Kevin ROONEY

Rangers winger, and former Devil, Kevin Rooney takes a shot at some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.

Q: How have the doubters impacted you?

A: Oh, significantly. I had quite a few, especially when I was playing in New Jersey, and it always just motivates and fueled me to be better, and then I feel like once I signed in New York, I was appreciated a lot more. That’s why I’ve felt as comfortable as I have in New York versus New Jersey. But even prior to being in New Jersey, there were always doubters. I remember there was a guy that wrote an article my senior year. It was something along the lines of underrated players to watch in the NCAA Tournament that will never play pro. I remember reading the article saying, “He appreciates me but he doesn’t think I’m gonna play pro at all.” So little things like that have always motivated me. Q: Describe coach Gerard Gallant.

A: He’s been amazing. He instills confidence in our group that I don’t think I’ve had in any coach. Before every game, he makes you believe 100 percent that we’re gonna win the game, I’ve never had a coach that does that. He’s not very technical or anything, but the way he delivers his messages has been unbelievable, and such a good addition for us this season.

Q: Do you enjoy the penalty kill?

A: Oh yeah, take a lot of pride in the penalty kill. I know that in order to stay in the league, it’s something I have to be good at. It’s always something I watched video on and really studied. You got a group of guys that are really committed to it right now, and when you have the best goalie in the world, it makes your PK look a lot better. I feel like what we’ve done here has really suited my type of game.

Q: What are you most proud of that has enabled you to get where you’re at?

A: I think I’m probably the most proud of how I’ve developed and stayed coachable at every level. When I was in college [Providence], I was a walk-on freshman, no scholarship. And I was always trying to learn from guys that were ahead of me and coaches that I had. When I left Providence College, I signed an American Hockey League contract. I worked on my game there, and really bought into the coaches and the veterans that have been there and then eventually ended up earning myself an NHL contract. So I’d say probably just most proud of the way I did it and how I did it the right way, and always getting better at each level.

Q: What is the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome?

A: I had signed an NHL contract in New Jersey, I had not made the team the next year after I signed it, and then I got called up for a few games, got sent back down [in 2017-18], the next season kind of the same thing happened, didn’t make the team, when I got sent down the first 30-so games in the minors, I didn’t score a goal. I was supposed to be the next guy called up, and on everyone’s radar, and I think it was a really tough time for me then. I somehow kind of found my [game] out of that and scored and then ended up getting called up, so I finished the year with only one goal in the AHL. After I had scored that, they called me up and I stayed up for good.

Q: If you could pick the brain of any player in NHL history, who would it be?

A: Bobby Orr.

Q: If you could have a breakaway on any goalie in NHL history?

A: Dominik Hasek. Just loved his style. I just loved a goalie that just battled like he did.

Q: Where were you during the Boston Marathon tragedy?

A: I was at Providence College. Once it happened, some classes were canceled right away. I just remember being kind of like in shock and people being nervous at college, because it was obviously not far from Providence. We have a charity it’s called We Beat Cancer, and so we had a bunch of runners running for us and so that was kind of my initial thought was make sure they’re OK. Yeah obviously it was really sad, it was a tough day for sure.

Q: Describe winning the 2015 NCAA championship.

A: It was amazing. We came in with such a huge class, so when we won it, we had a pretty special bond between our group of guys that were in my class. It was really special, especially being in Boston, obviously from where I’m from [Canton, Mass.].

Q: What is your best single hockey moment?

A: I would probably say my first NHL game [March 2, 2017]. It was in Washington. I remember just being in warm-ups, not even really warming up, just looking at the other end, and seeing [Alex] Ovechkin and [T.J.] Oshie and [Nicklas] Backstrom and all those guys. It finally was hitting me then that, “Oh this is real, I got to this point.”

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, Larry Bird.

Q: How did you feel about Brady leaving the Patriots and winning the Super Bowl last year for the Buccaneers?

A: Obviously I was really disappointed when he left, just like any other Pats fan, but I was obviously still a fan of his. Once the Pats weren’t in it, I was rooting for Tampa and once again this year I’m rooting for Tampa now.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Shawshank Redemption.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Adam Sandler.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Jennifer Aniston.

Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?

A: Thomas Rhett.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Lobster. Q: Is this team a legitimate Stanley Cup contender?

A: I think we definitely are. I think we have the right pieces to go far. We got great goaltending, we have an amazing D corps, we feel we have good depth up front. It’s been a fun ride this year. Got a great group of guys. We went with the six alternate captains, bringing the team together whether it’s going out to eat on the road or hanging out on the road, I think we have a really good team dynamic that you don’t really see much in pro hockey. It’s a little bit more business-oriented ’cause it is a business, but this team seems special with the group we have.

Q: Does it remind you of your Providence College national championship team?

A: Yeah, absolutely it definitely does, ’cause even on that team, we had such good role players, we had a great goalie [Jon Gillies] and a team that really jelled off the ice, not just on the ice. That’s pretty similar to what we have here.