NHL ENTRY DRAFT

June 27, 1998

Scott Gomez

SCOTT GOMEZ: Kind of, I mean, when it gets to the end of a round, you just don't know what is going through your mind. He kind of gave my a wink. I sort of got the feeling that they were going to take me and they did.

SCOTT GOMEZ: I still had doubt. The doubts are still there. I was just thinking, wow, maybe that would be great, hopefully -- the people I live with, I guess, supposedly saw my name on the back of a Jersey and they had already been feeling pumped up and one of the scouts gave me a wink and right there and then I kind -- hopefully not messing with my mind, but it turned out great.

SCOTT GOMEZ: Yeah, finally happened. I separated my shoulder in November, never got -- was out six weeks, came back out in the juniors, wasn't 100%, but, hey, that happens and New Jersey must have seen something, so hopefully I can prove them right.

SCOTT GOMEZ: Oh, yeah, it doesn't matter no more. I am sure -- people made a big deal about me slipping all that, it happens, so --

SCOTT GOMEZ: That was it. The first serious injury I ever had. And, I guess, you know, took a back seat and finally then God -- has been fortunate to let me play all these years without getting hurt, it finally happened but just have to move on.

SCOTT GOMEZ: I have known Mike -- we have played each other since growing up all these years in Canada. And when I was still working in the college and he was going to Michigan -- at least I will know someone. It too actually pretty cool if you think about it.

SCOTT GOMEZ: Yeah, at this point haven't even thought about it. Whatever they want me to play, I play it at this point, so, if they needed a goalie, I am sure I would suit up. So it doesn't matter.

SCOTT GOMEZ: Yeah, there is talk about wing - there is always talk about whether I could play or not. When you get to this point, when you get to this level, whatever it takes, I think that is the attitude you have got to have.

SCOTT GOMEZ: No, not yet. When I talked to him in meetings and stuff, they talk about, you know, they like the way I play; they like my style and stuff, but, no, they never talked about what position.

SCOTT GOMEZ: Create offense, I can find the open guy. I need to work on strength, a little defense, but definitely, you know, there is room for improvement.

SCOTT GOMEZ: Yeah, I grew up in Alaska. Born in Anchorage, Alaska. My dad is Mexican. My mom is Columbian.