Holy Toledo Sports Edition
Behind the scenes stories from the Toledo Mud Hens, Toledo Walleye, and Hensville that spotlight the people, partnerships, and impact shaping the Glass City.
Holy Toledo Sports Edition
#011 Sam Craggs - Toledo Walleye
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Toledo Walleye Forward Sam Craggs joins host Brad Rieger to discuss his lifelong love of hockey, his college experience both on and off the ice, and how he routine leading up to a game.
Well, hello everyone. Thank you for joining us. And today we get to connect with Toledo Walleye forward, Sam Craigs. Sam grew up in Elmhurst, Illinois. He was a standout on the ice and in the classroom at Bowling Green State University. And for the last five years, he has been carrying the goods for the Toledo walleye. And during this interview, Sam gives some really neat behind-the-scenes perspectives and tidbits about his background, about his approach to hockey, and just his love for playing in the city of Toledo and for the Toledo Walleye. So enjoy. So everyone's really, really excited about that. Sam, what about uh the walleye or just the city of Toledo that keeps bringing you back?
SPEAKER_00Uh well, number one, it's always the fans, but uh overall just the community, the area, and then uh just going to school and bowling green and getting getting to know Northwest Ohio. Uh I mean was an easy decision to sign back with walleye.
SPEAKER_01What about the fans that you really appreciate? You've been you've played five seasons here. What's it like being with such a rabid fan base?
SPEAKER_00Uh well, first of all, the games. I mean, I mean the energy in the building, every single game, doesn't matter uh if it's a Wednesday night, Sunday night, or but uh I mean that for one is awesome. And then just out on the bottom in the community, uh, I mean you could be walking around at a Mud Hens game and people come up and say hi and uh that stuff goes a long way.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01And for us as fans, it's uh the Huntington Center is just a great venue to watch a game from a player's perspective. Give us your give us your view.
SPEAKER_00Uh yeah, I mean uh the facility's great, uh, locker room. I mean, we got a weight room, um, we got everything we need as a player, and then uh like I said, the the fans bring the energy and uh feels like you're playing in a small NHL arena. I mean the atmosphere's there, the building's there. Um they do a great job.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01And Sam, as we're talking here, we're about a month or so from the season ending, and so this is your off-season. So can you give us a glimpse what the off-season looks like for you?
SPEAKER_00So uh initially I like to take time off. Um, I'll go see my parents, uh, friends and family back home and kind of take it easy. And then uh I start working pretty much full time until uh the next season starts. So I work uh pretty much eight to five. Um I try to work out before work and uh yeah.
SPEAKER_01What's your what's your eight to five job?
SPEAKER_00I work uh at Toledo Engineering. Okay. And I work in uh project management uh department. So I just help out uh and do the best I can there.
SPEAKER_01That's great. Well, when you uh give us an idea what your workout regimen is uh to stay in shape and as you gear up again for the season, it comes around quickly.
SPEAKER_00It does come quick, especially like around trying to plan around like vacations in the summer and whatnot. Uh so it start of the summer, it's quite easy. It's just trying to get weights and trying to get that strength back from what you lost during the season, because during the season it's hard to maintain muscle and weight and stuff. So the first part's trying to get that back, and then once you get closer to the start of the season, try and uh add in more cardio and get on the ice more and stuff like that. That's great.
SPEAKER_01Uh Sam, you're from Elmhurst, Illinois, uh western uh suburb of Chicago. So paint a picture for us what it was like growing up in Elmhurst.
SPEAKER_00Uh yeah, just suburb of Chicago, a little more busy than Toledo, I would say. Um, but it's a good town. Uh, I mean, lots of uh Chicago sports fans there. I mean, uh good community. Um, yeah.
SPEAKER_01I'm gonna make a leap here that you grew up in a sports-oriented family, given your dad was played at the collegiate level for in hockey and baseball, and obviously your success, and then your two brothers also played hockey, and uh Lucas obviously had an uh exceptional hockey career. Yes.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, you nailed it. Um I grew up uh at the rink. I mean, I had two older brothers, so when they were at practice, I was I was also there watching. So uh I think my first time I put on the skates is when I was three years old.
