(Gene J. Puskar/Canadian Press)

The veteran forward was a first-round draft pick for the Calgary Flames in 1984. Roberts is a three-time all star game selection and Bill Masterson trophy winner. He now plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

CBC Sports: How did you get into hockey?

Roberts: "How'd I get into a hockey, well it was a long time ago, my father obviously was the biggest influence in getting me into hockey. He put me on the ice, I didn't like it at first. I was on the ice crying to get off, and he left me sitting there. That was the way it used to be done. Since then times have changed, but it was a little tough love then...

"I'm happy he left me there, yes. The game's been great to me, it's a lot of fun, and I still enjoy playing today."

CBC Sports: What was the first game you can remember playing?

Roberts: "First game I remember playing was squirts, five years old. I think I was playing for the Hens and Joe Nieuwendyk was playing for the Owls, my old buddy, so that's how we met, and went on to play together in the NHL for 10 years in Calgary, so it's a special memory."

CBC Sports: Who was your funniest teammate, and why?

Roberts: "Funniest teammate, I'd say probably Craig Berube was my funniest teammate. He was a tough guy who kept the dressing room really loose, made everybody accountable, whether you were a star or a slug, he always made sure you were on your toes and aware that he was watching. If you had a bad game he never let you go without making sure you knew that he saw it."

CBC Sports: Where was the most memorable tournament you ever played, and why?

Roberts: "Most memorable tournament as a minor hockey player would be, gee, tough question. We had an old hockey coach called Benny Lehay, who for Joe Nieuwendyk and I, he was our minor hockey coach all the way up, and just a great man. We had our most fun for sure at tournaments he brought us to. Can't pick one, but definitely that was the most fun in minor hockey was going away as a team and going to tournaments with him."

CBC Sports: Where was the worst arena you've ever played at? What was it like? Roberts: "The worst arena, well I'd probably say the worst arena was probably the arena I started playing in, it was Brooklyn arena. We still had the wire along the boards, we didn't even have glass. But in a way it was the best rink I played in because it really brings you back to the grassroots of hockey and where I began. So the worst rink, but probably the most memorable one."

CBC Sports: Where was the coldest game of hockey you ever played? Describe it.

Roberts: "I think for me playing outdoors when I was a kid obviously below 0, 15, 20 below, out there playing on the pond, and staying out there all day until dark, being completely frozen -- but you still couldn't get me off the ice."

CBC Sports: Who was the most memorable hockey parent you ever met? Why?

Roberts: "In a good way or a bad way? (laughs). You always have those parents when you play minor hockey that have too much to say. Unfortunately their kids are the ones who don't make it, because their parents either drive them to not like the game anymore, or they lose interest.

"But the most memorable hockey parent I know is Joanne Nieuwendyk. She's not with us today, Joe Nieuwendyk 's mom, but she was at every game, every tournament with her cow bell, cheering in a good way, supporting all the guys and really a big supporter of our team growing up. We still think about her lots today."