24 vragen aan… Parker Bowles

Foto Arie Leeuwesteijn

 

24 questions with…Parker Bowles

His stick handling skills, his ability to skate around his opponents and score in tight situations like in that overtime against Leipzig made him an instant favorite of the Trappers’ faithful. Only in eight games Parker Bowles had no points. Reasons enough to ask Mr. Soft Hands 24 questions.

Why are you wearing #70?

‘Actually there’s no significance to it. For the last five years I was 39. I got it in juniors and stuck to it. Tilburg sent my options on the numbers. I sent it to my brother and asked him what do you think. He came back with 70 and I liked that too. I considered 93 but 70 is okay.’

Winger or center?

I like to play center but playing wing is good. Besides that I found a good spot on the wing with Danny (Stempher) and Reno (de Hondt).

Nickname in the dressing room?

‘Bowlesy.’

Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid?

‘That’s a tough one. I’ll go for McDavid. I just love watching his speed and skills.’

Favorite NHL organization?

‘I grew up in Calgary and had season tickets for a long time so the Flames.’

Favorite pre-game song?

‘Gio in on the music and I love all the great stuff he has to play.’

MLB or NFL?

‘MLB and as I am a Canadian my favorite team are the Toronto Blue Jays.’

Shoot or deke on a breakaway?

‘I think I have to shoot more but I always intend to deke.

Sudden death OT or shootouts?

‘OT for sure. It’s more exciting.’

What’s your middle name?

‘Benson. To my great grandfather.’

Brothers or sisters?

‘One older brother, Jagger. Besides my brother he’s my best friend. We’re very close. He’s two years older and lives with his newly married wife in Red Deer (Alberta).

You’ve been here for a couple of months now. How is it to live in the Netherlands in general and in Tilburg in particular?

‘I like it a lot. I’ve been treated very well. I have no complaints at all. It’s been a blast. It’s not that big of a culture shock. The Netherlands are a English based society. That really helps. With my girlfriend and Brock (Montgomery) we visited some places (Amsterdam, Zandvoort, Düsseldorf.

Which Dutch words you already know?

‘Kroketten, fricadellen, houdoe and ik pak je sowieso. I don’t know how to apply it to a sentence but someone said it and I liked it.’

How is it to drive a manual car instead of an automatic?

‘It’s fine. It took me a couple days to get used to it. Brock actually kind of helped me out. Now it’s easy

What would be the title of your biography?

‘Work hard. Be happy.’

How many tattoos do you have?

‘Just one. Got it a when I was 20 years old.’

How do you deal with a jetlag?

‘Try to find a sleep and not to sleep in. Nap when you can and do what you have to do. It’s not to bad because I’m used to the traveling thanks to the hockeylife.

What’s #1 on your bucketlist?

‘Win a championship in Tilburg.’

What’s your girlfriend’s birthday date?

‘3 September.

Which celebrity would you take a selfie with?

‘Brock Montgomery.’

What’s the last book you have read?

‘A Gordie Howe book probably. I’m more of a Podcast guy

Favorite junk food?

‘A chocolate bar.’

Which player should be next to ask 24 questions?

‘Brock, for sure.’

Anything we should ask Brock?

‘What his favorite Dutch words are.’