SPEAKER_01Three years old. And when did a hockey stick get in your hand and when did you start playing on a team?
SPEAKER_00Probably the next time I got on the ice. Three and a half. I think my mom tells the story that I wouldn't get on the ice unless there's a stick and puck. I'd refuse to do the skating lessons.
SPEAKER_01So they and you're the youngest of the three brothers. I am the youngest. So you you you wanted to get out there.
SPEAKER_00I wanted, yeah. I wanted to get out there and I wanted the stick and the puck, and I did not like to do the skating lessons. But as long as I had the the hockey stuff, I was good to go.
SPEAKER_01My bet is your brothers didn't take it easy on you.
SPEAKER_00Nope. No. I mean, there's so many stories, but most of the time uh playing street hockey or knee hockey or whatever type of hockey we were playing, it ended in a fight of some sort.
SPEAKER_01They were getting you ready for later on. Yep, and uh like yeah. When did you know, Sam, that you were um you had some game on the ice? When did you know?
SPEAKER_00Uh I mean, I didn't think about it that much. Um, my brother obviously had two older brothers, and uh Lucas started getting recruited by colleges, and then shortly after I got contacted by a few when I was uh a junior in high school. So that's when I it kind of clicked like, oh, I have a chance to play at the next level. So I'd say somewhere in there.
SPEAKER_01Did you play uh travel on your high or high school team?
SPEAKER_00I played traveled for uh the Chicago Blues for the first half of high school and then uh Team Illinois for the second half of high school.
SPEAKER_01Uh Blackhawk fan?
SPEAKER_00Huge Blackhawks. Huge, okay. So let's talk.
SPEAKER_01Who were some of your Black Hawk heroes?
SPEAKER_00Uh I mean Jonathan Taze and Patrick Kane was uh right in the era where I started following hockey a lot, and then they went on that big uh cup run where they got three, so that was that was awesome.
SPEAKER_01And you probably went to a couple games.
SPEAKER_00I did, yep. So I well growing up the tickets used to be super cheap. And then uh I got to see a couple playoff games in 2010, and then after they won the cup, the the tickets went through the route. So at least I got a few uh few.
SPEAKER_01Outpriced you after that.
SPEAKER_00What?
SPEAKER_01Outpriced you. Yeah. And you also um you played baseball in high school and you were pretty good. You had game there.
SPEAKER_00Uh I was I was all right. What position? I played outfield, outfield mostly center field, but uh, I mean, like working your way up the ranks, you're I was at playing whatever position I can get in at. So uh yeah, so mostly outfield.
SPEAKER_01Any thought about playing after high school in baseball?
SPEAKER_00Uh not really. I didn't uh I mean I was focused on hockey. Um I didn't really hit my stride in baseball until my last year. I was good. I played on varsity junior and senior year, um, but senior year kind of took off, and I already knew I was going to college for hockey, so I was just having fun playing baseball, and that's probably why I had a good year because I didn't take it that serious.
SPEAKER_01I was gonna ask you Cubs or White Sox, but before we sat down here, it got out that you're a Cubs fan. So talk how did you get to be a Cubs fan?
SPEAKER_00Uh just my family members. Um, just they grew up being Cubs fans, so it was kind of just you follow in line, and uh I mean it was kind of tough growing up because the White Sox were good. I think they won a World Series in 2005, so when half the school's a Sox fan and rubbing in your face, and then you gotta be a Cubs fan. Uh but yeah, Cubs fan.
SPEAKER_01What about uh Wrigley Field? How many times have you gone there if you had to guess? See a game? Um I try to go once a summer.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um bleachers behind the plate. Up where do you sit?
SPEAKER_00I like the bleachers. That's it's all sun, right? Yeah, it's fun in the bleachers. Yeah, you got the cup snakes out there.
SPEAKER_01So and 2016 was a big year.
SPEAKER_00That was a big year. Uh there's a lot of Guardians fans around here shaking their heads.
SPEAKER_01Corey behind the scenes here might edit this out, but we'll we'll go with it.
SPEAKER_00Yep, but uh yeah, that was an awesome year. Uh that was my first year junior hockey, and I was watching I was in Youngstown, Ohio, so close to Cleveland, and I was actually on the road in Muskegon watching the game before we played the next day. So I was up late watching.
