Iwamoto’s brief interview about the new hockey season
“Honestly? It’s a mix of excitement and nerves — and I’m loving every second of it.
With the new additions to the roster, I genuinely feel like the pieces are coming together.
We’re also in the middle of trying out a new system, so there’s this incredible buzz of ‘I can’t wait for opening night!’ running alongside a very real anxiety of ‘Can we actually bring out 100% of what these players are capable of?’
That tension — that unique atmosphere you only get right before a season kicks off — I’m soaking it all in and enjoying it to the fullest!”
What has the team been focused on building this season?
“Over the past two years, we’ve been working to embed our system and lay the foundation for the style of play we’re aiming for — fast, fluid hockey where all five players defend together and all five attack together.
This offseason, the main priority was physical conditioning, which is absolutely critical to supporting that foundation.
On the very first day of the season, when I saw the players step onto the ice — the shape they were in, the level they’d pushed themselves to — I felt it immediately. Not just physically, but in their mindset as professional athletes.
The growth was undeniable.
I walked away from that first session feeling genuinely confident about where this team is headed.”
