 Forward Matt Caria is featured in this edition of “Breaking the Ice with…” The feature showcases different Whalers so we can get to know them.
Selected by the Toronto St. Michael's Majors in the 6th round (118th overall) in the 2004 OHL Entry Draft, Caria made the move with the team to Mississauga before being traded to his hometown Soo Greyhounds along with an 8th round draft pick in 2009 for Jordan Mayer and a 1st round draft pick in the 2008 CHL Import Draft. On December 9, 2008, the Whalers acquired him for Windsor's 3rd round pick in 2009, a 2nd round pick in 2010, and a 6th round pick in 2011. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, native, who finished tied for 4th in league scoring, took a few minutes after practice to help us break the ice and chat about being named CHL and OHL Player of the Week, scoring 8 points in a game, and the history behind him and Chris Terry. » On the best advice he has been given… “Probably just have fun and you are going to meet a lot of people when you play, so just enjoy it. It’s an experience and some kids wish that they could play in the OHL and I’m living it, so it’s pretty fun.”  » On his youth hockey highlight…
“Winning All-Ontario’s with my bantam team.” » On the championships he has won… “When I was younger, I remember winning a lot of tournaments when I played as like a 10, 11 and 12 year old and those bantam All-Ontario’s.” » On his most embarrassing hockey moment… “I don’t have one.” » On who has influenced him in hockey… “I would say my parents, my mom and my dad. They have done everything for me and they got me to where I am today.” » On his most memorable game… “My most memorable game would probably be in my second year with Toronto St. Michaels Majors when I got 8 points in one game against the Brampton Battalion.” » On if he has played with any of the guys before… “No I haven’t.” » On the trade process… “Well the Sault Ste. Marie team was young this year and wasn’t doing too well and I figured I wanted to go to an older team with more experience. My GM called me into the office and said Plymouth gave them an offer. Plymouth didn’t like where they were at the time I got here, they were in tenth, but they felt they could do a lot better and saw me being a big part of the team. I liked what Coach Vellucci said and I came here and it’s been going well so far, so hopefully we can go far in the playoffs.”  » On if it was hard to leave his hometown team…
“No, I mean it’s a business and it was nice playing in my hometown, but after a while you get sick of being there all the time. I miss my family and friends to an extent, but I’ll see them again after the year. This is business and sometimes you just have to move on.” » On adjusting to a new team… “It has been too hard of an adjustment, actually the guys on this team have been really great. The guys on the Soo and here have been really good and it was an easy adjustment for both teams.” » On comparing the three teams he has played for… “They are pretty similar. Toronto was a team where we were very skilled, but we didn’t win games. We didn’t have a record to show for it, but I met a lot of great people there and had a lot of fun. We had a young team and didn’t go very far in the playoffs. Toronto is one of the best cities in Ontario and hockey’s first. In the Soo, we made a long run last year. It’s my hometown, so it was nice to be back there and playing in front of everyone. Now with Plymouth, it seems like a great town. We’ve turned it around and made the playoffs and hopefully we can go on a long run.” » On attending NHL camps… “It was a good confidence builder for me. I went there after my second year and Tyler Kennedy from my hometown was there. It opened my eyes to see how those pro guys prepare and play the game. It opened my eyes and it helped my confidence and my game.”  » On living with another player…
“I like having a roommate. This is the first time in my career I lived with another player and it’s great. It’s a lot easier and living with (Scott) Fletcher is a lot of fun. He’s a great player on and off the ice and he’s a lot of fun to hang out with.” » On who he tries to model his game after… “My favorite player is Alex Kovalev because everyone knows he’s a really skilled player. I try to model my game after Daniel Briere.” » On what he should bring to the team… “Just being an older player, I bring some leadership and I’m counted on as a goal scorer and playmaker on the ice.” » On the toughest player he has played against… “My first year when I played against Wojtek Wolski. He was probably the best player I have ever played against. I see him now playing in the NHL, he can do whatever he wants. He’s big and strong and can score any chance he gets.” » On if he has any superstitions… “No.” » On if he has any nicknames… “I've heard things like Caresy, Caria and basic Matty. That’s about it.” » On what he'll do after his OHL playing days are over… “After this year, hopefully I will play pro whether it is in North America or Europe. If I don’t do that, I have to decide on going to school.” 
» On his typical day… “On non-game days, I wake up have breakfast, chill with my roommate Fletch come to the rink, practice, go back home and since I live with a roommate, we do a lot of fun things here.” » On his pre-game routine… “For my pre-game routine, I try to change it up since I’m not a very superstitious person. I try and eat breakfast, eat lunch, and have a nap and pre-game meal. That’s about it.” » On his dream goal… “In the Mem Cup or a playoff round where our team is needing a big goal.” » On his linemates and winning the CHL and OHL Player of the Week Award February 23rd… “Playing with those guys is pretty easy. You just get them the puck and then you’re either going to get it back or it’s going to be in the net. Chris Terry is a very skilled player and it shows as he’s been in the top of the league for scoring the past few years. Tyler Seguin is a young player, but he’s definitely very skilled. I’m happy to be playing with both of them. They definitely helped me get Player of the Week. They’re very skilled and creative players and we just seem to click together.” » On the history behind him and Chris Terry… “Last year in the Soo we got in an argument, said a few things to him, and I got suspended by the league for it. Since I got here, we have become linemates and good friends on and off the ice. We put it behind us and can just laugh about it since things have worked out well.” » On if there is anything behind his jersey number 15… “No, I was told I had to stay below 40 and that was just the only number left when I got here.” » On what he'd be doing if he didn't play hockey… “I can see myself just going to school like the rest of my friends and I’d probably like to be a teacher or I can see myself going into business.”  » On the craziest thing that has happened on the road… “No comment.” » On what TV character he'd be… “Jack on Lost.” » On his funniest teammate… “(Jordon) O’Neill.” » On what one thing he could not live without… “Water.” » On the person he'd most like to meet… “Alex Kovalev.” » On a rule change he'd make in hockey… “I would change the rule with fighting and not being able to take off or lose your helmet.” » On what other players he would want on the ice with him… “Kovalev and Matt D’Agostini as my linemates. Scott Niedermayer and Danny Markov on D and Felix Potvin in goal.” -Natalie Shaver, March 5th, 2009- -- Other Players' "Breaking the Ice" Features -- | 
