March starting 7.00 PM Finnish time.
The interview will be conducted in English.
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TPS Supporters welcomes Lee to this online interview. Let’s go!
Hey everyone!
Is you Uncle Steve as good of a baseball player as he says he is?
I am not really sure. He does like to brag a lot though! Don’t let his head get to big though. Make sure you knock him down to size.
Why are you so good? What are your pros and cons?
Well, thanks for the compliment first off.
Second, I am still trying to develop my defensive game to make myself better at defending my own goal. Obviously, I am a little shorter, so I need to make up for that in strength, smarts and positioning.
One of my best assets is my skating ability. Another is my shot and overall offensive skills. Although those are my better qualities, I still work on improving them continuously!
Bobby Orr, but more recently I am a fan of Brian Rafalski. The reason why is because both of those players play in a style that I try to resemble.
What kind of music do you listen to? name some of your favorite bands :p
I listen to a little bit of everything, but mostly hip-hop and alternative.
In Hip-hop, I listen to – Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kanye West, Drake, Jay-Z, KiD CuDi, Common
In Alternative, I listen to – O.A.R., The Fray, Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Blink-182, Jack Johnson
Like the question!
What would you do now, if you wouldn’t be professional hockeyplayer?
I would probably be in the business world in some way. I worked as a financial analyst at UBS and Wachvoia Securities when I was in College, so maybe somewhere in the financial industry.
I am currently doing my MBA now, and I would probably be doing the same if I was in the “real” world.
How is Mikku doing?
Mikku is doing very well. He is now a little over two years old, almost two and a half! Still has an amazing underbite!!
Has hockey always been “The Sport” for you or were there others which competed with it when you were younger? As a the major hobby or career option I mean.
I was always very involved with hockey ever since I was 4. However, I was also a football player until I was 13. That year, I broke both of my ankles playing football and gave it up. Ever since then, hockey was my major sport.
Roller Hockey is my other main interest, but I still consider it hockey.
If you could choose any NHL hockey team, which would it be?
Whoever wants to sign me!
Hello!!! My name is Nele and I am 10 year old girl from Germany… I wanted to ask – if it´s not a secret – will you still be in TPS next season?
And thanks for your signature on my shirt yesterday even when it was a Aki Uusikartano shirt
Hey!! It was great seeing you yesterday! Good to hear a little German while here in Finland!! Didn’t expect it.
I am not sure just yet where I will be, we will all see. I am concentrating mostly on playoffs right now.
hi lee!
do you like to play floorball or some other sports than ice hockey?
Salibandi!! I have only played it for fun once or twice, but it was a lot of fun. I watched the TPS team two years ago and it looked like it was a pretty sweet sport.
I like playing baseball too. That is a lot of fun, especially in the summer when it is warm outside.
How does it feel like to live in such a small country as Finland?
Honestly, it is not bad at all. Finnish people are great and I can get Sushi at the Kauppahalli. That is a huge plus.
I am from a small town in America with less than 2000 people, so Turku is still a good size for me!
Hello! Do you like Finnish food?
Not sure exactly what Finnish food is by definition, but I do like the Finnish Sushi at Kado in Kauppahalli!
Hey Lee, big thanks for rejoining TPS this season! Your comments on our head coach? How have you adapted to his playstyle and thinking of the game? He has really been a blessing for the team I think and we are very proud of him.
It is great to be back and Ari Vuori helped to bring me here and I thank him for that.
Kaitsu is a good coach. He is very different from Hanta and I enjoy his style of coaching. He has really brought the proud TPS tradition back to this team and to Turku.
If your brother Bill was flying down the left wing would you hipcheck him like the video on youtube?
I am not sure. It would depend if it was a game where we would play against each other. If it is in the NHL, then yes, I would for sure!!! Europe, there is less hitting, so maybe I would just rub him out in the corner.
What is the funniest finnish word you’ve heard?
They all sound funny to me, but my favorite is:
JUMALAUTA!!!
