Canadian defenseman Jake Massie is playing his first season in the Kontinental Hockey League, but he has already won the hearts of Kazakh fans. His reliable play in the defensive zone, selfless effort on the ice, and two goals so far this season have quickly made him a fan favorite in Astana. In this interview, Jake shares his impressions from the first games, talks about life in Astana, and what it feels like to lead the team onto the ice wearing the captain’s “C.”
Photo by Ilyas Omarov
Last season, while playing in the American Hockey League for the Hershey Bears, Massie was named his club’s Man of the Year for his community involvement and was one of 32 league-wide finalists for the prestigious Yanick Dupré Memorial Award, given annually to the player who best represents commitment to community service.
Photo by Ilyas Omarov
— You have already played several home games. How do you like your first games in Astana?
— Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect coming to Kazakhstan, but the fans here are incredible. They are so loud, they support us so much, and it’s great to have that kind of fan base. You can really feel it, especially when we win.
— We often see fights during games. Is that more for the fans, or is it to fire up the team?
— It’s just part of hockey. But the main thing is that we stand up for one another. If someone goes after our goalie or takes a cheap shot, we’re always ready to defend our teammate. It shows how much the guys really care about each other.
Photo by Ilyas Omarov
— Last season was very tough for Barys. Were you aware of that before joining the team?
— Yes, I heard that the team had some struggles, but we want to bring new energy into the club. We have a lot of guys playing good hockey, and we’re determined to make something special happen this year.
— You wear number 2. Why that number?
— I’m not overly attached to numbers, but I’ve worn it the last couple of years playing for Hershey in the AHL. Things went well for me there, so I decided to keep the tradition and hopefully keep the good luck going here.
Photo by Ilyas Omarov
— How tough was it to go up against forwards like the ones in Washington during training camp? And what about playing against Alexander Ovechkin?
— I think it’s always good to test your game. When you play against the best of the best, you see where you stand as a player. That’s why I always enjoy training camp — it’s a great time to see what skills you have. As for Ovechkin, it’s definitely cool to see players like him, guys who will go down in history. It’s a special feeling to share the ice with them.
— What were your impressions after the game against Dynamo Moscow?
— They’re a really good team. Obviously, that wasn’t the start we wanted when they scored first, but it showed that we have a lot of character in the locker room. I think we can do something special this season.
— Dynamo scored just 40 seconds in. What happened there?
— Just a little mistake, but nothing we can’t fix. The important thing wasn’t that we got scored on, but how we responded to being down 0–1. We have a very resilient group.
Photo by Ilyas Omarov
— In the first period, Dynamo played very tight defensively. What did the coaching staff tell you before the next two periods?
— That was one of our points of focus — to play them tighter ourselves. They have a lot of skill, so the goal was to take away their time and space.
— Ian McCoshen has joined the team, but Tyce Thompson is out with an injury. How has that affected the team?
— Honestly, not much has changed. We have a lot of players who can step in and play well. Of course, losing Tyce is tough, but we have guys ready to take his spot.
Photo by Ilyas Omarov
— What were your expectations before the first road trip of the season?
— We relied on the guys who have been here before to show us how things work on the road. Obviously, we love playing at home with our fans, but road trips are a great chance to spend time together and build chemistry as a team.
— On that first road trip, you earned only one point. Do you feel like the team wants to prove it can play better?
— Yeah, absolutely. Our goal is to win games. Obviously, that road trip wasn’t our best effort. There were some good moments, but losing three games in a row is not what we wanted. The game in Minsk was emotional — we really wanted to win. Coming home, we hoped for a better result. Against Ak Bars, we had good stretches in the second and third periods, but with a slow first period it’s hard to come back.
— After scoring your first goal in Magnitogorsk, do you feel more confident on the ice? Do you plan to join the rush more often?
— Yeah, of course I’d like to jump in more. I have good speed, so there’s always a chance to be the fourth man in the attack. It depends on the situations and whether I can get a good look. But overall, the most important thing is helping the team.
Photo by Ilyas Omarov
— In the game against Minsk, the team managed just eight shots on goal — a KHL anti-record. Was that more because of the opponent, or because our team couldn’t create enough moments?
— I think it was a bit of both. Minsk is a very good team with great fans, the atmosphere there was tough. Their goalie played really well, and they blocked a lot of shots, so credit to them. But we could have been better with the puck — there were too many turnovers. Luckily, Shutyov made all those saves. Forty-two saves in a game — that’s pretty amazing.
— How did the team take that result?
— Not very well. Like I said, we go out to win games, and that night we didn’t. But there were still a lot of good things we can take from that game and use in the next ones.
— That result was a KHL anti-record. Do you feel any pressure because of that?
— I don’t think we’re putting pressure on ourselves because of that. Every day we come to the rink to get better as a team, to implement the systems the coaches give us. It just comes down to execution — and right now that’s what we need to improve.
— The game in Minsk went to overtime and was very tight. Would you agree the team defended well despite the result?
— I think at times we did, but honestly, Shutyov really saved us. He had an amazing game — over 40 saves, that’s elite-level goaltending. We’re glad he’s in our net.
— The game in Cherepovets was more even but still ended in a 2–3 loss. What do you think was missing for a win?
— That loss stung. We were up 2–1 in the second period, but they scored twice quickly, and it felt like we deflated. That’s what we need to work on — keeping our confidence and sticking with our game even after giving up goals.
— In the home game against Ak Bars, you wore the captain’s “C.” How did it feel to lead the team onto the ice?
— It was a huge honor for me. It’s a special feeling to wear the “C” and lead this group. I was really happy to have that opportunity.
— Astana is a brand-new city for you. What surprised you the most?
— Honestly, I didn’t expect the city to be so beautiful. It’s very clean, and the fans are so respectful and happy to see us. We often take photos with them outside the arena. The warm welcome has been amazing. When we go to restaurants, we get recognized a lot, and people ask for pictures. It’s nice — it shows that they care.
— Have you tried any local food yet?
— Yeah, I’ve tried a lot of different dishes, though I’m not sure which ones are truly local. But I had those fried dough balls — they were really good.
— Baursaks?
— Yeah! So good! The food here is great — we’ve been enjoying it.
