PAGCAST EPISODE 147 FEAT. RED DEER REBELS F DWAYNE JEAN JR.
[Music] welcome back to another edition of the pcast I’m your host Michael pagany joined alongside red dear Rebels forward Dwayne Jean Jr Dwayne welcome to the pcast thank you again for coming on yeah thanks for having me uh to open up this interview here I just want to ask like how were your holidays did you get up to anything special yeah you know um the holidays were excellent um I mean every I feel like every guy in the league loves to be at home spend the Christmas time with their family just a great great time to get your mind off hockey and just focus on being with your family again being with your friends just enjoying the moments you have the 10 days you have so I mean it was excellent it was good for me it was good for me personally and to get away from hockey just for a little bit clear my mind it was awesome how important is it to kind of just step away from the game even if it is for 10 days or so yeah I mean obviously you go through highs and lows for the season so just depending on that um it’s just how you want to get your mind based off hockey it’s just when you’re at home you don’t have to focus about waking up um going to the rink and being D in 247 you can kind just step back and just reflect your first half of the season and then after you’re done reflecting just enjoying your time with friends and family I think that’s what was a big part for me and yeah well because you don’t really get to see your family all that often during the season right so it’s really nice that you do have those 10 days to relax and not even think about going to the rank all day yeah actually I’m very fortunate um I’m really close to my home so I get to see my family lost but I know there’s guys like are Imports that come from Czech that don’t get to see their family at all so that Christmas time for them is really big for those those guys because they really get to reflect on their season so far and then just not even have to worry about hockey just worrying about being with their family because they haven’t seen them for four months so I mean it’s a big deal for them but for myself I’m just very fortunate for my parents and um they make it down to most of the games they can so it’s awesome well let’s talk about the most recent game 3-1 win over Spokane last night what went well for the team yeah you know what um our division’s really close right now so I mean we need every point that we can get and obviously coming into the game against Spokan um we haven’t played them they’re new new matchup so we just kind of took it like we had to we’re coming in we’re we’re playoff mode for the second half um standings are too tight so we’re coming into every game with a playoff mode mentality uh the first period went really well then I feel like our consistently slacked in the second but overall in the third period we probably played our best period and we came out with the win 3-1 how do you game plan around teams that are kind of active at the deadline there like Spokane just acquired Shay vanol he played last night how do you kind of game plan around those teams yeah um for us we were pretty familiar we played to sh V home um in Cam Loop so with this new guys coming in I feel like um it’s just keeping your head on the swivel just knowing who they are um how they played with their other team um what kind of player they’re like I feel like if you look at it that way then it’s not too hard but even seeing familiar new faces we haven’t played Spokan so it was a different matchup it was a different style of hockey that we usually play but it was awesome you finished with an assist on the game-winning goal last night what did you see on Sam’s goal yeah I just seen uh Carson Bernie he he chips it out of the zone and I kind of I got speed that I knew I could get to that puck so it was just matter of time when I could get to that Puck and stick lift him and win that puck battle and you know Sammy just throws a puck on that and we get lucky and he goes in so I mean it’s awesome Johnny on the spot right yeah Johnny on the spot your NE the next game is against the Americans as we are recording this episode what stands out to you about them yeah you know it’s my former team so uh I know a lot a lot about them um I know a lot of guys on the team they’re a good hockey team they they play a complete game they play a 200 foot game they’re coached by a really good coach to Burns um the GM’s excellent there Bob so I mean that whole organization’s ran really well um my time there was excellent I can’t can’t look back at it like it was probably the best couple times of my junior career I hadn’t try and they’re good team they’re going to come and compete they’re going to work so I’m just very excited to see some familiar faces and put my put my brain in battle mode and go against my former teammates and you’re going to compete even harder because it is that former team yeah way harder let’s get into your story B who you are uh who is your biggest influence to get into hockey yeah I feel like my I feel like a lot of people like to say they’re parents um but for me I I would I have to say my