Hunter Shinkaruk: Obviously, you want to play in the NHL and you want to get there as fast as possible. But at the end of the day, it’s the best league in the world for a reason. You don’t get there over night and sometimes it takes a little than other players. When I heard that was the outlook Vancouver had, it is what it is. It’s my job to become a better player every single day and keep working on my game and when I get my chance, [make] that my opportunity to stay. I am just a player, and I can just control what I do every day and when that chance comes, I just want to be ready. 

Brendan Gaunce: Hunter pretty much covered most of it but another thing I tried to get from it was that we were pointed out in the interview as players that they want to ‘over-ripen’, which means we mean a lot to the organization. It’s something that we’ve taken as a positive, that they are thinking about us for the future and just not for this year or next year. That is something that  you can look at as a positive because of what we done to.

Brendan Gaunce: I don’t think that changes the mentality you have as a player, you want to become an NHL player as soon as you can. Regardless of what they are saying, you can always push their hand in a certain way, as long as you playing the way you want to and you’re playing with confidence. You can show them that they are a NHL player and obviously for us, we’re trying to do that every day in our preparation. It’s something that is in the back of your mind, but it’s not something that is in forefront of your thoughts. You’re thinking more of establishing yourself as a player who can definitely play in the NHL.

Hunter Shinkaruk: Yeah, absolutely. They are all friends of ours and great players and we keep in touch. It is definitely something, you want to get up with them and you wanna have success with them and it’s something that strives you everyday. It’s the same as a lot of people in any profession, you have a goal of where you wanna be and that’s something that drives you every day once you wake up. It’s great to see them having success, we are all good friends but it’s up to us to keep working hard and get up there with them.

Brendan Gaunce: Can’t look at it in a negative way because they are obviously friends of yours and you want them to have as much success as you want to have. You have to learn as a pro hockey player, that other people may get somewhere quicker than you but at the end of the day, you want to be there for the long run. That’s something we are focused on now.

Hunter Shinkaruk: It was pretty crazy when I found out I was getting called up, I was very excited. It’s something I’ve dreamed of for a long time now, so when it actually happens, it’s a pretty exciting moment. For me to play my first game in Montreal was an exciting game. It leaves that taste in your mouth, that drives you because at the end of the day, we don’t want to play 1 or 2 games in the NHL, we want to play a long career. So getting that first taste was good.

Brendan Gaunce: It was definitely a cool experience, it’s obviously a lot different than the AHL in terms of everything. Everything is a little bigger and games mean a little more to fans and you are pushed into the spotlight a little bit. As a player, you want to focus on it, like it’s just another game.  That’s what we were trying to do. We’ve had a really good coach down here, Travis has pushed us to that every game means the same to a player. It’s something we will never forget.

Hunter Shuinkaruk: Growing up, you see the rookie lap [on TV] and you see it on NHL.com. For me anyways, it was something that secretly you always wanted to happen to you. Because, when it happens to you, you’ve made it and played a game in the NHL. I was just waiting to go out for warmup, when they told me I was going to go out first. It was funny and it is something that I will never forget. I’ve seen so many players do that lap and it was definitely cool that I got to do it. I thought it was pretty funny.

Brendan Gaunce: You have obviously seen other people do it before you and it’s always on the highlights before the game and as Hunter said, it’s the first taste to realize that you are in the NHL. It was an awesome experience. He obviously had some pucks in his warmup but I kinda just skated around in a circle, looking like a fool. So I guess his turned out a little better than mine.

Hunter Shinkaruk: I don’t really think too much of it, I like it here in Vancouver and Utica, so I don’t want too much action with my name on that day. I just try to focus on coming to the rink, like it’s just a normal day. It’s not something that is marked out in my calendar too much but obviously there are other big names that get traded on that day, so it’s interesting to watch.

Brendan Gaunce: For us, we aren’t thinking about it too much. We’ve obviously both enjoyed our time. Well, I know I have, and I am sure he has too. But with Vancouver, they have been a great organization for the start, so it’s something that you don’t really try to think about. Obviously if a trade happens, it happens but at the end of the day we are both very excited to be with this team. It’s a team you grow up watching, it’s obviously a Canadian team and with of us being born in Canada, it’s a very special team to be with. 

Gaunce: Is that good?

Shinkaruk: If you would believe it, I’ve had longer facial hair lately, so I don’t know why they think I look like that guy. A few times when I am out in Utica, a few people have told me I look like him. So it’s kinda funny, I don’t think he is a bad looking guy, so I’ll take that.