Me and the boys love saying that one. Hopefully there are no little kids that see this word. If there are, shut your eyes!! HAHA
Is it comfortable for you to play any position on the ice? Because you´re playing offensive as well…?!
Greetz,
Nele
Yes it is. I am comfortable playing forward if we are short of forwards because of injuries or whatever. I have done it twice with TPS this season and I did it with the National team for USA at the Deutschland Cup this year.
The only one I am not comfortable with is Goalie. I played it once, definitely not for me.
I would say that the best skate maker is Bauer. I love their skates and it has made the transition from Mission, which I used forever, very easy.
Interesting Question.
Thanks for the compliment, but I feel that all I have done was add to an already good situation. This was a good team before I was here and it is a good team now.
I have gotten a lot of attention, especially after I have done so well in my short time here. The first interview was actually before the first game on URHO.
Stay tuned about next year!!
How musical are you? Play any instrument? I can imagine you playing guitar
I wish I could rock a guitar or any instrument for that matter, but I have not been blessed with any musical talent whatsoever. I am horrible at any instrument I have ever tried.
With who do you spend the most time from the team.
My biggest fans!!! Thanks for the comments!
Probably Leggio and his girlfriend Kristin.
Of the Finns, probably Max and his girlfriend Linda and Hamalainen
How does foreign players live in foreign country? I mean do you stay in a hotel or have you been living with other players in same place?
We stay in apartments provided by the team. We all live in different parts of the city. Some things are different for us and Lisa and her blog from two years ago was just some of the differences between North America and here.
All and all though, Finland is really easy for us to live in and especially in Turku because the people are so great.
Hi Lee!
in TPS and then maybe in NHL!
Tell little about your playing style, I think u play like Mike Green. Have u seen him play?
hope to see you 1 more year (at least
Mike Green is a great player and definitely a very strong offensive defensemen. Thanks for the compliment!
I am definitely an offensive defensemen that works well on the powerplay. I have tried to make my game more balanced in the last two years to make myself better defensively.
We will see where I end up!
I Saw half of the team in turku’s nightlife yesterday, but where were you?
I was doing homework for my MBA and making sure I was not hungover for this interview!!!
I do enjoy watching Juntii doing his moves. We all get a kick out of it. I don’t think I will be doing any piruets, but I will tell Juntii to do them. Maybe after the playoffs though!!
What is the best about Turku and Finland?
Turku – the people!! The people here have really welcomed me in like family and it is something I appreciate after being around Europe now.
Hello! Who player has been the most skilful or the most diificult to cure you’ve played against?
Ilu has amazing skill on this team. In terms of my playing history, I would say Radulov or Weinheindl in the KHL.
In college, Toews was amazing and so was Kessel
I enjoy a whole bunch of movies. My favorites right now are: Hangover, Superbad, Iron Man, Cinderella Man, and Avatar. Just saw Brothers and Hurt Locker, those are great movies.
TV shows: The office, Greys Anatomy, Entourage, Californication, How to Make it In America, Mythbusters, Parks and Recreation, and Mad Men.
TPS – HIFK is great! It’s my first live match and you make one goal.
What you think that game?
It was a huge win for us as a team because it secured us in the top-6 for playoffs, this way we didnt have to play this week just to make it into playoffs!
Great game by the boys
What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you while playing hockey?
Probably the face injuries: I broke my nose twice, lost my teeth (one of my teeth I have had replaced 8 times!!!!)
You played this season as a forward also, how was it?
Forward is interesting, but definitely different from defense. It is much more tiring because you have to skate at full speed all the time. Defense, you can sit on the blueline and stand there for a while!
Whenever a team needs it, I will play forward!
We could seriously call ourselves your #1 fans! Do you have pets?
I do have a dog named Mikku but he is living with my girlfriend back in America. I do miss him and cant wait to see him this summer!
No, I use Easton. I would use Bauer, but I am so used to Easton right now. I will probably use Bauer a little this summer to see if it works out.