SPEAKER_01It was really that the last game ended like after midnight.
SPEAKER_00Yep, so I was celebrating as quiet as I could, so I didn't wake up my roommates on the road, but uh that was a special year for the Cubs. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Uh Sam, if you think about your uh childhood growing up all the way through high school, is there what what aspect of your growing up kind of shaped who you are as a person and how you carry yourself now?
SPEAKER_00I'd say uh definitely my parents, just seeing how hard they work and then uh also having two older brothers just uh follow kind of in their footsteps. I mean, I was able to watch them play hockey and just learn and grow from that and uh just kind of seeing their success on the ice and also away from the ice too.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01And then you graduate uh from York Community High School and you have a decision to make, like every good hockey player, whether you're gonna take the um the uh collegiate route or you're gonna play junior hockey. What what factor did you weigh in that decision?
SPEAKER_00Uh it was kind of easy because I signed for uh my college two years out. So I knew I was gonna play two years of junior hockey before I graduated. Um that was kind of in the conversation with Bowling Green.
SPEAKER_01Okay, even before you right after you graduated.
SPEAKER_00Yep. So the conversation was my four years was gonna start in 2017. So it made the decision to play junior hockey uh much easier than if I were to decide to go straight in or not.
SPEAKER_01And when you arrived there, your brother was already there, right, Lucas?
SPEAKER_00Yep, correct. And he also played junior hockey, and uh I got to play with him in Youngstown for the Phantom, so that was fun to play with him before I went into college. And obviously you had some time here at the Walleye your first year, right? Yep, uh a short two months. Short two months, right? But you you joined him. Yep, uh yeah, joining him at school was uh was nice. I mean, he kind of gave me the ins and outs because that's a big step. Um, you don't really know what you're in for. Um a lot of the guys on the team are much older. I mean, there's you're coming in. I was a 20-year-old freshman, but there's 24, 25 year olds that so it was uh a big adjustment and it was easy and nice to have someone to bounce stuff off and uh gave me some pointers. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01What parts of your game when you're at BG, and you had five years, right? Did you got a COVID year? Five years everyone got a COVID year. Um what part what aspects of your of your game did you elevate, strengthen uh in order to position yourself to play professionally?
SPEAKER_00Uh say, like you said, strengthen. I got I got much stronger going in the college. Um, you know, everyone in college is uh grown adult, so that first year uh that was huge, just to get stronger, get physical. Um I think that was a huge part in it. It allowed me to play uh a physical game in college and uh kept me in the lineup because as a freshman it's hard to stay in the lineup. We had a bunch of Fords, so just being able to play that fourth line uh role my first year, just learn a lot through that. Um yeah.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01What what aspect of your uh BG years do you was most enjoyable for you?
SPEAKER_00Uh I l I loved all my all my five years at Ballane Green. Um I don't know. What I think the one of my favorite memories is going to the national champ or tournament, uh, my sophomore year. Um we had a great group of guys and it was what 2019? 2019 and played Bemidji, right? Bemidji State. Uh in the tournament or tournament in the conference. Conference. In the conference we played Minnesota State. Okay. And uh unfortunately we lost in overtime, and we didn't know if we uh qualified for the tournament yet. Got it. Because you either you have to win your conference or you got got an at-large bid. And during our game, I forget somebody beat somebody, so we already had the automatic bid, but we didn't know that, so when we lost that game, that was that was heartbreaking, but we found out shortly after that we qualified for the the tournament, so that was pretty cool.
SPEAKER_01And so you had some NCA uh Mason Cup time, yeah. Yeah. Um Slater Ice Arena, that can be a pretty uh raucous place to play too.
SPEAKER_00It is, yeah. I mean, that place gets loud. That uh the low roof there. Um I always joke around with some of the teammates because we had a lot of Michigan Tech or other CCHA or WCHA guys sign with the walleye, and they always say that's the hardest place to play is uh at the Slater family ice arena. It just gets so loud. I mean, it's an awesome place to play.