parents um you know my parents worked really hard from when I was young to be where I’m at today so if it wasn’t for them I don’t think any of this would be possible if my dad working countless hours not seeing him for months um I feel like that’s the biggest part for me and is just being so grateful for my parents for putting me into the sport and giving their their heart and watching their son just try to live out his dream I couldn’t do it without my parents how difficult was that not seeing your dad for months like I can’t imagine that yeah he he had he wanted to do it for the family he’s he’s an excellent Family Guy family comes first to him family comes first to all my family members U my sisters and my brothers and my parents um it’s always family first so my dad put on his work boots and just stayed consistent with it he put his head down um he didn’t get caught up in the moment he was looking more in the future for my family so if it wasn’t for him to be honest with you I don’t know where I’d be so I’m very thankful for my father was there a player growing up who you wanted to model your game after yeah I like to say I watched a lot of TJ ooshi growing up um not even TJ oi I watch a lot of Jordan 22 as well it’s was just like how Jordan 22 plays such a good game and then TJ J oi just plays a straight 200 foot game so I try to model my game after TJ oosi um he’s he’s good with the puck he plays a full 200 foot game he’s reliable he doesn’t make too many mistakes um yeah I just like to model my game after him did you end up watching like his SOI shoot out greatness there yeah yeah dude that that was insane oh my God and as and as someone who models you know kind of he’s like your role model it’s like oh my God he goes like four for four or whatever it was in the out against Russia in their home in their building in their bar shows them up man um yeah so you are from Edmonton did you cheer for the Oilers growing up yeah um I’ve been an Oilers fan since I’ve started watching hockey I think that’s probably what got me into it was watching the Oilers when I was younger um again I’m very fortunate for my parents we got season ticket so um when I was younger when I was able to go um I took every chance I got to go watch the star players you don’t get to see that very often so I took I took a took it I took an opportunity for every time that I could go that I would go with my parents and just try to watch to see what they do and try to just model it into my game do you have any memories of the battle of Alberta yeah oh of course um uh I was me so the Battle of laberta when uh not no yeah we went um we had our season tickets then um I was still in hockey though so I was still we were still in playoffs and then it there was my siblings I got to go so I didn’t even get to go so my siblings [ __ ] God damn it but I was at I was at the game when uh Mike Smith and cam talber fought really yeah and then what was that like like I was just watching that on TV I couldn’t believe it it was nuts it was nuts you never see a goalie fight no never that’s fought to Chuck yeah dude that was like that whole game is just so crazy yeah it’s those games are insane man they’re they’re one you want to watch do you have any memories of when the Oilers clinched number one in the lottery and won the McDavid sweep Stakes oh I was at school I uh I had I had uh I don’t even know whose jersey it was I taped McDavid on the back of the name bar as soon as we won the lottery that’s crazy okay cuz like last night I went to the Sabers and crocking game and so like Buffalo hates eel I never knew this they actually hate his guts and so a fan had a 15 Sabers Jersey but the number on the back was like duct tape black black duct taped out you couldn’t see eel it was hilarious yeah and I’m like I’ve never because I love going to NHL games and I try to go as as to as many as I can but I never seen that before I’ve never seen a city hate one player so much and I’m just like that is insane I couldn’t believe it ruthless no kidding um yeah but with you being from Edmonton did you go to many oo King games then yeah actually when I got a bit older so I lived on I lived on the reserve till I was like eight years old and then I moved to laish lived there for two years and then I moved to emont and then uh I moved in with my first Billet family like for my new team and it happened his brother was drafted to the Oil Kings so we ended up going to as many as we could during our season and yeah I always knew I wanted to play in the Western League after going to see the roal Kings so always made it a dream of mine well it’s always kind of cool to hear players like talk about how you know they were once a little kid in the Rogers Place cheering on the Oil Kings the next thing you know you’re sharing the ice like you’re growing up and you get drafted by right it’s crazy how how time flies is so crazy like just reflecting on my junior career so far like I’m 20 in April and I’m just like wow I remember just walking when I was 17 like geez time does really fly at such an early age you had the opportunity to play with Matt seavoy at the Alberta cup for team Alberta gold was it