|
Player Spotlight highlights the finer details and elements while supplying insight to the fans on what a player's thought process may be pertaining to a certain play, game or situation. It brings the intensity, passion, and inner most thoughts of the individual player that otherwise may not be felt or heard. |
02/02/08 Pat O'Toole - Rochester Knighthawks Pat O'Toole of the Rochester Knighthawks had a few words with PLPA Correspondent David W. Unkle following their 12-9 victory over the Philadelphia Wings. O'Toole won Championships as a member of the 1996 Buffalo Bandits (MILL) and won the Mann Cup in 1998. | ||
 |
You were the first goaltender in National Lacrosse League (NLL) to score a goal; can you talk about that game and how you scored? | |
 |
To begin with, the two goals that I scored were luck; I've thrown the ball down the floor many times in practice and it usually misses the net. The goal in Ottawa I meant to shoot it; the goalie came out to play our guy so I had a free opportunity at an open net and I took it. Again, it was luck; it went in and it looked good. If I did that fifty more times, I would probably miss the net every time. It's fun to score.
| |
|
|
What do you consider to be the most significant events of your professional career in the NLL and Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL)? | |
|
|
Definitely winning the Championship with the Buffalo Bandits in 1996; we won it at home with 16,000 fans just screaming yelling…it was a great thrill. Another big point in my career was when Buffalo cut me and Rochester picked me up. I got the chance to show that I'm not done in this league and that I can play at this level. My teammates here in Rochester show confidence in me. At one point when I was cut by Buffalo, it made me think that things were done. Coming here helped me get things back on track and I have to thank the Rochester organization for that. | |
|
|
How do you compare the level of play in the NLL with Canadian Box Lacrosse? | |
|
|
The distance between the level of competition and the style of play is getting closer every year. When we started, the American guys were better athletes and the Canadian guys had more box lacrosse knowledge. Over time, the American guys are picking up the box lacrosse style of play…the Americans weren't familiar with the pick and roll was. Now they do and they're fighting through the picks. Likewise, I think the Canadian players are in better shape. For me, I played the box lacrosse for me entire life so when you win the Championship it's like winning the Stanley Cup. When you win the Championship here in the USA, I compare it to winning the Olympics. It's just two totally different things. When you grow up playing the indoor game, you want to win the NLL Championship; for me, winning the Mann Cup was the goal. Now I want to win a Championship in this league.
| |
|
|
Can you share your thoughts on the changes implemented this year on goaltender's equipment? | |
|
|
It's definitely impacted my game and it's taken a while to adjust to it. The extra pads that you used to have are no longer there. I've been in game situations where I've thought that I had the ball. It's one of those things that had to be done because the goalies were getting ridiculous. They were getting bigger sweaters and they were tying stuff to their equipment. There's one thing about being big and another about adding equipment that is strictly for cheating and that's what happened. Goalies started getting webbing between their arms and legs and coming out with jerseys nineteen sizes too big. I think that it's something the league had to do and now I think it's fair. Everyone has to wear the same equipment.
| |
|
|
What were the keys to beating Philadelphia tonight? | |
|
|
We stuck with our game plan at the beginning, we knew Philly was fast but we didn't know they were that fast. I think they surprised us with their fast breaks early in the game. Once we knew how fast they were, the guys knew that they couldn't over commit and Philly was just burning us with their speed. They got out to that 5-0 lead and we had to adapt. For us, it was working the ball around; that's the key to winning against any team. When our offense passes the ball and work it around, they're awesome to watch. When we stick to our game plan, like we did tonight, we are capable of coming back from a 5-0 deficit.
| |
|
|
Philadelphia had a 5-0 scoring run to start the game; was it a flashback to last year's 21-13 thrashing at the hands of the Wings? | |
|
|
It's been a tough building to win; I won my first game here when I was with the Bandits and I've lost every game since. Philly has a loud crowd and great attendance and their players feed off of that. It's one of those things that if they come out fast, they get the crowd behind them. They did that tonight but we fought back and got one goal at a time.
| |
|
|
New Jersey's Ginny Capicchioni became the first female player in the NLL; what are your thoughts on females playing in the league? | |
|
|
I think it's great…I like the story that she was a field goalie and worked at the box game and travels two hours…I've always like the fact that if females can play the game without changing the rules, it's awesome. I think it's great for her and great for the league. It just goes to show that if you want something you can achieve it. | |
|
|
Last year's team went 13-3 culminating with a 14-10 loss to Albany; what do you attribute the team's success to? | |
|
|
We just have a lot of talent on this team and our success comes from working hard. It's going to be the same thing this year. When you go 13-3 and lose in the semi-finals, that is still considered a good season.
| |
Click here to read Kevin Finnerank's player spotlight. | ||
Click here to read Ben Prepchuck's player spotlight. | ||
| PLPA Correspondent David W. Unkle is the host of The Topcat Sports Show airing on Philadelphia's Renaissance Radio Station, WNJC 1360-AM every Tuesday from 4:30-6:00PM (Eastern Time). The Topcat Sports Show is a personal interview style program that explores the world of professional sports that exists beyond the game. Join David W. Unkle as he delves into the lives and careers of a wide array of local, national, and international sports figures. David also is a Staff Writer for South Jersey Sports On-Line (www.SJSports.com) and Our Sports Central (www.oursportscentral.com). David is a former semi-professional football player and ice-hockey enthusiast, and covers the Philadelphia Wings (NLL), Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL), Philadelphia KiXX (MISL), and Philadelphia Charge (WUSA). You can write to David at: topcatsports@msn.com or topcat4469@comcast.net |
|