Bobby Robins enjoyed a 10-year career as a professional hockey player and truly defines the term “road warrior.” Robins literally fought his way through hockey’s development leagues on his way to pulling an NHL jersey over his head during the 2014-15 season.  As an undrafted player coming off four successful seasons of college hockey at UMass-Lowell, he began his professional career with the Binghamton Senators in 2005-06.  Robins also honed his on-ice skills in both the United Kingdom and Austria in back-to-back seasons from 2008-2010.  Since retiring from pro hockey following the 2014-15 season, Robins has turned his attention to writing, and shares his compelling story in this edition of “10 Questions”.

1. Who inspired you to pursue a career in professional hockey?

Of course I dreamed of playing in the NHL, just like everyone else, but I had my eyes set on playing Division I college hockey.  I remember a conversation I had with my teammate Kim Brandvold, after my Junior year at the University of Massachusetts Lowell who said, ‘You score 20 goals in this league and you’ll be in the NHL.’  I saw in his eyes that he believed I could really do it. That was the first time I realized how close I really was to reaching the NHL.

2. What fueled you throughout your years in the AHL and ECHL to keep pursuing your dream of one day playing in the NHL?

The one trait I possess that sometimes gets me into trouble (especially with my wife), but also serves me, is my stubbornness. It helped me to make the NHL after 8 seasons in the minor leagues.

Instead of sitting around and wondering, I stood up and started doing. I made a chart in a notebook and wrote down four or five options for the rest of my life. One was to go play in Belfast; another was to go play in Flint. One was to quit and get a real job. The last column of the chart said, “Fight your way to the NHL.” I knew in my heart that I didn’t do it right. I gave it 95 percent of me. But that last 5 percent was a hole filled with intuition, with knowing, that I never became the complete version of me as a hockey player.   I committed to it with the truest personal oath and promise. Nothing was going to stop me.

3. What did you enjoy most about your playing career in Europe?

When I left North America after my second pro season to go play for the Belfast Giants, I was in desperate need of a new start. I needed to find the fun again. Upon arriving in Belfast, Ricky, the assistant equipment manager drove me to my apartment. I met my roommate Dave Phillips. We chased trophies, glory, girls, and Guinness that year in Belfast. It stands out as one of the most memorable years of my life. I’ll always hold Belfast close to my heart as a home away from home.

I came home and met my wife up in the north woods of Wisconsin that summer. She came with me the next season to play for HK Acroni Jesenice in the Austrian League. We lived up in the Julian Alps on a ski resort in Slovenia.  I was happy enough to be up in the Alps, in love and going on adventures to castles in Ljubljana or Lake Bled with my gal.

4. Who was your favorite NHL team and player growing up?

I grew up playing hockey for the Marinette-Menominee Chiefs. Marinette is on the Wisconsin side and Menominee on the Upper Michigan side. I always had such a great sense of pride wearing that logo of the Warrior Chief on my chest. I felt a great sense of power emanating from it. I felt his spirit move through me.

I felt that same feeling with the Detroit Red Wings logo. I used to draw that sucker all over my notebooks in school. Any chance I got to do an art project, you could bet I’d be drawing the winged wheel. I doodled slick Red Wings logos all over my notebooks and thought about Steve Yzerman. That’s all I thought about in those days: the Red Wings, Stevie Y, and NHLPA Hockey ’93 on Super Nintendo.

5. How and why did fighting become a vital part of shaping your style of play?

After my stint in Europe, I decided that I was going to learn how to fight and make it all the way to the NHL. I finally became a complete hockey player. Fighting was the last piece of the puzzle for me to reach the NHL.

I worked with Coach Doug Smith, the true-life inspiration behind the book and movie, Goon. I owe so much of my development as a hockey fighter to him.
I knew the direction that the NHL was heading, and the exact player that I was becoming was what the new NHL enforcer would look like. So I kept grinding away in the minors, taking daily steps to become that player. I focused on playing really good, hard-nosed hockey. And when it came time to throw bones, I’d give em hell.

6. What have you enjoyed most about being retired thus far?

This has been an interesting transition period from pro hockey player into something. The biggest thing that I’ve enjoyed so far is the amount of time and energy that I’m able to invest in my family and raising my two-year-old daughter. I can’t imagine being away from her. I’ve seen what’s important to me, and it’s my family. Being present and in the moment with them is what matters now. I’ve also enjoyed the time to sit back and take a breath. I’m not worrying about upcoming training camp, or games, or fights, or body-fat tests.