then that you noticed how talented he would become yeah I I’ve known Sav for a long time um even before that we’ve been buddies for a while now um but I I knew straight from from day one the first day I played Sab that he was going to be something else um even the work ethic he has in the gym too is crazy he he works his ass off um he’s dialed in 247 so I mean he’s a really good guy um he’s a really good buddy of mine yeah he I knew from day one he’s he crazy he’s crazy is he just a pain in the ass to defend you can’t he’s too fast he just blows by you yeah he’s an insane player he’s on an Next Level you had the chance to play in the Alberta Elite Hockey League uh that League produces Elite WHL talents uh such as Nate Danielson and Jagger ferus to name a few did you feel relaxed going into that League knowing that they have kind of that consistent basis of producing good talent yeah um I mean it was just for me it was a fresh start and something new um it was my first time playing Club hockey again for a couple years so the see those big names like I’m buddies with Danielson and Fergus too I played with them at the top 80 in Alberta cup so just to see the matchups we were going against like I had Brett Highland on my team I was going against Cen zemer uh ta Show De off so I mean there’s big names and it was good compete I wish the season would have lasted a bit longer but um you know I got very fortunate I got listed by try the last game actually of that season so I don’t if it wasn’t for that season I wouldn’t probably be where I am right now either so did you pay attention to the world junior title with knowing Nate for so long yeah um I know a few guys on that team like geeky um Savoy Danielson um yeah uh I’ve known I haven’t kept in contact that big with Nate but I mean it’s World Juniors every kid you watch it growing up so I mean you can’t really give it up you got to watch those games you’re rooting for your country so it’s a second Christmas right yeah uh you were so let yeah let’s talk about TR City you were dra drafted by the Americans in 2021 what do you remember from draft day I actually I wasn’t even drafted uh uh my Bantam year I got passed on and it was kind of an eye opener for myself um my had a big talk with my parents and we kind of just went off of what’s next um and it was just really me just putting my head down and just working as hard as I could I went and played the next year I had a really good year no interest yet so I mean it was it was back to grinding time um you know then Co happened and Co was very fortunate for me uh I took it really for granted um I was in the gym every single day with my build brother just trying to compete him and then um we played our six games and I ended up getting listed after our six game I got a phone call from my advisor just letting me know that I got listed and we don’t know by who yet so I mean it was for me it was just I’m very grateful that I didn’t even actually get drafted um it made me actually work so much harder put my brain in a different mental space of how to work hard and not to take anything for granted so I’m very thankful that I actually didn’t get drafted and it’s just it’s made me a better person it’s made me a better person all around not even Acky wise just not taking anything for granted anymore because you never know what’s going to happen so you kind of just had that chip on your shoulder then that’s all I could do um I was just another kid in a trial Jersey at that point so I had to really show that I could play at this level and I could be I could stay in this in this league as long as I can how big of a jump was it from Triple A to the WHL yeah I feel like for me again for Co um I moved to Saskatchewan so I could train and skate while everything was closed down in Alberta so I feel like I took a really big jump in my game there um I put on 10 pounds of muscle so I feel like um for me it wasn’t that big of a jump but um yeah I feel like it was still a really big jump the speed the you’re playing against men so I feel like that was the biggest thing for me but as soon as I feel like I got my boots wet I was I was pretty okay in the uh in the next season you did get traded to the rebels how did you find out about that yeah so my dad got in a super bad car accident and um it was only up my mom was only one home like that was the only one really taking care of at the point besides my siblings so I just went into uh Bob Tory’s office um and just he knew what was going on and you know the the organization there is unbelievable um they they got me out of there that day um it was nothing with play style or nothing like that it was just what happened with my dad so they gave me an opportunity to be closer to my family and I can’t thank them enough um the they’re great people over there my my bot family uh Jenny uh her kids Candace it was awesome there and TR just gave me another life to be closer to my family to help my family what was going on so I can’t be can’t thank them enough and you know I’m really happy to that I came to Red Deer it’s made me such a better hockey player um all around I’ve become a way better person it’s just everything