I interviewed T.J. Oshie!
Got a chance to chat with an Olympic legend
While most of you know me for my Red Wings coverage, I also, on occasion, do around-the-league pieces. I’ve written for everyone from AP Sports to SBNation, honing my skills as a writer across the NHL. This time around, I was approached with a rare opportunity: an interview with an Olympic legend.
For those unfamiliar, T.J. Oshie is one of the best Indigenous players in NHL history. He’s played for everyone from the St. Louis Blues to the Washington Capitals, winning a Stanley Cup and appearing in the All Star Game in 2020. Oshie is most notably known for his legendary performance at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where his incredible shootout streak earned him the moniker “T.J. Sochi”.
I’m so excited to share my interview with T.J. this week in preparation for his first-ever Super Bowl appearance. It always seems like retired athletes do side quests after they finish their careers, and it looks like T.J. is no exception to the rule. I’ve seen him show up on the NHL Network, contributing to ESPN, and even helping out with the Capitals. This time around, he’s partnered with Michelob Ultra (and Kurt Russell of all people) to debut his first-ever Super Bowl commercial next weekend.
How the interview went
If you’ve ever watched a post-game interview, your knee-jerk reaction might be one of hesitation. Sometimes, the players mute their personality or have to put on a hard face when the media hounds them with questions. Imagine losing in a blowout and then a journalist asks you “so what happened?” after a game. (Uh, I don’t know, they scored more goals than we did?)
T.J. was really kind and personable. At one point, my cat, Jimmy, decided to make his presence known, and, without a beat, T.J. asks what his name is and what he’s like. The rest of the interview went so smoothly after that. He even asked where Jimmy went post-interview!
Where to read it!
You can find the interview itself on Heavy’s website. While you’re on there, be sure to check out my author’s bio and a few of the other pieces I’ve written. Here’s a little snippet of my conversation with T.J.!
The average temperature of the Black Sea, for the record, hovers anywhere from 31-50 degrees Fahrenheit. Even the thought of that is enough to give me the chills.
Stay tuned for more updates from 313 Hockey. We’ve got the biggest interview yet on the docket!