I get to start a new life. I get to exist, and be passionate about whatever I’m truly passionate about. That’s all I can really ask for. 

7. Having read some of the touching articles from your blog, where did your love for writing come from?

I’ve been writing ever since I can remember. When I was nine, I got a poem published in the local paper called “Stop the War.” I wrote it to an American soldier in Iraq for a school project. I still have my fingers crossed with that poem. When I went to school at Umass Lowell, I majored in English Writing. That’s where I found out that I really love writing and that I have a gift. I was the hockey player jock guy in the writing classes with all the creative kids. I never quite felt like I fit in, but at the same time felt like it was somehow a perfect fit. The class that really got me going was Personal Reflective Writing with Dr. Roberts, who was so instrumental in encouraging me to explore my writing. He would read my essay to the entire class. I felt this weird feeling of embarrassment combined with exhilaration. It felt strange to put your heart and soul out there on the chopping block, but I liked the feeling.

I like everything about writing. I like the process of it all. It’s a lot like hockey actually. There were times on the ice when everything slowed down and I experienced the flow state, the zone. Everything clicked into place perfectly and I moved so elegantly and smooth out there, or at least felt like I was. It’s the same with writing. You sit down and start moving your fingers on the keyboard, and it doesn’t even feel like you sitting there doing the work. You’re in it, and flowing. I feel like I’m tuning into a frequency outside of myself and the words are moving through me.

8. If you could give young players aspiring to turn pro one piece of advice, what would it be?

Here’s what I would tell the rookie version of me. Look around you wherever you are, whether it is at a training camp, a practice, or a workout. You see all these incredible athletes. Remember that you are an incredible athlete too. Keep telling yourself that. You’re here for a reason. You have a special gift. But everyone here has that same gift. What is going to make you get your name called instead of that other guy?

The answer is belief. Believe with every single molecule of your being. Believe and truly know, in your heart and in your brain that you are the one guy who is going to make it.

If you played four shifts in the first period and then sat there on the bench and watched the clock slowly tick down to zero, it’s not because the coach is an asshole. It’s to give you time to think about the mistake you made that got you on the bench, so you don’t do it again. Take the time to visualize the amazing play you will make next time. It’s all happening to help you grow and get to where you need to be.

Oh, and stretch, foam roll, and ice baths daily.

9. In our last “10 Questions” segment, Kyle MacKinnon said you were the most fun teammate he has ever played with throughout his career.  Why do you think he singled you out and how fun are you really?

I appreciate the good words from Kyle. He was my roommate one year. I just try to be myself and not worry too much about what other people think of me. I say and do whatever I’m feeling at the time. Most of the time I’m feeling happy. And I am mindful of the times when I’m not. I’m always trying to shoot out good vibes whenever I can. I’m always trying to spread love, smiles, and laughs.

I guess I’m a pretty fun dude! My daughter thinks so. Most of the time. Except when I have to give her a five minute major penalty for throwing scrambled eggs across the kitchen, and she gives me that look as I escort her to the penalty box.

I think that having fun and being fun are two in the same. Whatever you are doing, you might as well make it awesome. Take a step back and look at the big picture of things. We’re here and have the opportunity to experience this great mystery of life. Why not enjoy it while we have the opportunity to?

10. What do you consider your “greatest hockey moment?”

Once before a game, I was warming up deep in a back corridor of the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence when a big group of people getting on the freight elevator caught my eye. I had a Ninety Pound Wuss album blaring in my earphones and I looked up, politely nodding to the group of people. Oh man, that’s Ray Bourque. I noticed him in the group and realized that it was his family. 

I kept warming up but sensed someone approaching. I took the earphones out, and it was Ray. His family waited by the elevator, as he walked up to me and said, “You’re really doing a good job out there, Bobby. And a lot of people are noticing. Keep doing what you are doing. I really think it’s going to happen for you.” As he spoke these words, he looked deep into my soul with his piercing eyes. He shook my hand and walked away to rejoin his family by the elevator. 

Ray gifted me with undaunted belief in myself, and belief that I would make it to the NHL. He didn’t have to come over to me and say that. I will never forget that encounter with a true legend. He showed me that you can be a miracle in someone’s life just by going out of your way to say something encouraging. You never know the impact you will have on someone.

Join Bobby at www.BobbyRobins.com for more savage tales and information on the upcoming release of his book!

Editor’s Note: The responses provided by Bobby Robins for this 10 Questions segment have been condensed for the purpose of the newsletter.  To read the full-length responses provided directly by Bobby, please CLICK HERE.  It is well worth the read!