Freshman Friday is a Q-and-A feature with new members of the men's hockey team. This is the third installment, featuring goaltender Matthew Galajda.

Q: OK, so you've had a couple months of school and a couple games under your belt now. What are your impressions of Cornell so far?
A: I absolutely love it. School's been going great so far. I've been able to make a good amount of friends in the hotel school, and to get into a couple of the games was something I've never experienced before. I was never able to watch a game here on my visit, so to experience the atmosphere firsthand was unbelievable and something I definitely won't forget.

Q: It's just the beginning, I'm sure. You got some ice time in those games — what did you think about the pace of play and everything?
A: You don't really think about it too much once you're out there. You just go out and have some fun and battle and compete, but the pace was definitely greater than what I've been used to playing over the past couple of years. But I don't think it's too much of an adjustment for me, personally.

Q: That said, the BCHL is obviously great, and it seems to be a Cornell goalie factory over there. How would you characterize your time in Victoria?
A: It was great. To get out of school for two years and just be able to focus on hockey, it was fun. We had a great team last year. It was definitely a great experience, and I enjoyed my time out there. I met a lot of new people. My billets were great; I've been keeping in touch with them over the last couple of months. I definitely made some memories and friendships that will last for a long time.

Q: Kind of a bizarre sidebar to it all is that you happened to play in the same division as a team (Powell River) that had four future teammates on it. Was that as weird as it sounds?
A: It was definitely fun playing against those guys. I definitely got a chance to know them throughout the course of the season. I think we played them 15 times last year. So to get to stop those guys — I don't know — winning in the playoffs is something that was big for our team and big for me just so I have some bragging rights over them. But it's not like I'm using that at all here.

Q: I mean, a seven-game playoff series is nothing to sneeze at. Do you chirp them about that, or is it still a little too soon?
A: We've joked around about it a couple times so far, but nothing serious.

Q: So before your BCHL days, you had one of the most extreme home ice advantages I think I've ever heard of. What was it like playing for St. Andrew's, where you literally grew up?
A: (Laughs) Yeah, I've lived on the campus at St. Andrew's for my whole life. I still live there. I've been there since I was maybe 2. My dad's the director of residential life there. So I grew up on campus, and playing for St. Andrew's is something I've always wanted to do, because I always watched their team. So that's something I wanted to do and follow the college path. Playing for St. Andrew's was awesome. The school loves their hockey there, and to play in front of the crowds was fun.

Q: I think it speaks volumes that you would want to stay there after having spent your entire life there. Did you feel like you were destined to do that, or did you actually look into other options and maybe getting away for a little bit?
A: I always wanted to go college; I never really looked at the major junior route. I don't know, it was just something that I always wanted do and it was just part of my plan. When I was in Grade 9, I decided I wanted to play at St. Andrew's and go off and hopefully play in B.C. for two years, and then hopefully go on from there. So far, the plan's worked. Now, we'll have to set a new plan for the next four years.

Q: So did you start playing hockey early?
A: Yeah, probably when I was about 4. I was a forward until I was around 9. I made the switch to goalie when I was in Grade 4. The reason why I switched, I'm not really sure. My dad didn't really want me to be a goalie, but maybe that's why I really wanted to be a goalie. I wasn't the greatest skater as a player, so I think it was just a good adjustment for me.

Q: I assume you've talked to Alex Rauter about this by now, but he made the same switch in reverse (from goalie to forward) around the same age. Are there any plans to do a showdown between you two in your old positions at practice sometime?
A: I definitely would love to see that.

Q: So you visited at least one other Ivy League program. Why did you ultimately pick Cornell?
A: I picked Cornell just because I think it's one of the richest and greatest hockey programs in the country. It has an amazing, beautiful campus, and the school is second to none. The hockey team is second to none. And the fans, that's definitely one of the big things, the fans care a lot about hockey here. It's fun to play in front of that crowd every night, that's for sure.

Q: So what are studying here?
A: I'm studying in the School of Hotel Administration. I wasn't really too sure what to think about it coming in, but I can tell you over the last two months of being here, I absolutely love it. I love going to school every day. I find it a lot of fun. I find my classes pretty interesting. There are a couple things I wouldn't have necessarily chosen to take, like food service or stuff like that, but I really enjoy it. It's a lot of fun.

Q: I've heard you have an interest in real estate, is that right?
A: Yes, that's definitely something I'm going to want to concentrate on in the hotel school. I've always kind of liked watching housing shows on TV and stuff like that. For some reason, I've always just been attracted to real estate and I want to go into real estate development.

Q: That's interesting, considering you grew up in such a fixed housing arrangement. What was it like growing up on a college campus like that?
A: I absolutely loved it. When I was little, I would just go into the residences when I was like 5, and I looked up to all the older kids in the houses. I used those guys as role models. So after I'd do my homework after school, I'd just go to the gym at the school and play basketball or soccer or something. I always used the facilities at the school. I was just running around and playing with the older kids, and they loved it, too.

Q: So it was like having a thousand older brothers?
A: Absolutely. I loved it. I don't think many kids have ever had a chance to experience that.

2017-18 Freshman Friday Archives:
Oct. 20 — Morgan Barron
Oct. 27 — Cody Haiskanen