“Up Close” is an All Habs Hockey Magazine feature that gives readers a back-stage pass to athletes, management and sports personalities via our exclusive interviews. Previous guests have included HNIC’s Steve Porter, NASCAR’s Andrew Ranger, Habs prospect Mark MacMillan, Montreal’s Annakin Slayd, Canadiens’ former assistant captain Josh Gorges , Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden , legendary goalie coach Francois Allaire , sports apparel entrepreneur Jason Portnoy , media personality Dahlia Kurtz and Swedish Canadiens Mats Naslund, Peter Popovic and Jacob de la Rose. This week, we caught up with former Canadiens backup goaltender Peter Budaj for an exclusive interview.
“Peter is one of the genuinely nicest human beings I’ve ever met. He’s an unbelievable back-up. He’s a really good friend of mine. He’s one of the best friends I have on this team. He showed a lot of character. He never hung his head. He never pouted. And he showed the utmost support for everybody including Dustin [Tokarski]. It takes a special person to do that.” — Carey Price, June 2014.
TORONTO, ON. — A native of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, 32-year-old Peter Budaj has spent the past decade and a half pursuing his goal of playing in the NHL and winning a Stanley Cup. Peter has been around the league for the last 10 years with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets organizations. Peter came over to North America when he was merely 17-years-old to pursue his career. With the love and support of his family along with years of hard work, the Colorado Avalanche drafted Peter 63rd overall in 2001. Here we will take an in-depth look at the life and career of Peter Budaj.
Personal life:
All Habs: Was hockey the sport you always knew you were going to end up playing as a kid?
Peter: I was hoping. I really, really liked it since I was a little kid so I am very thankful that I have fulfilled my [childhood] dream… at least one of them.
All Habs: At what age did you start playing hockey?
Peter: I started to skate when I was four and I started playing when I was five.
All Habs: Who inspired you to want to become a hockey player?
Peter: My parents are sports-orientated people so they have been my biggest encouragement. They sacrificed, I would say, everything they could for me and my brother and I am very thankful for that.
All Habs: Is there anything specific you do during the off-season to keep yourself in shape for the up-coming season?
Peter: I work out as much and as hard as I could. I keep trying to add new stuff because of the whole hockey goalie coaching and work-out evolving and I want to stay up to date with the best exercises and drills specifically for goaltending.
All Habs: What other sports do you enjoy to play and watch?
Peter: I love almost every sport, I’d play anything when I can, but football (soccer because in North America it is soccer) is my second favorite sport that I watch and play.
All Habs: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Peter: I love sports as I said so I try to go outdoors and play but I also like movies, books sometimes or go-kart racing.
All Habs: Do you have any specific pre-game rituals or superstitions?
Peter: Every goalie and player has a routine, and I have mine. I try not to be superstitious because I think it doesn’t help but I definitely have a routine.
All Habs: What is the hardest part about being on the road during the hockey season and why?
Peter: Now that I am married and have a family, that part away from my kids and wife is hard but before that it is little hard on the body, travel and playing but I can’t complain because we are taken care of amazingly by organizations that provide the best travel, hotel and food for us.
All Habs: What significance does having the Simpsons’ Ned Flanders on your mask represent?
Peter: My old equipment trainer Terry Geer used to call me “Ned” when I first broke into NHL so it stuck with me.
All Habs: Is there any significance behind your number?
Peter: I always wanted to play with number 30 since I was a kid I always had it but when I broke in to Colorado Avalanche organization they gave me 31 so I used that one and when I went to Montreal I got 30.
All Habs: Do you keep in contact with any of your former teammates? If so, who are they?
Peter: I do. I try to stay in touch with most of them but I know it is hard because everyone is busy during season and we live in different areas in the off season so sometimes with messages and all.
All Habs: Do you remember your first NHL game? what was that experience like for you?
Peter: I do! It was amazing. We played in Dallas and it was second game of the season coming on back to back nights. We won and it was one of the most amazing moments for me in my hockey career and life.