What you think about TPS’s advantages against Rauman Lukko in upcoming playoff-series?
I think our powerplay is going to help us and we need it to be working really really well. I know that they study our power play a lot, so we are going to have to be ready!
If you had to choose one NHL team you wanted to be part of, what would it be and why?
I will go to any NHL team that wants to sign me!!!
Who do you consider the best player you’ve ever played against / with? What do you think is the biggest strength of team TPS?
Best player ever was Ovechkin. I played against him in the World Cup when I was 18. He had 6 goals in that game. Amazing player.
If you got an NHL contract for the next season which forward you’d hate to play against the most. On 1-on-1 situations and normally. Would it be Ovy, Crosby or some 250 pound Power-Forward
?
I am not sure, but I think it would have to be Ovy. Getzlaf and bigger guys like that would be a little more challenging, especially because of the way they play, but I would be ready if I play there!!!
Which clothes are the best in free time? And what is your favourite animal?
What I wear in my free time?? If that is what you were asking, then I wear sweatpants and a hoodie most of the time at home. It is just relaxing.
For brands, I really don’t have a favorite clothing brand. Most of my clothes are free from hockey. Thank you hockey!
My favorite animal is obviously my dog, but if I had to choose another one, it would be a lion. They were my favorite when I was a kid.
Who’s the joker in the team?
Juntti, Leggio, Nordlund are all in contest for that. They all have their moments!!!
What do you think about the upcoming game against Lukko?
It is going to be a very challenging game and series. They have a really good top line that we have to make sure we keep in check. Lots of weapons, but I think we will be ready. Playoffs are completely different than the regular season. Hopefully we can pull it off!!!
How often do you miss your homeland?
I miss my home sometimes, but it really isn’t too bad. Skype makes things very easy to communicate and I was lucky to have the privilege to go home during the break in February.
How is the crowd here? And is it nice to play in Turkuhalli?
I like the crowd here. I am hoping for at least 9000 on Wednesday and a SOLD OUT HOUSE ON SATURDAY!!!!!
Come on everyone! Bring everyone to the games this week and support the boys!
What do u think about new rule in NHL (checking to head player who is not ready for hit)?atleast i am bit worried about that ppl start to carry puck with head down and basicaly laugh for defenders who cant check them…
Guys can still hit players who have their head down, it is more to defend against elbows to the head and guys who jump into hits. I think it is a good rule and hopefully, they dont call too many clean hits!
Do you like finnish music?
The only Finnish music I know is what the boys play in the locker room. Most of it sounds like Finnish beer drinking music to me. It makes me feel like I am in a Finnish Beer Hall!!
What’s your favorite Finnish beer?
Favorite Finnish beer is AURA – Turku’s finest!! Koff is good too – I have to be politically correct, they are our sponsor!
I heard you’ve been studying in Finland too. What are you studying and when are you graduating?
I am studying on-line through the University of Colorado. It is an on-line MBA program. I am getting my Masters in Business with a triple major. The majors are Technology Management, Project management, and Finance.
What do you want to do for living after your hockey career? Move to Turku permanently and establish a coolest pub in town?
That is a good idea! Not sure though. Doing business of some kind. I would like to have my own business back in America!
If you would be able to what would you want to improve in Finnish League or generally in hockey? Or what you hate the most in hockey, if there is something.
I would like to continue to develop my defensive skills and play.
The one thing I do not like about hockey is having to be at the rink 2 hours before games. I would like to be there 20 minutes before warm-ups and then go out there and play!!
The level here is higher than the AHL, I think. It is not as high as the KHL, which is probably second best to the NHL, but it is still very good hockey. The biggest difference is the style of game and the overall level of talent.
Do people ever make fun on your height?
No, not really. Sometimes my brother does. But then I make fun of his big nose.
I am not sure William. Maybe contact the team and maybe we can work something out.
Well, in the one and a half years I have scored 24. I have to thank the great passers that seem to find me open in places to score.
