Catching up with Tyler Maxwell

Edmonton, AB - Overage forward Tyler Maxwell closed out his WHL career in style as he added a WHL Championship to his list of junior hockey accolades. After arriving from Everett via trade Maxwell posted a career high plus/minus rating +37 and registered 21 multi-point games. During this time he picked up 26 goals and 31 assists for 57 points in 47 games with the Oil Kings. The overage who totalled 4 straight 20 goal WHL seasons also tallied eight game winning goals in 11-12. Following the end of the Oil Kings run to the Memorial Cup Maxwell signed a 1 year deal with Salzberg Red Bulls EC in the Erste Bank Liga in Austria. Just prior to deparing for Europe the "California Kid" caught up with OilKings.ca
 
Q: It hasn’t been that long but a lot has happened for you since the end of the season can you take us through that?
TM: Mostly relaxing, enjoying the weather, spending time with my family and friends. Eating in n out burgers here and there haha... Beaching, training again... I was only home for 13 days before getting ready to go to Europe now.

Q: Big congratulations on your signing with Salzberg! Who's going to be your new head coach?
TM: Pierre Page

Q: Did they give you any idea on the expectations they have for you?
TM: They expect me to work hard, be committed and contribute offensively. Make sure I am responsible defensively and hopefully help them to win a European Cup Championship

Q: What do you know about Austrian Hockey?
TM: It's a highly skilled league, very fast. Olympic ice so its a little more wide open, they look like they have great fans and you get treated very well. For myself I expect it to be a great challenge and I am very excited.

Q: We’d guess that you’re used to playing away from home but Europe has got to be a big jump – it must be exciting to know you’ll be immersed in a totally different culture.
TM: Yeah, I have never been to Europe so that will be interesting. It'll be quite the experience to discover a totally new culture and meet new people. I've heard Austrians are very welcoming and kind people.

Q: It was a pretty amazing way to cap your WHL career this season with a WHL Championship what do you think you’ll remember the most from this year?
TM: I will remember how close our team was and how much fun we had winning and sharing those amazing memories together. I miss my teammates very much already and hope so see some of them again soon!

Q: Being a California kid what was it like to see the L.A. Kings lift the Stanley Cup?
TM: The Oil Kings winning and my L.A. Kings winning was a dream come true! I have been a dedicated Kings fan my entire life and to see Dustin Brown number 23, my favorite player, hoist the cup, that was pretty special. I am not afraid to admit that I teared up a bit! LA HOCKEY is definitely on the map now!

Q: Anything you’d like to say to your fans in Edmonton and Everett?
TM: I would like to thank the fans for all of the endless support throughout my entire whl career. I sincerely appreciated everything from all of the fans in Edmonton and of course Everett, without them my WHL memories would not be as distinct as they are today. They are welcome to follow me on twitter and instagram throughout my European journey!

Fans can follow Maxwell on twitter @kingmaxymus23 his tweets have also been known to show up on the Oil Kings official twitter feed @EdmOilKings