All Habs: Where do you see yourself ten years down the road?
Peter: I don’t know! Obviously I am not getting any younger but I would like to play as long as I can, so we will see, maybe as a goalie coach because I would love to stay involved with hockey.
Hockey career:
All Habs: You came over to North America at seventeen years old in 1999 to pursue your NHL career, what was the toughest adjustment for you to make?
Peter: It was difficult but it was very exciting for me because it was what I always wanted, so it was great experience for me and I know that it was so hard for my family (parents) to let me go play to North America because I was so young. It was hard adjustment with language, but it was good.
All Habs: You were drafted 63rd overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2001, how did you feel once you found out?
Peter: I was at the draft in Florida with my parents and agent. When they called my name it was so amazing and I was so happy my parents and brother were there with me also so I could share that moment with them.
All Habs: Stemming from your junior days, you have represented Slovakia multiple times on the international level, how does it feel every time you pull that sweater on?
Peter: It is a very very special moment to represent the country. I am sure every player who has ever played for his own country can tell you the same thing. Very special moment to hear your national anthem and to wear your countries jersey. It is an amazing feeling.
All Habs: After your stellar 2006-07 season, you were selected to the NHL young-stars roster, would you consider this to be one of your biggest accomplishments? If so, why?
Peter: I think so. It is an appreciation for your hard work and commitment so I was very privileged to play at the young stars game with many great young (at that time) players.
All Habs: After playing six seasons with the Colorado Avalanche at the NHL level, was it a tough decision to test free-agency?
Peter: Yes and no. I really liked Colorado because it was club that drafted me and it was a special place for me but I knew that free agency is part of the hockey world and it would happen eventually.
All Habs: What are some of your most fond memories from your time as a member of the Colorado Avalanche?
Peter: Putting on the sweater for the first time. First game, first win, first shutout, playoffs etc… They are all amazing memories that I am very very thankful for and also playing with so many amazing players like Joe Sakic, Rob Blake, Pierre Turgeon, (so) many players I haven’t mention so those are great memories.
All Habs: What was it about the way the Montreal Canadiens organization that persuaded you to sign there as a free agent in July of 2011?
Peter: I would say everything because tradition, amazing organization with so many Stanley Cups, a winning organization that wants nothing less then winning the Cup, so I was very happy when they approached me.
All Habs: When you first arrived in Montreal, what was the thing that surprised you most?
Peter: I was surprised by how much people love hockey and Montreal Canadiens. You always hear about how Montreal is a special place to play with amazing fans but you don’t really know how special it is until you are putting on the jersey and start playing for the Canadiens.
All Habs: What were some of your favourite things about the fans in Montreal and the city of Montreal in general?
Peter: The atmosphere in the Bell Center and how people live with you as a player and they are your extra man when you play a game, you can feel their presence.
All Habs: Over your three seasons in Montreal, what were some of your best memories?
Peter: Just being a part of Montreal Canadiens is something amazing and I am very thankful for those great memories. Going to conference finals and battling for the Stanley Cup in the playoffs. Also meeting some of the greatest legends the hockey world has ever seen like Jean Beliveau.
All Habs: You were included in a trade that sent you from the Montreal Canadiens to the Winnipeg Jets before the start of the 2014-15 NHL season. Were you excited to embark on a new chapter in your career?
Peter: Yes and no. It was difficult because I liked it in Montreal and I thought I did what was asked from me but it is a part of the hockey world. Trades happen and that’s a reality of sport, but I was excited to be part of the Winnipeg Jets organization because I know that they are an up and coming team with fans and organization that want to win.
All Habs: What has been the toughest thing you have had to go through in your career? How have you worked your way through it?
Peter: I think last year was the hardest I have ever encountered but you just have to stay positive no matter what happens, work hard and keep going. It doesn’t matter how many times you will fail, just get up, keep going and try your hardest every time you have a chance to skate and play. I am a Christian so I trust that God has a path ready for me that is the best for me even though sometimes when you don’t see it because we as humans are very short sighted, so just have faith in him and keep going.