Interview with SHS Hockey Senior Jordan Babb

The Panthers started the weekend with an overtime win against Worthington Kilbourne. They then had some tough games against St. Charles and Upper Arlington, two of the top teams in the state. The Panthers are taking a break from the road trips for a week. They are set to play Beavercreek on Tuesday, New Albany on Friday, and Olentangy Liberty on Sunday, all at South Metro. This weekend, I talked with Jordan Babb to hear his perspective on playing for the Panthers. 

Meet #64 Jordan Babb…

Hockey story:

Jordan’s hockey story is pretty unique. During his sophomore year, the Panthers needed a backup goalie, and Tyler Conte had the perfect solution. Tyler texted Jordan just a few days before the first game asking him if he wanted to play hockey. It did not take much convincing before Jordan took on the role as the backup goalie. He has played the past two seasons as a forward. 

Being the backup goalie:

Jordan did not have any hockey experience until his first game two seasons ago. With a great attitude, Jordan had a lot of fun in the role of backup goalie. He was the team’s biggest supporter; he live streamed some games from the bench; and he created a Twitter account to offer commentary for his fans. After talking to the previous backup goalie who had just graduated from the team, Jordan determined, “the best way to have the most fun that season was to make a meme out of everything.” Jordan even tried to convince the coach to let him have two blockers instead of a glove and a blocker so that he could make more noise on the boards from the bench, and every weekend, Jordan would tweet out score predictions (with the Panthers dominating, of course) or funny things about the opposing teams. You could even catch him dancing in between plays if the rink was playing music.

Other sports:

When he was younger, Jordan played baseball and ran cross country. The interview became more of a team discussion when Ryan Schroeder and AJ DeRosa asked Jordan how good he was at cross country. Jordan’s response: “I was like exactly decent. Super not bad and super not good. Like extra medium.” To this, AJ replied “that’s how I get my steak.” And that, my friends, is what happens when you try to interview players on the bus.

Favorite NHL team:

Columbus Blue Jackets

Jordan’s favorite thing about playing for the Panthers:

Jordan’s favorite part about playing for the Panthers is the environment. He likes being around the team, and in past seasons, he enjoyed having all his friends at the games. 

What Jordan’s going to miss the most about playing for the Panthers:

Jordan’s response is probably not what you would expect the players to miss the most about being on the team. He said, “I think I’ll miss practices, honestly.” Jordan told me that he has a lot going on between work and school, and he enjoys hockey practices because they give him a break from that stress and are fun. 

The most challenging thing about starting hockey in high school:

Starting any sport in high school is difficult, but one could argue hockey brings even more challenges than other sports. I asked Jordan what he thought the most difficult thing about starting hockey in high school was, and he told me it was the fact that he did not have a lot of notice before he started. Jordan said he did not know much about hockey and that deciding to play shortly before the season began left him with no time to prepare. He told me that at his first practice, he did not know how to put on his goalie gear.

Jordan’s favorite memory from playing for the Panthers:

Without much contemplation, Jordan quickly answered this question. He said his favorite memory over the last three seasons with the Panthers is the Kent State tournament over the Christmas break of his junior season. He noted that they had some tough losses because not many players went to that tournament, but nonetheless, Jordan remembers it fondly for the time spent with his teammates. 

Jordan’s advice for young hockey players:

Jordan advises young hockey players to ask questions and to know that it is okay if they don’t know everything right away. When Jordan started playing hockey, he had a lot to learn and not a lot of time to do so. Accordingly, he sees the value of accepting help when you need it and asking questions rather than pretending.

From his hockey beginning as backup goalie to his favorite hockey memory to his senior season, Jordan proves that hockey is about more than what happens on the ice.