you know about this league makes you better in each way um if it’s coming to the rink every day or just hanging out with buddies you grow you grow with them you grow as a person with them you you learn so much from off your teammates so I feel like this league has made me such a better person and uh it’s opened my mind a lot more so it must be nice to get traded to a team so close to home right where you just feel kind of more comfortable yeah I mean it was definitely it was it was a hard for me to get into it here um the conference is a little bit different so it was just figuring out how to play in this this conference and I I’ve became a really good hockey player since I’ve gotten here my game is really shaped out to be a way better 200 foot player so I yeah I can’t think Red Deer enough for how did you see your role change over over the duration of last season when you did get traded to Red Deer yeah um I was playing a lot of minutes in try um and then I got traded to Red Deer and we were we were the hottest team in CHL we were 15 and0 so I mean obviously my role changed a lot more than it did was in try but I mean it was for the team purpose I knew that and um we had a we had a sick team um we had an awesome team a great group of guys and you don’t see it very often team go 15 and0 to start the year so I was I knew my role was going to change and I didn’t mind it I just again have to put my work boots on and just work every day last season you guys went up against the Calgary Hitman in the first round of the playoffs holding a 3-1 series lead against them how did you make sure to finish them off and not kind of let the Hitman slowly creep back in yeah I think that was a big piece for us um we knew we were going to have some hard competition in the next round so as soon as we went up there uh two as soon as we went up 21 we we kind of knew that we needed to close it off we couldn’t let it drag we needed our rest we needed to be ready for the next round so I mean in the moment he was focusing on winning the next game and then uh obviously looking into the next round but um for that it was just keeping our head down we were a really consistent team last year we are this year but last year we were super consistent so we knew when we had calgar that we had to take him out and we had to be ready that series featured two overtime games what’s it like for you to be put in that kind of situation yeah it’s nerver rcking um obviously my role wasn’t playing in overtime last year so I I mean I got to lot watch a lot of that we had some great players like K you CH scoring 50 goals we had gro we had King we had Isley you you can just name them all um so it was just watching those guys in the moment do their thing um even watching From the Bench I mean watching them go down and your Zone you’re like oh my God like what do we do like what’s going to happen you know so it’s nerve-wracking but to see us shut them down in both those overtimes it was it was fun well even like there was a 65 overtime game are did you could you describe that atmosphere yeah they they actually we were winning five I want to say 53 and like they scored 5-4 with like seven minutes left and they scored with 10 seconds left to bring it to overtime and then Ben King scored it um the are fired up yeah I can remember like it was yesterday just the hairs on your skin stick up like it’s crazy yeah in the second round of the playoffs you guys went up you guys went up against the blades uh you know coming back down three 0 in the series to win it in game seven how do you carry that knowledge of what you learned forward in your WHL career yeah you know that was my first taste the playoffs so I mean for that to happen it was obviously really tough for the group we had had cuz we knew we could we could have went all the way with the group we had so I mean just for this year I feel like all the guys know what it takes to get to that to to the next round um we all got a taste of it we just got let let our foot off the gas a bit I think and you know we kind of got caught up in the moment uh but for this year I think it’s going to help a lot of our veteran players just knowing what it takes to be to make it to the third and fourth round um I know all all of us want to see what it’s see what it’s like to be in the fourth around pack Barn um you know it’s going to be crazy and I hope that we can make it there we have the team to do it are you able to describe what it is like having the series kind of slowly slip away from you yeah you know it kind of happens like just like that you you kind of you’re just stuck in the moment I feel like that’s a big piece you’re stuck in the moment um we didn’t think it was going to happen we’re up 3 and we’re going down there to play and kind of [ __ ] the bed and then unfortunate game five at home bad bounce and then we go back there and you know we kind of just lose and you’re just like how did this happen and then it’s game seven Anything could happen in game seven right you’re speechless and their barns packed they’re booing us their barns sold out so I mean it’s just like you got of just you’re speechless you’re lost for wordss