Lovejoy on life in the NHL, '24/7' and 'yinz' - 09-06-11
The 2010-11 season was an interesting one for Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy. He became a regular NHLer for the first time in his career, scored his first NHL goal and inadvertently became a star on HBO's '24/7/' series largly by getting hit in the face by a slap shot.
One of only eight natives of New Hampshire to play in the NHL, Lovejoy took the long route to the NHL. After playing for Boston College and Dartmouth, Lovejoy spent parts of four seasons in the AHL with the Norfolk Admirals and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before finally spending the entire season at the NHL level in 2010-11. Appearing in 47 games last season, he scored 17 points.
Over the course of several months, Lovejoy, who grew up a fan of the Bruins, engaged in this Q&A via e-mail. He discussed many things including his first full NHL season, his high profile on '24/7,' Pittsburgh's regional dialect and creeping on Facebook.
EN - How did your first full NHL season go? What parts of your game are you satisfied with? What parts do you want to improve?
BL - It was a tough adjustment to the NHL. For the first two thirds of the season I spent much of my time trying to limit mistakes and not screw up. I feel like the last third I began to play my best hockey and began to play with a ton more confidence.
EN - At the AHL level, you’ve been a top 2-3 defenseman. At the moment, you’re a No. 6-7 defenseman in the NHL. Is that frustrating or are you just happy to be at the NHL level?
BL - I love being in the NHL and being a part of the Penguins is so cool. I don't mind not playing as much, just being here is amazing, you accept any role you are given and try to excel in that role.
EN - The team has quite a bit of depth throughout the organization on defense. Does that present any concerns over your job security in the long term?
BL - I can't worry about that. I know that if I do not do my job then the team will find someone else who can. I just try to focus on what I can control and for me that is playing my best whenever I am out on the ice. 
EN - You signed a contract extension last summer. Deryk Engelland (right) and Mark Letestu each signed extensions this past season. The three of you were not drafted by the organization and spent several years in the minors. Is that a product of the franchise’s ability to develop players? Or just a coincidence?
BL - I think the organization has done a great job developing (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) Penguins into the exact kind of players they want in Pittsburgh. For three years Mark, Deryk, and I spent everyday learning systems, skills, and the mindset that the coaching staff wanted. Playing in Wilkes was a ton of work, but it certainly developed the three of us into the types of players we are today.
EN - You spent time with Dan Bylsma and Todd Reirden in Wilkes-Barre. Do you think having them as your coaches – particularly Reirden on defense – made your first full season in the NHL an easier experience?
BL - Playing for both of those coaches is far from easy. After each practice or game both of them dissect every aspect of your game. I know that if I make a mistake I am going to hear about it after. That said, both of the coaches know my game and know what I'm capable of. They do their best to out me in situations where I can succeed and help the team win.
EN - We make you NHL commissioner for one day. What's the one thing you change about the league?
BL - Ban head shots. Like the Olympics.
EN - Boston's Andrew Ference got a lot of heat last season for commenting about a head shot delivered by a teammate, Daniel Paille. Did you see a problem at all with how Ference spoke out about it?
BL - Was Ference correct in his analysis of the hit? Probably. Should he have said something like he did to the media? Probably not.
EN - Can we call a goal, a fight and a facial injury a “Ben Lovejoy Hat Trick?”
(Note: Video contains some vulgarities.)
{youtube width="465" height="378"}MMxw4-hruMk{/youtube}
BL - Yes, but I do not wish the "Ben Lovejoy hat trick" upon my worst enemy.
EN - The puck you scored your first goal with. What did you do with it?
BL - Sitting on my mantle in my apartment. The Penguins recently gave me a little trophy case that it now sits in with a plaque.
EN - On the first day of training camp, you were asked if you thought a “Hard Knocks” version of the NHL would be successful. You said no because you felt the players were too bland. Do you still feel the same way post-“24/7," especially since you stood out on the show?
BL - Definitely not. I think we proved hockey players can be entertaining with the cameras around. Chad (Ochocinco) and Terrell Owens got a spinoff on Versus after the Bengals were on "Hard Knocks"... Letestu and I are waiting for the call...
