Drew Stafford

[Editor's Note: Drew Stafford made his rookie debut for Sabres in the 2006-07 season playing 41 games and scoring 27 points (13+14). Prior to playing in the NHL, the Wisconsin native played for the University of North Dakota notching 118 points (48+70) in his three-year collegiate career. Stafford sat down with Sabres.com recently to talk about his first NHL game, his music career and some off-ice influences.]

Q: You scored a point in your NHL debut in overtime, only the second person to accomplish that in league history. What was that game and that moment like for you?

DS: It was great. It happened pretty fast as far as getting called up. It was kind of a whirlwind experience. I didn’t really have too time to think about what I was doing. I was just having fun out there. I was called in overtime and I was a little nervous but I made a horrible pass to Danny Briere and he scored on it. It was a great experience.

Q: What was your welcome to the NHL moment?

DS: I think my first goal. It was against Philadelphia and my parents were able to come down and watch so that made it extra special.

Q: Who were your biggest on-ice influences?

DS: Ryan Smythe was my favorite player growing up and Zach Parise is my favorite player now.

Q: Talk about the music career you developed while playing at the University of North Dakota.

DS: I have a house in Minnesota where I live over the summer. My friends and I got together and got all of our gear together and put it in my basement. We started to figure out how to record some stuff. We’re going to be making a CD this summer I think and finally getting into it. But I have a lot of ideas and I’ve been writing a lot. We might be playing some shows this year too. The band that I’m currently most involved with is Invisible Children and the band in college was Red Seal Peach.

Q: What else were you involved in growing up besides hockey?

DS: I played every sport growing up as a kid. I was really active when I was young. All kids love sports and I played pretty much everything. I started playing drums when I was 7 years old and I picked up a guitar and started playing in bands through high school.

Q: Who are your off-ice influences?

DS: Either Arnold Schwarzenagger or Phil Collins.

Q: Strangest thing you have seen in hockey?

DS: Cooperalls.