SPEAKER_01And your coaches there, Bergeron? Yes. And who else did you finish your career with? Ty Eigner? Yeah, Ty Eagner. What'd you learn from those two guys?
SPEAKER_00Uh discipline. I mean, it was um pretty strict. I want to say like in a bad way, but they let you uh be an adult. Like here's what's expected of you. If you don't do it, you're gonna pay the consequences pretty much. So as long as you manage your time correctly and did what was asked of you, it was it was a pretty well structured, I guess, uh system. So I think I just learned uh how to grow up and right and manage your time. This is part of college, right? Yeah, especially with practice and traveling all the time and getting your schoolwork done. It just you you kind of just had to figure it out. And uh I think through that and through their coaching, it just made it easy.
SPEAKER_01I took note of your schoolwork, meaning uh you excelled on the ice, but um did really well in the classroom, meaning you were all conference, all academic for four years. Uh you got the scholar athlete award from the CCHA League Award, and you got the Jack Gregory Scholar Athlete Award, which is a BG uh uh uh presented award. Uh you got your MBA and you got your bachelor's degree in engineering technology, which now explains your summer, what you're doing right now, you're off season. Yeah. What did you have? I mean, and being a D1 athlete is like a full-time job. So what did you have to do? Maybe it's this discipline you just mentioned. What did you have to do to make sure you could excel in uh in the classroom?
SPEAKER_00Um I mean, coming from high school, I wasn't the greatest student, I'd say, but uh I mean, having two older brothers just giving you a little advice, but uh I just try to go to every class, pay attention, just try to get all my work done, and then uh biggest thing was just asking questions when you need help. I mean teachers are there to help, and uh as long as you showed up and and cared, they they helped you. So that was a big aspect of it.
SPEAKER_01Do you see yourself after the hockey uh career where the next step um would be something to do in the engineering field?
SPEAKER_00Uh I think so. That's where I I could see myself heading. Um yeah, I want to use my degree. I mean, I enjoyed the engineering aspect and creating stuff and being creative. So I loved all the math, science, and ph physics behind it. So something in that field, and then uh maybe even owning my own business with the MBA after. Um I did enjoy the business school. That was that was a lot of fun, and I got to meet uh a lot of great people in that as well.
SPEAKER_01Well, kudos to you for using your BG experience so well in both the academic and athletic way. You really set yourself up really nicely. But we're glad you're here with the walleye now, and and you've your whole entire professional career has been with the walleye, and now five seasons in, gonna be going into your sixth next year. Um you wore the A on the jersey uh last year, um, but you're an established veteran. Uh you're known for your work ethic, your um high hockey IQ, your ability to score, and your physical play. So, what do you see your role now, leadership role now with the team?
SPEAKER_00Uh just like you mentioned, all those great things, just try and show that on the ice. I mean, I'm a huge advocate. If you just lead by example, people will follow. So, you know, just work ethic. I think that's a big thing. The showing up every day with the right mindset could just help everyone around you. I mean, it's a long season and it's easy to get lazy here and there because you play 72 games and you could have four games in a week, and then you have a Monday morning practice, so it's hard to get uh those thoughts going through your mind, like, oh, here we go again, type deal. But uh just showing up with the right mindset, uh trying to help some of the younger guys, uh, answer questions, um, all those things. Um it's quite easy. I mean, the past few years we've had great leaders in the room and older guys, so it's not always one person um talking or leading. So it's awesome to have a good core leadership group.
SPEAKER_01Uh everyone at this level is talented, but it does it takes more than talent. Um, how much of your success, uh Sam, do you attribute to that mental toughness, that idea of showing up every day, playing consistently, and just kind of embracing the grind?
SPEAKER_00Uh just like you said, um that grind. Like um there's games where you might not be feeling the best, but you gotta know the other team's not feeling that good either. So if you if you just have that mindset that you're gonna work harder than they are, um you're usually gonna have success. And um, you know, hard work outbeats talent sometimes. So that is also something I keep in my head.
SPEAKER_01Another kind of uh mental toughness question. Uh during really intense uh high pressure situations during a game, what do you do mentally to stay locked in?