EN - The day before the Winter Classic. You kidded that you were the most famous No. 7 defenseman in the NHL based on “24/7.” Have you noticed any rise in notoriety after we got a peek at your adventures on the show?
BL - Yes. People like you ask me to do interviews now.
EN - Your favorite part of "24/7" which didn't involve facial trauma?
BL - The narrators voice. That guy could make sitting in traffic sound important and exciting. I wish he narrated my life.
EN - Also at the Winter Classic, you met Mike Emrick. He introduced himself to you and you replied, "I know who you are." Do you get awestruck (if that's the right way to put it) at life as an NHLer? In other words, when you meet a famous broadcaster or a famous player or go into an NHL building for the first time, are you more of a fan than an professional player?.
BL - Meeting Mike Emrick was very cool, he was a really good guy and even now remembers my name every time I walk by him in rinks. But to answer your question, I do get star struck. The coolest thing for me was walking by Cam Neely and Bobby Orr in the hallway in Boston. Also every time our owner (right) comes in the locker room it's really cool. He congratulated me on scoring my first goal and told me I only needed 689 more before I caught him...
EN - Was being a healthy scratch for the Winter Classic a bigger disappointment than usual or was it just another game?
BL - Very big disappointment.
EN - You have a scar on the side of your face from taking that shot from Bryan McCabe. Do you think you’ll point to that and brag do your kids or grandkids about that in your later years?
BL - Definitely. And I will probably show them the HBO DVD when they turn 18, lots of F-bombs...
EN - What was the reaction from your family after that injury?
BL - After they found out I was alright they thought it was really cool.
EN - What is the world is going on with your face here while being interviewed by Dan Potash:
BL - Potash asked a really complicated question.
EN - On the ice, what the biggest difference between life in the AHL and NHL? Speed, hitting, size, etc.?
BL - Skill level. The AHL is very fast, maybe faster than the NHL, but in the NHL you have to worry about some of the most talented players in the world making moves at full speed. AHLers can't do that.
EN - Off the ice, what the biggest difference between life in the AHL and NHL? Travel, dining, accommodations, etc?
BL - All of the above. I am sitting in my lazy boy on the team jet as I answer these questions though. That is the biggest difference. When we played in the 2008 Calder Cup Finals we drove from Wilkes-Barre to Chicago for Game 6. It took 12 hours. Flying is better.
EN - How many of your own bobbleheads do you have from this Wilkes-Barre/Scranton giveaway:
BL - I actually don't think I have any bobbleheads at my house. They gave me a large box and I gave them all away. Everybody wanted one and I couldn't say no. Getting a bobblehead in Wilkes Barre was really cool though.
EN - You joined the franchise as a free agent in the 2008 offseason. Did you have any other offers or interest from other teams?
BL - I was offered by Montreal after my junior season in college, but I wanted to come back and graduate before turning pro. Then after my senior season I only had interest from Pittsburgh. I made the right decision.
EN - At what point did you think becoming a professional player was a legit possibility?
BL - My sophomore year at Dartmouth I started playing a lot and from there I hoped that I would get a chance to play pro hockey, but I didn't really know.
EN - You're one of six Dartmouth alums currently in the NHL (Lovejoy, Flames forward Lee Stempniak, Penguins forward Nick Johnson, Jets forward Tanner Glass, Avalanche forwards T.J. Galiardi and David Jones) There are a few others who have bounced between the NHL and AHL (Hugh Jessiman, J.T. Wyman, Grant Lewis). Do you keep tabs on one another?
BL - We do. Nick Johnson (right) and I sit together on the team plane and talk about the glory days all the time. We had dinner with Jones and Galiardi in Colorado when we were there. I text regularly with most of them, and saw all of them this summer at a few weddings. Unfortunately we never made it to the NCAA tournament with all the talent we had on our team.
EN - You also played lacrosse at Dartmouth. So you were pretty much the Big Green's version of Jim Brown?
BL - Ha, sure. 
EN - If you're not playing hockey, what kind of job do you have? Does that job have anything to do with what you studied in Dartmouth?
BL - I have no idea what I would be doing if I wasn't playing hockey. Hopefully I don't have to worry about that for another ten years. Probably try to start a hockey blog analyzing games and making fun of people's jersey fouls from my office at the Post-Gazette.
