This will be my first “Around the NHL” story on this blog, but I feel its a good one to post. Even though its unrelated to anything Blues hockey, any hockey fan should enjoy this read.
Peter Budaj, a 27 year old goaltender born in Banska Bystrica, Slovkia, is the back-up goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche. He was the team’s 2nd around pick in the 2001 NHL entry draft and has played well over his five year career
Peter Budaj will look to help lead his team to the playoffs this year.
in the National Hockey League, amassing a total of 85 wins, 69 losses and 22 overtime losses. His 2.72 goals-against-average along with his .903 save percentage are built up over his five years in the NHL, but this season, he has improved greatly on those two stats in general.
Budaj came over to North America to play junior hockey with the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors of the Ontario Hockey League. His first year in the OHL didn’t go as well as he might have liked, finishing the season 12 games under the .500 mark.
In his second season with his junior club, he helped them get back into the playoffs with very solid sophomore season. Finishing five games over .500, he helped lead his team to the playoffs. Budaj would also lead his team to the playoffs in a dominating third season where he found himself finish with a 26-9-5 record.
After hard work in the AHL where Budaj did struggle at times, finishing only one of three season above the .500 mark, Peter Budaj became a NHL goaltender.
Now we are back where we started. Some under value Peter Budaj in net, which could hurt them in a game. While not the most spectacular goaltender in the NHL, and not even the number one goalie on his team, Budaj’s career numbers do not lie.
He finished under the .500 mark for the first time in the NHL last year when the Avalanche underachieved and finished at the bottom of the Western Conference. But with the Avs winning, and with Team Slovakia calling for the Olympics, I don’t think life could get much better for Peter.
Now that we have a little information on Peter Budaj and his career in hockey, let’s go to the interview. It’s not long, but it’s to the point. Six quick questions and answers for you to enjoy.
Budaj will represent Slovkia in the 2010 Olympics
Q. First off, congratulations on making the Slovakian Olympic team, it has to be a huge honor.
A. Thank you. It is a great honor to be on a hockey team for my country.
Q. After a long road of getting to where you are now, do you feel it’s been worth all the sacrifices to get there?
A. Of course it is! I get to play an amazing game for a living. It has paid off. All of the long training day and nights and all the coaches in my face and telling me I am worthless is well worth it because it pushed me to be a better hockey player. If it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t be where I am now.
Q. What are you looking forward to most about the Olympics?
A. Just to be able to play for my country is overwhelming. I can’t wait to be able to work with some of the best hockey players from Slovakia again. I can maybe learn a thing or two from them. It’s a great experience.
Q. With the Avalanche in 3rd place in the West right now, what are you looking forward to going forward this season?
A. As you know our success this year is a shock to everyone. I think Anderson and Coach Joe have been good additions to the team. I hope we can stick it out for the whole season and do well in the playoffs. We just have to keep doing what we are doing.
Q. You haven’t gotten to play much this season, but when you have, you’ve put together good numbers. How did you train this past off-season?
A. I played more tennis this summer; maybe that’s what did it! I practiced like we do during the season – 3 hard days of work and 2 easy. (It’s) just I don’t play games in the off-season besides tennis and maybe a little golf.
Q. You’re an unrestricted free agent this year, are you looking ahead at what might happen?
A. Yes, I would like to stay in Denver but I will be happy if I have to go to another team as long as I am a part of a team and can play. Even if I am a back-up.
I would like to thank Peter again for taking the time out of his day to answer a few questions and I wish him, the Colorado Avalanche, and the Slovakian Olympic team the best of luck this year (unless you’re playing the Blues or the USA Olympic team)!
I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did.
Randall Ritchey
