ADAM OATES

I was 19 years old, pumping gas and going nowhere. I was kind of a high school dropout at that point because I had left school to play hockey, but no one drafted me.

You eat and sleep it all day long and play on the streets until mom calls you in. My story is no different than anybody else's.

I grew up trying to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, not Team Canada. Didn't even know it existed.

Assistant coaches become a little bit more buddies to the players than a head coach.

Growing up as a kid my father was British and a soccer player. His idol was a guy that passed the ball a lot, Stanley Matthews. Our family thought if you could be unselfish your teammates would always like you.

I was a punk. I think that's why I'm such a good person now, because I was such a bad guy then.

I went to the Hall of Fame with my dad. I can't say I really remember too much about it.

Even the superstars need to be coached once in awhile.

I can't be a hypocrite as a coach because as a player that's what I wanted. I wanted feedback, I wanted communication from the boss. I showed up for work, you can yell at me if you want, but I want input. So that's the kind of coach I want to be.

Growing up as a kid my father was British and a soccer player. His idol was a guy that passed the ball a lot, Stanley Matthews. Our family thought if you could be unselfish your teammates would always like you.

You eat and sleep it all day long and play on the streets until mom calls you in. My story is no different than anybody else's.

I was a punk. I think that's why I'm such a good person now, because I was such a bad guy then.

I was 19 years old, pumping gas and going nowhere. I was kind of a high school dropout at that point because I had left school to play hockey, but no one drafted me.

I went to the Hall of Fame with my dad. I can't say I really remember too much about it.

Assistant coaches become a little bit more buddies to the players than a head coach.

I can't be a hypocrite as a coach because as a player that's what I wanted. I wanted feedback, I wanted communication from the boss. I showed up for work, you can yell at me if you want, but I want input. So that's the kind of coach I want to be.

Even the superstars need to be coached once in awhile.

I grew up trying to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, not Team Canada. Didn't even know it existed.