Erik Haula Interview with Hockey Wilderness

For those who aren't familiar with Haula, he's a 5'11", 170 lb center from Poni, Finland. Playing on Omaha's top line, Haula has 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points in 33 games thus far. He's a +20 and leads the team in power play assists with 17.

Haula isn't your prototypical power forward, but instead uses his hands and excellent vision on the ice to create opportunities for his teammates. He's a bit undersized at 170, but is working on adding weight and strength on the puck.

In the Wild prospect camp this past summer, Haula looked very good, and was clearly holding his own with the rest of the prospects, and you could definitely tell when he was on the ice.

Hockey Wilderness: I'd like to talk to you a little bit about the USHL and college hockey and preparing for the NHL. So what made you decide to spend a year in the USHL after Shattuck and before heading to the U of M?

HW: It seems like you're having a really good year down in Omaha, you and your other linemates there. Last I saw you were either first or second in the league in scoring.

HW: How would you define your game? Some of the sites, Hockey's Future, etc., are saying that you've got great vision, great hands, are a little undersized, but use your quickness and your hands to the best of your ability. Is that accurate, or are you looking to go into more of a sniper mode, or are you more of a pass first, shoot second kinda of guy?

HW: Well, hopefully you take him out over there with Harvard when you come up with the Gophers.

HW: What did you learn in the USHL that you didn't experience at Shattuck? What's been the major difference?

HW: What made you decide to go the USHL and college route rather than Major Juniors or playing at home in Finland?

HW: So, what kind of player do you see yourself as, do you model yourself after somebody in the NHL?

HW: Does the fact that so many of your countrymen have been so successful here in Minnesota, does that help you at all along the way, thinking that you have a shot really breaking in here?

HW: Sticking on the line with the nationality, in the Olympics, where do you stand? Do you think it should be NHL players? Do you think it should be an amateur game? What's your feeling on the Olympics?

HW: If you could play any sport other than hockey, what would it be?

HW: Now, your dad coached American football or coaches American football in Finland, is that right?

HW: So what position would you be?

HW: So who's your favorite football team?

HW: Interesting. A guy who lived in Faribault, is going to play for the University of Minnesota, and is a prospect of the Wild, and he's a Patriots fan.

HW: What are your plans for the future? Are you planning on spending two, three, four years with the Gophers before moving up?

HW: What did you learn from the prospect camp over the summer?

HW: Well, thank you very much Erik, I really appreciate your time tonight. I look forward to seeing you on the ice with the M next season and hopefully with the Wild shortly after.

Thanks for reading, and tomorrow we'll have my interview with Haula's fellow Omaha Lancer and Wild prospect Anthony Hamburg.