SPEAKER_00Uh just try and focus on what like Toledo hockey is known for. The coach will establish our our game and just try and stick to that, our structure. But uh especially when it's high pressure, um you could kind of feel energy on the bench that people are getting nervous, or I don't know, you can just feel energy. So just trying to communicate with everyone that it's gonna be alright. We gotta stick to our stick to our game and then go out there and do my job so the people around me can do their job.
SPEAKER_01You've had many great games and great moments, but a couple of years ago you had two short-handed goals in one game, which is like a um a double eagle, like on a park drive, right? Like it never happens. Yeah, that has to be a like a one of a standout moment for you.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I do remember that game. It was against uh Fort Wayne, and I believe both of them were on the same penalty.
SPEAKER_01But that's even more rare. I don't even know what to say.
SPEAKER_00Or at least in the same time frame. Um yeah, so that that was a standout moment because I believe we were down that game too. So those two games were or to those two goals were huge in the getting us back in the game, and the crowd really erupted. So it was an awesome experience. It's great.
SPEAKER_01Let's talk about some preparation things. Um give us a glimpse of what your pregame routine is from say a seven o'clock game here. Um from when you wake up all the way to uh the puck drop. Um don't leave out any superstitions or any quirky idiosyncrasies, all right?
SPEAKER_00All right, I won't. Um not too many weird superstitions or anything. Um, so I wake up depending on travel and stuff, but we usually have to get to the rink by nine. So I try to get there maybe around 8 45. Um make breakfast at the rink or have a snack or whatnot.
SPEAKER_01What do you make break? How do you make breakfast?
SPEAKER_00Uh they'll have like bagels, cream cheese, uh sometimes there's even like an egg, like sandwich cooker there. So maybe do that, grab a cup of coffee, uh change into my under under gitch for on ice. So I'll be all ready to go. I'll eat, drink, watch swerve. Center on the the TV and then uh get dressed on for morning skate. Um usually there's some video before or after do some of that. Then after morning skate, I like to go get my pregame meal. So I try and eat around 1 p.m. ish. It's kind of early. For 7 o'clock game. For 7 o'clock. So I'll have a big meal then. What would that be? Give us an example. I change it up. I because there's so many games I can't eat the same thing. But uh if I'm cooking, it'll just be standard like chicken and pasta, maybe like meat sauce. And then if I'm going to get something to eat, I I love bippy pop. Bippy pop's awesome. Um the sweet potato noodles can't go wrong. Can't go wrong. And then uh if also if I'm just picking up a bowl, it'd be like balance, just rice, chicken, and yeah, nothing too fancy. So I'll eat that, and then uh I'll usually nap from about like two to four. So I'll get a good nap in, then uh wake up, head to the rink. I do uh a lot of stuff before the rink. I like waking up at the rink, so I'll get out of my nap and I'll just get to the rink and then I'll shower, change. I usually, this is the one thing I do that's superstitious. I like getting in the cold tub. Cold tub before the game. Before the game. So I'll go hot shower, then cold tub, plunge, hot shower, cold blood, plunge, and then finish on a hot shower.
SPEAKER_01What's the plunge?
SPEAKER_00How long? Just as long as I can hold my breath and tolerate it under the water. Usually only about 10 seconds.
SPEAKER_01And that gets you going.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's it's freezing. I mean, especially uh in the winter when the water's coming out of the faucet cold and then they're dumping a bunch of ice in there.
SPEAKER_01So it's any of your teammates adopt this uh ice plunge, really.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, we've had a a numerous amount of people join in on it. You're a trailblazer. Yeah, uh I think two probably now going to be three years ago. We had a we had a big group that was getting in there.
SPEAKER_01So you gotta schedule the ice tub before the game.
SPEAKER_00But uh yeah, it's fun. It wakes you up. I mean, yeah, it's like the ice bucket challenge. If you ever dump that on your head, it'll it'll wake you up. So that's one thing I enjoy doing for the game. After that, I'll um I usually eat a snack, something light. I'll snack a little bit throughout the meetings, and then uh either have a coffee or an energy drink after the meetings, and then um play uh we call it sewer. So we kick the soccer ball around, it's like two touch, so I'll play that warm-up, and then uh I'm usually the last one to get dressed. I usually stretch till about I don't know if the the fans can see the clock up there. I'm usually stretching till around like 25 on the clock, and then I run and get changed and get ready for the the warm-ups on ice. Nice.
