Usually, intermission interviews are cliché-filled slogs.
That’s not even the fault of the interviewer. Players just aren’t putting a whole lot of thought into their answers when they want to get back to the locker room. They’ve barely had time to process what’s happening in the game themselves. They’re often out of breath. The interview only lasts a minute, maybe two.
You get a lot of “keep it simple” and “stick to our game” and “get pucks to the net” and you’ve probably stopped paying attention before it’s over.
Not with A.J. Greer. The Bruins’ fourth-line winger was NESN’s first intermission interview during Tuesday night’s win over the Canadiens, a fitting choice since he grew up in Joliette, Quebec, about 30 miles north of Montreal.
With Greer, we got a heartfelt answer about what it meant to play in Montreal as a Bruin, including a story about how he once emptied his bank account to attend a Bruins-Canadiens game.
“Very special day for me -- myself, my friends, my family,” Greer told NESN’s Sophia Jurksztowicz. “I think just being able to step on that ice, ice that means a lot to me. I played here as a kid, exhibition games. I came here several times to watch the Canadiens play.
“I actually emptied my bank account once, $200, to come to this game. I didn’t even think twice just because of how special an NHL game was to me. I think life just comes full circle. Work hard and good things happen. So, it’s a very, very special night for me, and I’m just looking to get two points and a win here.”
By the time Greer was done sharing that story, there was only time for one more question. He gave another sincere answer when asked what he’s learned about being a Bruin and the team’s culture in his first season in Boston, showing appreciation for B’s fans in the process.
“It’s a culture. It’s a brotherhood,” he said. “As soon as you step in that locker room, there’s a set of values and a respect not only for the guys around you but also for the logo, for the city and for the hard-working people who contribute to our success in TD Garden and all over.
“You go see games and we’re playing on the road and there’s Bruins fans everywhere. I think that we cherish that so much, just having such loyal fans and fans that stick with us. I think that we have a special group this year, so it’s just an honor to come to the rink every day and be a part of this group for me.”
Greer has been giving open, honest, heartfelt answers like this since training camp (we’ll take this opportunity to plug The Skate Podcast’s 1-on-1 with him from the preseason, which you can listen to below). After years of struggling to stick in the NHL and bouncing around three different organizations, it’s clear that the 26-year-old appreciates the opportunity he’s gotten in Boston and has embraced his role as a fourth-line energy guy and physical presence, even if that’s meant being a healthy scratch at times.
On Tuesday night, that sincerity even showed up in a two-minute intermission interview.
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