Wes Walz
Wes Walz
Wesley Walzis a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and former assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. Wes currently works as a sports analyst on Fox Sports North for the Minnesota Wild Hockey Club. Walz volunteered as an assistant coach with the Raptors of East Ridge High School, Woodbury, Minnesota. There he coached his son, Kelvin, on the boys varsity ice hockey team and a few years later he coached his daughter, Jaedyn, on...
ProfessionHockey Player
Date of Birth15 May 1970
happen played second seems third wait waited
It seems like we wait and see what's going to happen before we go. In the second and third we played well, but we waited too long to get going.
turned
I didn't think I had to go out and get that one back. It just turned out that way.
fortunate games gave penalties seven six
If you take more than six or seven penalties in a game, you put yourself in such a disadvantage. There's going to be games when sometimes it just happens. We've been fortunate to been able to kill off those penalties in the past. But unfortunately, they got the power-play goal, and it gave them momentum.
chance opportunity playing rest thankful
I actually thought to myself, 10 years ago, when I was in this league, there was probably no chance of me playing the rest of that period, at least. I was thankful I got the opportunity to get back out there.
chance feels period third
Going into the third period in years past, there was no chance (for opponents). It just feels a little different. We've addressed some things here. We're working at it.
numbers percent
He was about 90 percent sure, and I said those are numbers I want to hear.
aware best creates guys league room
He's been the best defensemen in the league for 10 years. He just always makes the right play. When he's out there, guys like me have to be more aware of him when he has the puck, so that creates more room for the other guys.
call officials paying replay
If I'm paying those guys' salaries, I don't want them in there. It's a joke. Why do we even have replay officials if they're not going to call that?
lost played
It was unfortunate that we lost because I thought we played really well.
brought dressing five forward knowledge moving players room team
I don't see this team moving forward without Jacques. He's brought so much credibility and knowledge into our dressing room by making the players responsible and doing the same thing for five years.
ahead best challenge excited games last ourselves pulling stretch thinking win
It's been a long time. I'm excited about it. We have a real challenge ahead of us the last 15 games to try to win as many games as we can down the stretch to give ourselves the best chance. We're still pulling in here thinking we can make the playoffs.
backs bike dressing guys hard respect tries warrior works
Willie's a warrior for us. He's one of those guys when he talks, he backs up what he says. He works hard after practices. He'll be on the bike after a game. He tries to get better, and he has a lot of respect from guys in our dressing room.
understand
We all understand that it's something that could happen. I don't think anyone's untouchable in our room.
consistency days games last peaks played row seven stretch together valleys year
We've had more peaks and valleys in the consistency of our play this year than, I think, any other. If we can have a stretch where we put another six, seven games in a row together here, where we've played like we have over the last 10 days or so, we could be there.