Catching up with Jonathan Quick

HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- From the ice rinks in Hamden, to hockey's biggest stage, Jonathan Quick is the goalie for the Los Angeles Kings.

The same Kings that are making an improbable run through the Stanley Cup playoffs.
    
In fact, Quick allowed the New Jersey Devils just one goal in game one of the Stanley Cup final Wednesday night.

Below is a transcription of News 8's John Pierson's interview with Quick.

Pierson: Hamden's own whose team wasn't even suppose to be this far, the 8th seed out of the west, but here you are though, three wins away from a Stanley Cup, how have you guys gotten this done Jonathan?

Quick: You know it's a lot of work a lot of hard work, guys have been committed. I think early on in the season we were one of the preseason picks to maybe compete for this spot and we had a bit of an underachieving season and, you know we definitely could've played better. You know the hardest part is getting into the playoffs and we were able to get in an eight seed and I think people kind of wrote us off a little. And everyone's been working hard and we managed to make it this far.

Pierson: And talk about this damage you have been doing on the road, nine and on the road. It's a new league or playoff record, how has that been possible?

Quick: You know, same thing. I feel like we've been outworking teams and that's the biggest thing this time of year. Everyone's good, everybody is talented, everybody has a great goalie, it all comes down to who's going to work a little bit harder and I think we've been able to do that up until this point, but you know we got a great opponent in Jersey right now and so you know we gotta keep competing.

Pierson: For you I'm sure you dreamed about this moment, you know playing in the streets in front of your house in the driveway, how does the reality compare to the dream?

Quick: It's exciting. You know to be able to play on this big stage here, you know to just make it this far in the season is exciting. Yesterday was my first game for Stanley Cup finals. I had a tough time taking a nap in the afternoon, your mind is just racing all day and you just want to get out there and play, but you know it worked out well. We ended up winning the game and you know you gotta start fresh in get ready for game two now.

Pierson: I'm sure the family has flocked down to support you because they're still in Hamden, a bunch of them?

Quick: Yeah, I know we have a bit of a crew there and it's pretty expensive actually for the game, but I haven really been handling any of that. I'm letting my wife handle all that. I've just been focusing on getting ready for the game.

Pierson: Final couple things for you. When did you realize you had a gift? Billy told us yesterday that Todd Hall took a couple of shots on you sophomore year and knew you were going to be special, when did you realize that was a possibility?

Quick: At that point in your career you really don't know what's next, so in high school you kind of think like I have a shot to play in college. You think you can play college you get there and your like maybe I can play pro at some level and you keep working your way up. You never know what the options are, the possibilities are until you really get there. Its worked out so well so far and you know you just gotta keep playing.

Pierson: Aid you ever think you could be an MVP candidate and a Stanley Cup champion not to far removed from your days at Hamden High and Avon Old Farms?

Quick: You know that's a long shot back then I think, that really doesn't cross your mind at all, you know at the time you're just playing for the team that you play for at the time and you're just trying to help them win and you think alright maybe I can play at the next level and you just kind of keep working your way up.

Pierson: Can you talk about your days real quick working at Rainbow Cleaners and I guess minding net for the LA Kings, maybe a better job than Rainbow Cleaners?

Quick: Certainly pays a little better. Billy Vernales was our coach at Hamden High and he was the owner of Rainbow Cleaners there and so he was graceful enough to give me a job there. And I tell you, I didn't do to much work there. He helped me out a lot, times he would take me up to his office and we would talk hockey, it was one of my first jobs and I was lucky enough to have him as my boss.

Pierson: He said as long as you were stopping pucks you had a job.
 
Quick: Absolutely yeah, I think that was the deal.

Pierson: For the folks back home, there's a lot of people supporting you cheering for you, that's odd in Connecticut to have a lot of LA Kings fans. Anything you want to say to them back home?

Quick: I appreciate the support, it means a lot. You know I get texts from guys I haven't talked to in a while and guys I talked to pretty frequently, saying they're proud of me, they're proud of the team and I think changing a lot of guys who used to be Rangers fans or Jersey fans or whatever, now they're Kings fans. So