Mike Strumberger leads the NIU hockey club with 14 goals this season. As a team, the Huskies are 6-9-0-1 on the season. Strumberger took a time out with the Northern Star to discuss his hockey influences, the team’s performance this season and what he wants to get done as a team and individual.

Northern Star: When did you start playing hockey?

Mike Strumberger: I started playing roller hockey when I was eight, and I started playing ice hockey when I was 10.

NS: Who were some of your favorite players or influences growing up?

MS: When I was growing up, probably Peter Forseberg was the player I looked up to the most. And then there’s Wayne Gretsky because he was pretty much the king of hockey.

NS: What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?

MS: Always be a team player, there’s no “I” in team, and if you don’t play as a team game in hockey it’s very unlikely you’ll get a win.

NS: What do you think of the team’s performance this year?

MS: So far we’ve had a big win against ISU. We’ve kind of had an up-and-down from the start of the season. We’re doing decent, but to make the playoffs we’ll have to pick it up our next few weekend games.

NS: What was the hardest hit you remember taking and giving?

MS: Probably our game against EIU two weeks ago. They had a guy that was about 6-foot-5 [inches] on skates and he hit me pretty good in the corner. The next play I hit him back, I’m not sure how much damage I did but it felt good to me and also to say that I hit the big guy.

NS: In an earlier interview Coach Sullivan described the team as one of the hardest hitting but cleanest teams he has seen, do you agree with that?

MS: At the beginning of the season we were pretty much hitting everything we could. We slowed down the last few games which might be why we lost a few games we should of won. I think if we start hitting the body again we might start winning games we should be winning.

NS: What do you look to do for the rest of the season as team and individually?

MS: As a team we definitely want to make the playoffs. Right now we would be in the playoffs but we still have three more weekend series in league game. As a personal goal I would like to get an assist this year. I have 14 goals but no assists yet, so I would like to get an assist.