Blue Line
Dropping The Gloves with Tyler Kennedy

Rookie center Tyler Kennedy has spend this season between the Penguins and the minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The 21-year-old Kennedy seems to have found a role recently, playing with energy and efficiency on the team's third and fourth lines. Kennedy appeared in his first NHL game on Oct. 27 against Montreal and scored first goal in the NHL against the New York Islanders on Nov. 3. He currently leads the team and is tied for the lead among NHL rookies in game-winning goals with 4. PSR Editor Tony DeFazio sat down with Kennedy shortly before the NHL All-Star break.

TD: What's your typical game-day routine?

Tyler Kennedy: Well I'm still living in a hotel, so I usually get up and head upstairs for breakfast around 8 AM and usually get to the rink around 9. I'm stretching by 9:30 and on the ice by 10:30. We usually finish practice by 11:30 or so. I like to eat at the Olive Garden because it's near my hotel, then I try to lay down around 1 and catch a nap from 1-4 in the afternoon. Then it's back to the rink.

TD: What road trips are you looking forward to?

TK: Going into Canada I guess…anywhere in Canada really. Toronto's probably one I'm looking forward to, it's always cool to play in Toronto.

TD: Do you watch any other sports on television?

TK: Not really. I'm not really a hardcore fan of other sports besides hockey. I'm more into fishing and stuff like that. If hunting's on ESPN, or if fishing is on, I'll stop and catch some of that.

TD: Is that how you relax in the off-season?

TK: Yeah, I've got a couple places I like to go. I have a camp too, so I just try to relax.

TD: Do you remember the first time you dropped the gloves in a hockey game?

TK: Oh yeah… we were little kids, but it was our rivals there were these two brothers. The younger brother actually plays for Hamilton now. But this was the older brother I dropped the gloves with. It wasn't really much of a fight, just two little kids not knowing what the hell they're doing. But it was a rivalry game, and the parents were all excited, and that got the kids excited.