The defending regular season champions are one point away with two games left from locking up the top playoff spot. This is thanks to an overtime win against second place MAC and one against playoff hungry Csíkszereda. Jon Booras scored the game winner against MAC and pitched in with two goals and an assist versus Csíkszereda and he is this week’s Player of the Week.
Jon Booras who happens to be the nephew of three time Stanley Cup champion goalie Andy Moog, comes from Billings Montana where he also started his junior career before moving onto the USHL and playing NCAA hockey at Lake Superior State University, where he was the team leader in scoring during his junior season.
For the better part of the next decade he played for five minor leagues in North America including the old UHL, IHL and CHL, he is a true grizzled veteran of the sport. He spent couple games in the AHL, one of them coming with the Iowa Stars where he was teammates with János Vas, Jon would also play with future Dunaújváros forward Tomo Hafner and DVTK defenseman Jesse Dudás. This past offseason he signed with Diósgyőr for his first season outside of North America, Booras had some familiar faces in the new locker room as three of his former teammates from the 2013-14 Wichita Thunder are also on the team, Dudás, Jarkko Leppanen and Kalvin Sagert, with a fourth teammate Tomas Klemp playing for MAC Budapest.
Jon is the leading scorer for Diósgyőr with 63 points in 40 games which is also good enough to be tied for 4th place in the league. He took time after his practice to answer some questions.
After almost 10 seasons in the North American minor leagues why did you choose now to play in Europe?
Well I always wanted to come over and play somewhere, it just didn't work out or the timing was off. I really wished I would of came over earlier in my career but it just never happened that way! I played with Jesse Dudás for a few seasons and that was the connection to come over here and I knew kind of what I was getting into and knowing someone who played the previous season.
Speaking of Jesse, what is it like also having former teammates in Jarkko and Kalvin in the locker room as well?
It was really nice to know and have played with some other guys. They are both good teammates and good people so that made the decision a lot easier as well.
Andy Moog is your uncle, as a kid that had to be great, as you got older how did he help you out?
It was pretty awesome to have a uncle in the NHL and to watch him play, plus he won three cups with one of the greatest teams in NHL history with the Oilers! My first time skating was with the Bruins when I was 6 years old! He helped me a lot when I got older skating with all the Dallas Stars players and training with them in the summer to get ready for the season. So all that was pretty cool stuff and helped me prepare and get better as a professional.
What has been maybe the most difficult or unsuspecting aspect to adjust to playing in Europe or the MOL League?
I think just the style of play, the ice is a lot bigger as well and that was adjustment too. You have more time with the puck then in North America.
How has you and your family liked living in Miskolc?
It's been great, we have met a lot of great people on and off the ice! The management has been great with dealing with my wife giving birth over here! It was a great experience and a lot of good people have helped us along the way. We definitely like it here and it's a great place to play hockey!