You Never Know When You Play Your Last Game

Royals graduating overage forward Jake Poole only suited up twice in the final 18 games for Victoria due to injury.

Even with the lack of remaining games played, Poole was still their leading scorer, and was named the club’s MVP.

Poole had to watch from the sidelines, and after the final contest, emotionally walked onto the ice to join his team.

I caught up with him the following day during locker room clean out.

MARLON: Jake, the game ended. You were in your suit, and you stepped onto the ice and joined your teammates, take us through your emotions.

POOLE: Obviously trying to keep the tears in, but I couldn’t do that. I think when I was watching overtime and the shootout, just sitting there by the glass, watching them – just tears started to hit me. It was pretty emotional just wanting to be out there, final game, trying to help the guys win.

The Barn was filled with a lot of fans and just a special moment for a lot of guys.

I really appreciate all the fans being out there showing their support, and my teammates just playing a hard, hard game out there. It was really nice to see, and it just shows that how much they know what it to mean to us (the 20’s) and that it does…we really appreciate it from everyone.

MARLON: You didn’t want to get off the ice.

POOLE: No, no… It’s a tough, tough moment, seeing the past 20 year olds doing that kind of crying their way out of their last game and you just never think it’s going to be your time.

And then when it is, it’s very emotional and you just want to be out there with your teammates and keep hanging out with them because, you know your days are coming to an end and it just – it just sucks.

I’m just happy that we could spend it here in Victoria for my last season.

MARLON: You missed 16 of the last 18. How difficult was that?

POOLE: Yeah, it was really difficult, especially when I first got injured. We were still fighting for that playoff spot. We were a couple points out. It’s tough to go down and then just see us not make the playoffs. It was pretty tough to watch from the stands.

Especially in your last year with getting injured and not playing my last game. It’s just, it’s a tough way to end it, but still wouldn’t wish for anything else for sure.

MARLON: You start the season in Kelowna, you become a Victoria Royal, and you have a career year. Tell us about that experience.

POOLE: Yeah, obviously getting traded was a sad, sad day as well. It’s a part of junior hockey, and I guess I can say I experienced that part. But when I came here it was just, just awesome.

Everyone was great, people here and made my time really easy, and just could be myself really early on and just a great group of guys which made it easier on the ice. Playing with good players all year really helps get those stats.

That (stats) was probably my biggest success here. An unreal time here, I have nothing bad to say.

MARLON: One shy of 30 goals, you probably could have even had 40 this year.

POOLE: Yeah, my goal was 40. That was kind of the number I wanted to get to. But yeah, it sucks. I couldn’t even get to 30. But yeah, I still still wouldn’t change that for sure.

MARLON: The Awards were handed out, and you received Top Scorer and M.V.P. What does that honour mean to you?

POOLE: It’s really special. Obviously, when you look at those trophies, there’s a lot of big names on them, and it just a humbling to be one of those names on there. Those awards aren’t possible without all my teammates. There’s could’ve been five MVP’s on this team for the way everyone’s been playing and it was lucky enough to be me.

It’s just so easy to do that when you have playing with good players and just having a great group of guys to be around. It’s really awesome.

MARLON: What do you see here with this group going into next year?

POOLE: I honestly can tell you that there’s a bright future in there. A lot of those young prospects are looking pretty good too. I think a couple of those guys will be in the lineup next year and make a big impact on their first year.

And obviously having a young defensive core, getting lots of ice time this year really helps all those guys improve for next year.

I think another year under the belt for those guys and a fresh start is going to be huge. They’re going to do some damage in these next couple of years.

MARLON: What do you think you’re going to miss the most?

POOLE: I don’t even know. I think just everything like just coming to the rink every day, being around a group of guys, the fans making a great atmosphere every night to play in.

I’ll miss playing hockey. Miss being out there with the guys and having fun and the, bus rides are always, always fun. Those long bus rides you can attest to, you can hear us in the back screaming, yelling all the time. Thanks for putting up with that. (chuckles)

MARLON: So, what’s on the radar for you now?

POOLE: I’m just going to go home, try and keep recovering, try and get full health and go see my family for a bit and then I don’t know what the plan is for next year.

Obviously, I’m hoping to get a pro deal and if that doesn’t work out or get the right deal, I think
just going to go to school, play hockey at school.

I haven’t decided anything and it’s still still taking it day by day here, but just trying to settle down, see, have some time with the family and friends as I haven’t seen him in a while and see where it goes from there.