After scoring five goals four different ways – shorthanded, even strength, power-play and empty net – in a 7-4 win over No. 12 Oakland (Michigan) University on Friday, Arizona men’s club hockey assistant captain Robbie Nowinski spoke with the Arizona Daily Wildcat about his career night, his expectations for the rest of the season and his exclusive hot tub guest list.

Wildcat: What was it like to score five goals against the defending national champs?

Nowinski: It felt good because (Oakland was) talking lot of trash to me because I’m from Michigan, so I got to rub it in their faces a little bit. They said I’d never be able to play hockey back on the east coast, so felt really good to score five goals after them telling me of that.

W: Have you ever scored that many goals that many different ways before?

N: I have before, growing up. I (scored five goals) maybe once or twice, but that’s probably the first time I’ve had
that combination.

W: No penalty shot goal?

N: (Laughs) I didn’t really have a chance to get the penalty shot, but it was good to get the five that I did.

W: What is the most memorable goal you’ve ever scored?

N: I was playing for a team out of Detroit –
Honeybaked. We were a Michigan AAA level team and we were sponsored by the owner of HoneyBaked Ham, but I scored a game-winner in overtime in the semis and helped win a state championship for my team.

W: How can you use this momentum toward the home stretch of the season?

N: This really shows everybody that we have a lot of talent and we’re able to compete with the best in country, since (Oakland are) the defending champs. It just shows us that if we do make it to nationals we have a shot at winning whole thing. I guess that’s just more incentive to try and win the rest of our games and try and win nationals.

W: Who’s your favorite NHL player?

N: It’s always been Sergei Federov. I used to watch him growing up. He’s just one of most talented players. He can score whenever. My older brother was friends with Sergei’s younger brother, so I got to hang out with him one night and that was pretty cool.

W: What’s your favorite sport to watch on TV?

N: Football. I’m a big football guy. I like college over pro, but I like pro too. It’s just more fun to watch college and the players have more passion.

W: What song is paused on your iPod
right now?

N: I don’t know the exact song, but I’ve got Lil’ Wayne on there and some new Linkin Park.

W: If you could have three people over to your house for dinner, living or dead, who would it be?

N: I’d probably have Bill Clinton over. Hmm, let me think about this for a second. I’d definitely have Ghandi over and I guess Sergei Federov.

W: If you could invite three people into your hot tub who would it be?

N: Jessica Alba, definitely Angelina Jolie and probably Jessica Simpson, too.

— interview by Brian Kimball