Cardinale’s Ready for Stick, Not Fists, to do the Talking

I conducted this interview on Wednesday last week, just two days before I received word Cardinale was put on waivers by the Aces. However, the guy was so entertaining and honest that I decided to run it anyway. It’s not like the Hudson Valley site is chock full of player profiles anyway, so I figured this article could serve two purposes. One, to let Aces fans out there see what Cardinale was all about and second, to give the Hudson Valley fans a deeper look into one of the most popular players in the Aces short history.

One look at 5′9, 175- pound Jerry Cardinale and it’s easy to see he’s far from a heavyweight enforcer. As a matter of fact, the 21-year-old looks like an extra in a mafia movie, with a baby face and a slick smile. Looks can be deceiving though, as the Bensonhurst-native possesses a pair of fleet feet and good puck handling skills to compliment an extremely short fuse. Amassing penalty 21 minutes in five games so far this season, he’s already begun to establish himself as one of the top hybrid-agitators in the EPHL, proving his lack of size is far from a weakness on the ice. Chatting with Aces Over Brooklyn, Cardinale discusses his game and talks about how he developed his on the ice persona.

Aces Over Brooklyn: Watching you in practice, someone could get the complete opposite idea of your ability. You’re not like the average agitator. You skate hard both ways, you can stick handle and you have a quality shot. In spite of all of this, when you’re on the ice during a game, you’re like a Tasmanian devil. How did you develop a game like this?

Jerry Cardinale: When I grew up, I was always fighting, it’s just a part of me and my game. But you’re right; I think I have the skill to play on a first or second line, but I’m not going to get into that. I’m on the third line and my role on this team right now is to be a grinder and a checker. If I can get some pucks in the nets, that’s great, but we’re the checking line. It’s my job to run around and smash people, take advantage of a chance here and there and even get in a scrap if I have to. I sit on the bench and let that rage build for when I get a shift. I got a bit of a short temper on me. I was just born like that. But again, I feel I have the skill to skate with any first or second line player in this league. I’ve always fought though and for them to put me in that role, is hurting my ice-time. I’m a bit sour about that because I love scoring goals.

AOB: So if you had a choice, you’d rather not fight?

Cardinale: Truthfully, I don’t like fighting all the time. I like it, but not to the point where I have to do it every game, two times a game. It’s not me. If I have to do it, it’s not a problem, but I’d rather be putting pucks in the net.

AOB: That brings up a good point. Last season in the MAHL, you scored 11 goals, proving you’re more than just a fighter. You also had 56 penalty minutes last season in 27 games and those numbers aren’t indicative of a true enforcer either. Is that the role you prefer to have?

Cardinale: You have to understand too, I’m not a minor penalty taker. I don’t hook people and I don’t slash people. About 80 percent of those penalty minutes [last season] were from fights. Those aren’t two minute, four minute or ten minute penalties. Again, I don’t take minor penalties; that’s just putting the team down and that’s not my style. I try and make sure that never happens.

AOB: On the ice, you’re always looking for the big hit as well. What’s going on in your head during a game? What’s that mindset like?

Cardinale: My game first is defense. I was taught a long time ago to take care of things in your own zone and you’ll get rewarded. Working hard and playing physical in your own end is a very big part of that.

AOB: Anyone that’s been to Aviator this season has noticed you have a huge fan following. Do you know these people? They all adorned in your t-shirts and scream your name when you’re on the ice. How does that feel?

Cardinale: Those are all kids I grew up with, sprinkled in with some family members. That’s pretty much my entire neighborhood from Avenue S. I didn’t know about the T-shirts until they were made and it’s really cool. It feels really good to know that I have all my friends and family close to me and they can show their support by coming out and watching me play. I love that. That’s what it’s all about. I feel like I belong here.

AOB: What do you think of the team so far?

Cardinale: I think we’re stacked. You go from top to bottom and we have snipers on every single line. When a guy like me is on the third line, you know we’re stacked. Our coach recruited well and it’s hard to defend against us because we’re all over the place.

AOB: For the fans at home that don’t know much about you, is that a player in the NHL that you think you’re comparable to?

Cardinale: I’ve heard a few times people say that I’m comparable to Sean Avery, but I don’t like that because he’s a big mouth. He’s says a lot of bad things, personal things and tries to get under people’s skin. I don’t think I’m like that. If I say I’m going to do something out there, it’s going to get done. It’s not my job to talk **** about people’s families; it’s my job to finish my hits and put the puck in the net. If someone messes with one of my teammates, I’m there for them. Me and him are completely different players. As a matter of fact, I’d love to fight him.

AOB: That’s great and that’s totally going in the article. One last thing about fighting though. So far this season, you’ve shown a willingness to drop the gloves with anyone. Would that also be the case though if they guy was close to a foot taller than you and had 60-80 pounds on you as well?

Cardinale: Without a doubt. It’s happened plenty of times before. Again, I’m not trying to make this a two a night thing against heavyweights because I feel I don’t have to do that and I have the skill out there to do more than that. My gloves dropping should only be to defend myself or my teammates.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Ron Hatcher.

Related posts:

1. Q & A with EPHL Commissioner Jim Riggs- Finale Here is the final part of the nearly half-hour Q...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.