you’re like how did how did this happen well plus you’re crossing over into a whole other Province you have to make the road trip so it’s like yeah [ __ ] how have you seen your game develop from your first game in the dub yeah um I could I can go on for a long time I mean my game is has really rounded out too um playing a complete 200 game I feel like I used to just worry about offense and ever since I got into the league I had to learn how to play defense uh if I wanted to get over the boards I had to learn how to be a reliable and how for when my coach calls my name that he can trust me when I go out there so I mean from now to when I was 17 I can definitely tell there’s a big difference in my hockey just even just like not making mistakes just being dialed in 247 you have to be dialed in or things aren’t going to go away your way or just even taking care of your body um that’s a big thing I’ve noticed since I’ve been in the league is you actually got to take care of your body and realize what you’re putting into it and it’s just more it’s more than just hockey if you want to be a good player in this league and just shaping out your game I feel like my game shaped out really well since I’ve been in the league and I’m just trying to keep it going from looking at your stats it gives me the impression that you are a playmaker is that kind of a fair evaluation yeah I mean I wish I could I like I wish I could put up more points I feel like I play a better game than my my points show but yeah I feel like I’m more of a pass first guy um I like to shoot the puck but I would say I’m a more of a pass first kind of guy well let’s talk about the rebel success so far this year fifth in the Eastern Conference or well not fifth um but you guys are kind of in that tight division what is going to be some of the keys for the team to have success as the second half gets underway here yeah um you know we started off kind of slow at the start of the year um we had a new coach new systems we’re just trying to get used to those so we had a slow start to the year but I mean you at our team from now from then um it’s a totally different team uh we all we all we all bought into the system we’ve all bought into being a red deer Rebel um and we’re in a tight conference right now so you need to you need to be consistent the whole rest of the second half and I feel like that’s what our coach has preached on us a lot lately since the break is we have to be consistent um because you never know what’s going to happen with how tight the conference is so I mean it’s just showing up and being consistent every day even in practice um making tape to tape passes knowing what you’re doing um it’s just being dialed in um cuz I mean I haven’t seen a conference this tight since I’ve gotten into the league so and just been consistent just got to run the table yeah how come you chose to wear number 22 um you know I haven’t actually wore 22 before um I had a few options and I haven’t wore 22 um and it happen to be one of one of the persons I grew up watching so um yeah it was pretty cool uh I didn’t even get to choose a when I was in try either so I just kind of just got got it given to me but yeah I feel like 22 is a sick number um I looked up to Jordan 22 so and he wore twos so yeah well exactly right you know you look up to this role model and next thing you know you’re wearing his number his number yeah besides the obvious main accomplishment of winning the W show what are you hoping to accomplish what I’m hoping to accomplish is um besides winning the league um I would just say is becoming a better hockey player in a person um opening up my mind to everyone else uh not being stubborn just trying to be the best version of Dwayne uh just coming in every single day working as hard as I can U being being a role model to the younger generations of the ariginal people and just being uh a veteran player for rookies just trying to be a leader and then obviously trying to make the next level playing a consistent game every night just trying to make it to the next level is my is my goal for the next rest of the season have you played in any teddy bear toss games I have actually um in Tri Cities I had a dream that I was going to score back door in the game and first first shift I missed the back door and then last year last year I Ed teddy bear to school so it must be just so much fun to see all the teddy bears just rain down so mine was a bit unfortunate we had two goals unallowed before so it was just a couple bears but when I was in try um it was crazy even like this year um you scored ours and it was insane did you see the Hershey Bears had 70,000 I couldn’t believe it well it’s cuz like they keep setting these record numbers I’m like how the [ __ ] is like are the fans being five bears like what the hell how are you dude like something need we need to get a research done on that it’s crazy that’s insane 70,000 and I’m watching I’m watching like Junior Hockey oh I was like oh yeah 20,000 that’s nothing her like yeah let me top that real quick [Music] 70 what crazy I couldn’t believe and like the teddy be toss is so fun like I love it oh everyone wants to score