You said you enjoy watching football. Soccer or American football? What’s your favorite football team? Ever seen a FC TPS game on Veritas Stadion?
American football. However, soccer has grown on me now that I have been living in Europe for the last 3 years.
My team that I play with in FIFA is Chelsea of the Premier league, but other than that, I wouldn’t know.
I have not been to a TPS game, but I may, depending on how long we are here for playoffs!
What do you think about your fan page in Facebook? Do you visit the page yourself?
I think that Tiina does a great job. I do sometimes check in to see the photos, so I can send them to my relatives back home, but other than that, I let you all enjoy Tiina’s hard work.
Describe the differences between Hannu Virta and Kai Suikkanen.
Oh, tough question.
They just coach with different styles. I can’t really explain it.
There is a bunch of good players in Dinamo Riga, like Masalskis, Hossa, Sprukts, Ozolins, Lavins etc. What went wrong for the team?
There are good players there, but they play in a league that is so talented and the budget is so small compared to these teams in the KHL. However, they eliminated SKA St. Petersburg in the first round of the playoffs and SKA has a 50 Million $ budget and Riga only $10 Million. Pretty good.
Latvians write English names the way they pronounce them, so in Latvia your name was Li Svets. Ever thought of changing it officially?
HAHA. That is their way and the same is true in Russia. I don’t think I would ever change it because of language difference.
Which player is your favourite from the team?
I love them all!!
I meant with the question “If you would be able to, what would you want to improve in Finnish League or generally in hockey”, what would you like to change generally in hockey not your own skills
or are there any things that needs to be changed in hockey in your opinion?
I am not sure. One thing I would change in the SM-Liiga is to change the rule for putting the puck over the boards. Currently, if the puck goes into the bench, that is a penalty. Every other league in the Europe makes the glass behind the benches the barrier for penalty. I think this is a definite rule to change.
Quick notice from admin: We are ending this session at 9 PM so shoot the last questions ! At the moment we don’t have any queue on questions.
Do you prefer the wider ice in europe or the ones in nhl for example?
It all depends on the style of game in the league. This league plays a North American or NHL style on a big sheet. Other leagues like the KHL play a completely different style n the big ice. It all depends.
Which goalie do you prefer: Leggio, Engren or Ortio?
All of them. They are all my teammates.
Do the others in the team speak good english?
Yes they do. Most guys on the team speak English very well. It makes it really easy for the imports to come in and play here because the guys are great.
Have you ever heard someone in the team mention Tikivin?
I have no idea. Sorry
My last question before I have to go to bed my mother said: I´ve been dreaming last night that you, Aki, Leggio and Atte have been flying with a hot air balloon… Have you ever done that, or would you or are you scared of heights?
Good night and hey, rock the play offs
I have never done that, but it would be fun!! Maybe one day. Thanks for the good luck wishes!!
Is it true that your grandparents are from Ukraine?! Did you visit Ukraine during the time in Dinamo Riga?
My grandparents are from Ukraine, but they live in the United States now. I did not go to Ukraine during my time with Riga, but I did see Belarus and Russia!
You and David both played in team USA in Deutschland Cup last year. Former TPS defender Kyle Klubertanz was also there. Did you talk about TPS?
Did David tell you to come back to Turku?
We definitely did talk about the boys here and TPS. David didn’t tell me to come, but he helped me decide to.
Do you havr any phobias?
Heights!!!!
What do you wan’t to drink Lee? I’ll be there in 15 minutes
Had a two beers already during this interview. Thanks for the offer. Got to drive.
Family,
Thanks guys. It should be a great playoff run and the boys and I are very excited.
For everyone on here, MYA means MOVE YOUR ASS!
Thanks for everyone for attending! It has been great! Make sure to come out to the game on Wednesday and especially on Saturday to cheer us on!!
Thanks again!!
Session is now over.
Thank you Lee and thanks all of you who sent questions!