Aeros Rookie O’Sullivan on Top of the World

By Michael McHugh

Junior Reporter


He’s only 21, but Patrick O’Sullivan is having himself one heck of a season. Never mind that he leads all AHL rookies with 34 goals and 66 points – both Aeros rookie records



With an All-Star game appearance and two hat tricks under his belt this season, which is no small achievement, he’s just thrilled to be where he is today, on top of the world, and looking for it to only get better.



O’Sullivan was drafted by Minnesota in the second round, 56th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He represented the USA three times at the World Juniors, in 2003, 2004 and 2005. In 2004 he helped Team USA win the gold, scoring two goals (including the game-winner) against Canada.



Since coming to the AHL, O’Sullivan has had to make a lot of adjustments. He got off to a slow start because of an injury in Wild training camp, and he had to adjust to a new position, left wing, which he had never played before.



“He’s a very intelligent player and a very intelligent young man,” said Aeros coach Rob Daum. “He has adjusted very quickly to the pace of the game and to what we wanted him to do. “



The big turning point for O’Sullivan was when Kurtis Foster got called up to Minnesota, and O’Sullivan moved up to the first power play unit with Kirby Law, Erik Westrum, Curtis Murphy and Roman Voloshenko. Since then, his offensive game has gone through the roof and a big part of that is because he has gained some confidence on the power play.



“He’s the type of player that wants to be in key situations. He’s been in key situations for a long time now, and he’s responded positively,” said Daum. “He is a pretty even keel, quiet guy, who does most of his talking on the ice.”



Back in his Pee Wee days, O’Sullivan had visions, like every other kid, of making it to the NHL, along with teammate Matt Foy. The two played together then, and are now re-united in the AHL.



“That was a long time ago,” said O’Sullivan, “but we had a really good team and that was a lot of fun that year, and to get a chance to play with him now is awesome. We have a lot of chemistry together on the ice, and it’s pretty neat that you can have someone that you played with when you were really little.”



“Everyone knew he was going to be a good hockey player,” said Foy. “He turned out to be an unbelievable player. He’s a great shot, a great player to play with, and he knows how to put the puck in the net. All you have to do is find him on the ice.”



O’Sullivan’s dedication to his game shows every time he takes to the ice. With this kind of fight and determination, the NHL isn’t so far away.



MM: How did it feel to get your first pro goal?


PO: It’s an unbelievable feeling. When I was a little kid, I wanted to play pro hockey. When you want to try and get to the NHL, and to finally get to this level and score and get that first goal is a pretty good feeling.



MM:The Aeros seemingly win every game now. What do you think is the magic?


PO:I think we have good team chemistry. Everyone on our team gets along and we’re close on and off the ice. I think that really helps out quite a bit. We have a really great coaching staff and they’ve got all of us on the same page. Winning is fun and we’ve got that going right now and we’re going to try to continue that.



MM:You lead the rookies in scoring. Do you feel you are looked up to by your peers?


PO:I don’t know. Being one of the younger guys, probably not too many people look up to you, but sure, everyone in the league is looking around. Everyone wants to be the best that they can be, so maybe a little bit.



MM:What player on the team have you learned from the most?


PO:Probably Rem Murray, my linemate. He’s a veteran of six or seven hundred games in the NHL and you know for me to get a chance to play with him and to hang out with him off the ice is good. Every day I learn something new, and he’s got so much experience that I am trying to learn as much as I can.



MM:You and Matt Foy played Pee Wee together. Do you have any stories about him?


PO: (laughs) Yeah, there are a lot of stories about Matt Foy but I don’t think you can print any of those. No, he’s a fun guy and we have a lot of fun together and our chemistry carries over to the ice.



MM:You were injured the first two weeks of the season. How did you get back in to playing shape?


PO:A lot of work after practice with the coaches trying to get back into shape. It took a solid 10 to 15 games for me to get back in to it and to get used to this level of hockey. It’s frustrating to get hurt in hockey camp but after those first few games I felt better and better.



MM:What do you think is the most common mistake young players make?


PO:Probably getting frustrated and getting down on themselves. It’s tough when you’re young and you want to do the best that you can. As you get older, you learn that you’re going to have good games and bad games. You have to try and take the positive out of everything, and as long you’re trying to get better every day, that’s all that you can do.



MM:What do you like to do in Houston for free time?


PO:The guys like to go to the movies and hang out. Fortunately with the good weather down here, we can play golf and stuff like that pretty much the whole year which is something a lot of guys can’t do if you’re playing up north. So there is a lot to do. It’s a fun city and it’s been really good so far.



MM:Do you hang out with anyone on the team a lot?


PO:Yeah, the young guys hang out a lot together. Ryan Stokes, Erik Reitz, Matt Foy, but for the most part everyone is fairly close and we all live close together. The team is always together at the rink and away from the rink, and I think that’s why our team has been so good so far.



MM:On the team bus, what is the funniest thing you have seen happen?


PO:There are a lot of funny things that happen on the bus, you know, practical jokes, doing something to somebody when they are sleeping and stuff like that. Usually that’s after a game, and only if you win, but some funny stuff happens.



MM:Any superstitions?


PO:Not really. I always get dressed the same way, everything on my left side before my right, other than that, not too much.



MM:Name one person you would like to meet.


PO:Tiger Woods



MM:Do you have a favorite hockey moment?


PO:Yeah, winning the World Juniors gold medal. It was the first time the United States ever did that and I was lucky enough to score a couple of goals in that final game. It’s something that I will never forget, and so far is my most memorable hockey moment.