Here’s the last (at least for a day or two) of Don’s interviews, this one with Manchester goalie Jon Quick. Here’s Jon, with Don:

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A Kings’ third round selection and number 72 overall in the 2005 draft, goaltender Jon Quick established himself as a reliable backstop for Reading, Manchester and Los Angeles during the 2007-2008 season.

Quick, 22, has played a total of 59 games this season; three with the Kings – including his first NHL win in December against Buffalo, – 38 with the Royals of the ECHL, and he currently has a 10-8 record in 18 starts with the Monarch

Quick is currently sharing duties in Manchester with the recently promoted Jonathan Bernier and he took a few minutes to talk about his multi-team season to date, his new teammate, and how singing to himself helps to remain focused during a game.

Q&A with Jonathan Quick

Question: Between the games for Reading, Manchester and Los Angeles you’ve played in 59 games – that’s a pretty long season for a goalie. How are you feeling?

Quick: It’s a pretty long season and it takes a toll on the body, but they (trainers) do a good job of getting you ready for the next game. I’m just ready for the playoffs and am excited about them. We’re going to have some fun.

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Question: What was it like to play at the NHL-level?

Quick: It was a great feeling just being up there and in that environment. Getting to play and actually winning a game was just great.

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Question: Talk a little bit about your season in Reading. Seems like you were seeing about 30 shots against each night?

Quick: It was a total team effort each night in Reading. I got along great with everyone there, we’d just go out each night and have fun and everyone played to win. And the 30 shots was probably a good average, some nights a little more, some a little less.

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Question: And now you are experiencing success with Manchester.

Quick: It has been a lot of fun. The guys here are a really young group, but they really want to win. They are all just trying to find ways to win and they have been able to do that. We’ve had a pretty nice streak here for a while.

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Question: Do you see big or subtle difference between the ECHL and the American League?

Quick: There are differences obviously. Guys just get bigger and stronger as you move on up the chain. They get into position quicker, but at the same time as you move up, each team plays better collectively and defensively and with better systems.

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Question: Have you personally learned different lessons with each move up the chain?

Quick: As a goalie, it is just about constantly getting experience and get as many minutes as you can. With every team you play with, every time you got out there is only one thing to do and that is to win the game, and at every level that is the same.

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Question: How has your game evolved over the last 12 months?

Quick: There’s always things to work on and areas of your game you can improve. You have to do your homework, watch video and listen to your coaches. You can also listen to the goalie that has been there before you because they have a lot of knowledge that they can pass off. So I just try to learn all I can from the guys who are around and try to have fun at the same time.

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Question: Are you finding that coaches try and tweak your playing style as you move through the organization?

Quick: I wouldn’t say they tweak my style at all. They’ve been good about not trying to change the way I play, as far as all the goalies go they are not trying to change the goalie that you are, and at the same time if they see something that needs improvement and they know of something that will be beneficial to your game they will point it out and let you try it and if it is something that you can grasp and be successful with in games then you can go with it.

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Question: It seems like goalies are typically classified as confident almost to the point of being cocky. Would you describe yourself as a cocky goalie?

Quick: Well, you spend a lot of time back there by yourself in the net and you do a lot of thinking so you have to be confident and it will rub off on your teammates. If a goalie is confident then they can be more confident, but there is a fine line with confidence because you don’t want to get a reputation for being cocky or anything like that. So you have to fine that line and just tiptoe it a little bit.

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Question: Speaking of spending time alone in the net, do you still find yourself singing to stay focused back there?

Quick: Sure, I think everybody does it (laughs). You know, between whistles whatever song was playing over the loudspeaker. As the game does you hear a bunch a songs and sometimes a particular song will be in your head, but it is just something to keep the mind from wandering because so many things can happen. Thoughts get in to your head and you don’t want them to be negative, you just want to be positive for the team and that seems to be a good way to keep your mind off the negative thoughts.

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Question: Are there any songs that you are embarrassed to admit to singing back there?

Quick: (Laughs) I enjoy all kinds of music, so no, nothing too embarrassing.

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Question: How has it been this last week with Bernier coming in to Manchester?

Quick: He’s probably been through a lot more high pressure games than I’ve had to over the last couple of years, so he is okay. We just talk to each other between periods about what is going on and I think it is a good relationship so far. I think we will just keep pushing each other and hopefully we can both get some wins.

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Question: Have the coaches talked to you guys yet about a rotation for the playoffs?

Quick: Nope, not yet. We are just focused on the two games we have left even though we are already in the playoffs, but the two games are against the team that we are going to be playing in the playoffs so if we can do a good job against them they will know that it is not going to be an easy series for them. We are going to come out and compete every night and if they are going to beat us they are going to have to bring their best.

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Question: Looking ahead, have you given much thought to the Kings’ training camp in the Fall where you will likely be competing with LaBarbera, Bernier and Ersberg for one of the two spots?

Quick: It’s all fun and no matter what happens or who gets the job, it’s all about the experience. It’s such a good group of guys and it should be a lot of fun.