that goal too so everyone’s everyone’s going everyone wants to score was there any money on who would score or no no no missing the team bets we kind of all knew was gonna be youz I mean he’s our he’s our number one goal scorer so through your uh career in the W show do you have a favorite and least favorite Arena to travel and play in yeah actually I would say my favorite Arena would have to either be I would say half to be all the US divisions um Spokane Portland Seattle Seattle’s insane um Portland’s insane Spokane’s insane all their fans are insane um the US div is something else it’s crazy down there and then uh I would say probably either Swift K or Winnipeg last year Winnipeg is kind of brutal such a long travel and then you’re in two different rooms you got a forwards room and a de room actually yeah wow that I never knew that about Winnipeg I mean obviously they moved since right but like that’s crazy yeah no wonder they moved wow and it was my first time being there so and it’s cold down there well yeah I mean it’s it’s obviously cold they’re not getting 20° weather that wow interesting okay so then how did you like how just the do you guys just gather in the room like one room for one room that’s crazy cuz I thought I thought you know what the the standard was just one room but no obviously it’s not Bes besides on game day you get you get an actual room but for practice days you’re in two different rooms yeah of course that’s so weird wow uh okay so I have some just like quick fire questions before we hop off this interview here uh my first one is what is your favorite vacation spot um I would have to say when we went to uh Bahamas me and my mom and my dad when I was younger it was I haven’t been anywhere since then but yeah I haven’t been able to go on a vacation in a while I mean personally for me like I love Ottawa Ottawa is awesome I love the tourism there the museums everything I’ve never been to Ottawa yeah like there’s so much to do there and like obviously I’ve I’ve asked a lot of players this question and you know they say Mexico Bahamas like the warmer destinations I’m over here I’m like I love the freezing cold I love the winter time I love yeah I’ve never been to on yeah no it’s it’s actually like the stuff do there is is so awesome and me and my family we try to go up like we we love it so much like we don’t even have we don’t even have family up there we just love the tourism so we try to go up every once once in a while um but yeah like that’s my favorite vacation spot yeah I’ve never been there so I can tell you for your TV show like do you have any favorite one or like do you have a favorite movie uh I wouldn’t say I’m a big TV guy more of a video game guy oh what what games are you ripping I usually play I play a lot of Hut and chill yeah and then some fortnite with the guys once in a while but I usually those are the two games I rip as well yeah yeah I’m a big so I I am a sniper 59 sniper build on on eel yeah on Isel I I just love ripping Goos it’s so fun yeah like probably after this I’m gonna hop on my like cousin and start playing yeah well why not right uh fortnite you know like I love that um I got the Peter Griffin skin yeah I grinded that man I I saw it in the battle pass I’m like ain’t no [ __ ] way I’m I’m missing that I I am grinding for that the the the Eminem one was pretty sick too it was I I like what they did to the game I won’t lie yeah it’s fun like I don’t really play it that much like I’ll just join up when all the boys are playing tilted Zone Wars and we all just kind of playing a private match but besides that I haven’t really played it I I don’t like the the the run the Sprint no it’s so dumb the mo the movement they messed up on so badly B you can’t run in builds so I’m just like I don’t this game anymore my last question for you is uh do you have any advice for any hockey players yeah I feel like um if I could give advice to the younger people is um things aren’t going to go your way all the time uh you got to keep your head down and you got to you you can’t stay in the moment um nothing’s guaranteed in the hockey world so I mean it’s just putting your head down and working harder than the person next to you even if it’s your teammate um you’re in it you’re kind of in it for yourself trying to make a career out of it so I mean it’s just putting your head down um don’t be in the moment uh nothing’s guaranteed so it’s putting your head down staying dialed um and just outworking the person next to you if it’s your teammate if it’s a stranger just outworking him and trying to be better than everyone else so I feel like that’s a big part of my career is just trying to be better than the person next to me awesome I like to thank again Dwayne Jean Jr for joining me on today’s pcast thank you again Dwayne thank you so much I had so much fun [Music]
Today’s guest on the Pagcast appearing in episode 147 is Red Deer Rebels forward Dwayne Jean Jr.!
Some topics discussed during the interview:
-Finding out about the trade to the Rebels
-Noticing Matt Savoie’s talent
-How the AEHL helped with his development
AND SO MUCH MORE!!!
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