SPEAKER_01So you're the last one on ice.
SPEAKER_00I'm not the last one on ice, I might be the last one dressed or started to get dressed. Uh but uh yeah.
SPEAKER_01It's great. All right, practices. Um you have a favorite drill. Uh I have a least favorite drill. All right, let's go there.
SPEAKER_00What's one you when coach calls it out, you go, uh there's that there's a handful, but if those happen, we probably earn those drills. But this one, uh this one could just be a normal, normal practice. It's called uh the Minnesota Tracker. Which is it's uh uh one guy on the wall in the D zone, I guess, or offensive zone, but on the hash marks and one guy in the middle. The guy in the middle chases or tracks the guy up the wall and steals the puck, lets him steals the puck and then goes around. So it's just that aspect, uh, the start of the drill of tracking the guy up the wall is just uh not ideal.
SPEAKER_01The goal is not to get caught. Yes.
SPEAKER_00You have to let him get caught for the drill to keep flowing, but right uh usually that's like one of the first drills. And if you're not fully warmed up, that's uh that's a tough one to start off.
SPEAKER_01It can be uh a jarring first drill. First drill. Yeah. All right. Well, that's that's a great, that's a great great behind the scenes one. Uh speaking of coach, um, is there a um piece of advice or coaching up that coach Mickish or even your former coach Dan Watson provided to you that really resonated?
SPEAKER_00Uh trying to think of both coaches. I'd say one thing they always echo is everything in Twedo. You can accomplish anything you put your mind to. So they have all the all the tools set in place to become the hockey player you want to be. So that's one of the main things, especially start when I first started off was I have all the resources right here. I just gotta use them, and uh I use that to grow my game, and now I'm here for a sixth season.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and we're glad you're here. Uh last question, Sam. What um aspect of your personality andor interests off the ice would be a surprise to fans?
SPEAKER_00Uh not too much surprise. I like golfing. I think every hockey player likes golfing. Um, you found some courses around here?
SPEAKER_01I think I've played all of them. I want to say. You have a favorite or one that you really look forward to playing?
SPEAKER_00I played the the Stone Ridge in Bowling Green a lot just because when I was in Bowling Green, um Legacy up in Michigan. I've played that one a good amount. A lot of Heather, you gotta keep it. A lot of Heather. Um I mean, all the Toledo ones. I'm trying to think of my favorite one. I liked Sylvania Country Club. I only got to go out there twice, but I I don't know, had some hills, lots of big trees. So I like playing in the trees. I'm always left or right of the fairways.
SPEAKER_01Sort of ricochet golf. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00So that one was fun to play.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01All right, so you're a golfer, anything else that you can share about yourself that fans would say, hey, that's pretty cool.
SPEAKER_00I I do enjoy fishing. Um going on a week trip with my family fishing in Canada. So we'll try and catch uh some pike, musky, walleye, catch some walleye. So I do enjoy fishing. Um I do play enjoy playing pickleball as well. Uh me and competitive, you got it. Very competitive.
SPEAKER_01Some of your teammates join in on that.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yeah. Uh Colin Sawyer and Trend Bliss were a big pickleball.
SPEAKER_01Who's the best pickleball players on the team? If it's you, you just gotta say you.
SPEAKER_00Okay, he has one of those fancy paddles, so I'll go with Sawyer. Uh Con Keenan was uh a second close right after him. Um, but yeah, I started playing with my brother Lucas, and those those games got intense. I think I've thrown my paddle at him a few times.
SPEAKER_01As every brother who would deserve, right?
SPEAKER_00So he got me into the sport, and I mean, it's it's fun. It's a fun summer sport to play outside. That's great. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Well, Sam, this has been a really great conversation. I learned a ton about you, and I I know the people uh that will watch this and listen to it are gonna uh really enjoy it. So thanks for being so accommodating and for being all in, and all the best in this off season and going into next season. We're just really glad you're gonna be back for this a sixth season here.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, thank you. I'm excited. Thanks for having me.