EN - Grant Lewis is a native of Pittsburgh. Ever rely on him for directions?
BL - Grant is one of the best guys in the world, but If you knew Grant Lewis you wouldn't rely on him for directions either.
EN - Canadian women's Olympic hockey player Gillian Apps, is a Dartmouth product. Are you aware her father, Syl Apps, Jr., is one of the most prolific players in Penguins history?
BL - I did know that. I know Gill quite well. We went to school together for four years I knew that her father and grandfather very both very successful NHL player. Gill came to our game in Detroit and sent me a nice email after the game.
EN - Most famous athletic Dartmouth alumni? Brad Ausmus, Jay Fiedler or Nick Lowery? Or anyone else?
BL - Ben Lovejoy? Probably Fiedler.
EN - Most Famous Dartmouth Alum?
BL - Dr. Suess.
EN - You only played a handful of games in the Civic/Mellon Arena but does it have any special meaning to you since your first NHL game was there? A favorite memory?
BL - Definitely my first NHL game. I played eleven minutes and 21 seconds and was plus one. We lost to Buffalo. Paul Gaustad crushed me behind the net. It made Sportscenter.
EN - Have any Yinzerisms invaded your dialect?
BL - Maybe I don't hang out with enough true Pittsburghers, but I still don't really understand "yinz." (Former Penguins defenseman and Hopewell native) Nate Guenin tried to explain it to me one time, but i don't know if I could use "yinz" properly in a sentence. 
EN - You would've been six or seven when the Penguins beat your childhood team the Bruins in back to back Wales Conference finals in the early 90s. Do you have any memories of that?
BL - Unfortunately I don't. My fondest memories of the Penguins were during my sophomore year in high school when (Alex) Kovalev (right) carried the Penguins to the Eastern Conference finals. He was so dominant during those playoffs and so fun to watch. We watched every game of the playoffs in the basement of Field Dormitory. I've had a man crush on Kovy ever since.
EN - Favorite Bruins player aside from Ray Bourque.
BL - Don Sweeney or Andy Moog.
EN - Ray or Raymond Bourque?
BL - Ray. My dad calls him Raymond though.
EN - Are you from Concord or Orford, New Hampshire? Either way, the Wikipedia page for each does not include you as a notable resident. Do we need to edit this?
BL - Born is Concord, N.H. but only lived there for 18 months. For the last six years my family has lived in Orford, N.H. and I say Orford is my hometown. If you are going to edit my Wikipedia page will you please put the picture of me and Potash up?
EN - "Live Free or Die" is pretty much the baddest state motto out there right?
BL - By far.
EN - Aside from the one which employs your services, are you essentially loyal to all professional teams from Boston?
BL - Nope. Penguins, Patriots, Celtics, Yankees...
EN - If there is one, what's the one Web site you have to visit every day?
BL - Facebook. I creep just like everyone else.
EN - With social media so prevalent, are you careful with using sites like Facebook or Twitter in regards to who you be-friend or follow?
BL - I am very careful with Facebook. I only friend people who are actually friends, and it's not because I don't like being friends with random people. It's because I can't stand reading the status updates of who I don't know. I have never tweeted, maybe someday.
EN - Who is your favorite person to follow on Twitter?
BL - (Coyotes forward and former Penguin Paul Bissonnette) @Biznasty2point0. I never thought I would say this but he is actually brilliant.
EN - Was there a point in life where jokes about Reverend Lovejoy got old?
BL - This is the first year anyone has ever called me Reverend or ever even made reference to it. Maybe people in New Hampshire didn't watch '"The Simpsons."
When we were staying in Montreal a TSN announcer called me Reverend Lovejoy during a highlight on Sportcentre (That's how they spell it up there). Mike Rupp asked me the next day how the announcers knew that was my nickname. Not everyone watches I guess.
(Photos: First Lovejoy, Engelland and Bylsma-Jamie Sabau/Getty Images; Second Lovejoy-Joel Auerbach/Getty Images; Mario Lemieux-Penguins Hockey Cards; Johnson-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images; Bissonnette-Jeff Gross/Getty Images)