Mitch Marner Talks Video Games, Bon Jovi, and His Mom
The kids have officially taken over in Toronto. With seven rookies in the Maple Leafs’ high-octane lineup this season, we’ve decided to launch a new series of interviews to help you get to know all the new faces populating the bench for the Buds.
First up: 19-year-old Mitch Marner, who led the London Knights to a Memorial Cup title last season and is currently tied with Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine for the most points among NHL rookies. Here, the Markham, ON native discusses the players he looks up to, his love for Bon Jovi, and how he likes to spend his free time.
Who was the player you most admired watching while growing up? Someone you tried to model your game after?
Patrick Kane and Sidney Crosby, I think those two are pretty big names that everybody liked to watch. Those two guys were really fun watching growing up and everybody I knew wanted to be like them.
Who’s one current player, not on the Leafs, who you love watching? Someone who you are always shocked every time you see their highlights.
It’s hard to say. Obviously Patrick Kane is a guy like that for me. He makes plays out there that are usually pretty spectacular so I’d have to say it’s always fun watching him.
So your mom became a bit of a celebrity after she said she missed your first NHL goal while having gone to the bathroom. What did you think when you heard about that?
It was kind of funny. I didn’t know about it until I got off the ice but when somebody told me, I had a little chuckle about it. It’s all good fun, we joke around about it now. She’s been telling me stories how she was celebrating with the concierges and people in the concessions. It’s just all fun and jokes now.
A few weeks ago against the Vancouver Canucks, you were caught on the bench singing Living on A Prayer during a stop in play when it came on the loud speaker at the ACC. You looked pretty into it. Where did your love for Bon Jovi’s music come from?
Well obviously that song is pretty famous, I think most people know it. But I always just try to stay light on the bench at all times by just singing in my head or singing out loud sometimes. It just keeps me calm on the bench and in a good mood to have fun with the puck on the ice. Obviously I didn’t realize the referee was going to be coming over that quick and the camera was going to be panning over, so I caught it at a bad time I guess.
Or a good time depending how you look at it?
[Laughs.] Yeah, I guess so.
Before making it to the NHL, what was your greatest hockey memory as a player?
Winning the Memorial Cup last year with the London Knights. That was pretty spectacular and really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Did you come to a lot of Leafs games as a kid?
I got to come to a couple. It was hard because I was always playing hockey myself but I came to a few. It was something I’d always look forward to all day at school just getting home and going straight to Toronto to watch the game.
What’s your favourite Leafs memory growing up?
It’s hard to say. I really enjoyed watching Dougie Gilmour and Mats Sundin play, they were both spectacular players for this team. Just kind of watching them ignite this city and grow into the guys that everybody wanted to grow up to be was pretty spectacular.
Has it hit you yet that you’re playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs and wearing the same jersey that Gilmour and Sundin did?
It’s kind of crazy when you think about that. Obviously there have been so many great names that have come through here and played for this team so our mindset is to just honour that legacy as much as possible and make sure that everybody is playing for the same reasons and the pride of our crest.
What’s one thing about being in the NHL that has surprised you?
I guess I knew how many games we played, but I didn’t realize how often you end up playing games. It’s kind of crazy how often you are playing games. That’s been the most surprising thing. You play so often so that it’s something you definitely have to get used to.
What’s one thing that has nothing to do with sports that you are passionate about?
Video games. I’m pretty passionate about them. I like playing with my buddies from school or different hockey cities. It’s a great way for us to keep in touch and communicate.
What’s your go to game right now?
The new Call of Duty that just came out. That’s definitely number one on my list right now.
If you aren’t watching hockey on television, what sport do you most enjoy?
I’m a basketball fan. But honestly, whichever sport is in the playoffs at the time, that’s always the best sport to watch to me.
