New Interview
I recently did an interview. I thought I would share it with our fans.
1. Now all the teams have already qualified for the playoffs, what are the aims of the season for the Caps? To improve as an organzation first and foremost. This is going to be the hardest year for us. Hull is better with the assistance of added revenue and a new coach. Newcastle seems to have some exciting new players and the rest are consistent winners and larger budgets. Its going to be a battle and if we can keep a nucleus of what we had last year we could surprise some people.
2. If you could sign one player from the EIHL who would it be and why? Jody Lehman. He was the best player in the league last year and completely separated Sheffield from everyone else. Of the returning players in the league, I would love to have Weaver, he is so good and he competes.
3. JF Perras was fantastic for you but then failed to impress most people at Coventry, any thoughts behind this? How do you fill those shoes? Coventry finished second and he was a failure, thats a lot of pressure. I am sure he would like to have a few goals back but it is a team game and he helped them finish second in the league.
4. Out of the last 2 seasons as coach, which brought the most pleasure in making the playoffs? Both were special. Year 1 was the first time in franchise history and that was great for our fans and for the team but last years team was a special group of men. People would never believe the adversity we went through even if we told them. The players in our room took a bad situation and took it upon themselves to change it.
5. How close did the team come to folding last season? Close enough that I was looking for a job.
6. Whats been the highlight of your career so far? My first call up to the AHL. I had a tough couple seasons and I did not quit. Getting to the AHL as an undrafted free agent was worth all the hard work.
7. Best player you've played with and against? With-Mike Green from the Washington Capitals. Against-Eric Staal from the Carolina Hurricanes.
8. What does a normal week in the life of Doug Christiansen entail (during the season!) Monday is using a day of rest. I try to catch up on email and blogs. I do our program article, watch the video of the previous weekends games, and get ready for the next week of practice. I encourage our players to meet somewhere and enjoy Edinburgh. Tuesday we usually have a workout during the day and then I will go home and prepare that nights practice. Tuesday is either very hard or fun depending on the mood of the players and the results of the weekend. Wednesday we skate during the day and usually it is individual skill work or powerplay. Wednesday night, I usually try to build a scouting report for the weekend by watching video and doing research on our opponents. Thursday, we have a team practice focusing on Saturdays opponent and our own game plan. Usually, there is lots of PP and PK. Friday is usually a light skate getting ready for the weekend. We might make a couple adjustments based upon the previous night and get ready for the trip. Saturday is usually a road game for us. Our trips are long. I try to sleep much of the way. I wake up about an hour before we arrive and put together my game card. I have learned not to do it the night before because a lot can change in a day(sickness, etc). I try to have our players as prepared as possible. I think they need to be because I am a player-coach and it is harder to run a game plan if they are not already prepared. After the game, food and a long way back to Scotland. We often arrive in the wee hours. I will watch film or just relax on the way home. I then wake up and get ready to do it all over again at home.
You don't have to answer this one!
Thommo gave Ben O'Connor some stick over his departure from the Blaze, what are your thoughts on his departure and subsequent arrival back at Edinburgh? Was Ben just un-happy in Coventry?
I cannot answer whether or not Ben was unhappy in Coventry because I do not know. I do know that Ben really enjoyed Edinburgh and enjoyed being close to his mother who travelled up for games often with his sister. Ben was a popular player in Edinburgh and he made some great friendships with his teammates.
I have a great amount of respect for Paul Thompson and the job he does in Coventry. I was very close to wearing the Blaze jersey 3 years ago and if I did, I am sure I would have loved it. Coventry has great fans and they high level of success. Paul Thompson is the key to that. I was upset when Ben left us last year, so I know exactly how he feels. Ben contacted us about coming back and having20lost a great young defender in Craig Mitchell to Hull we needed a good British d-man. It made sense for us to try to bring him in.
I will add that I think that is a real sign of progress for our club that a player of Ben's stature would return to Edinburgh. For a long time the top clubs have waited for the best British talent to develop in smaller clubs and then sign them. Ben and Mark Garside in Edinburgh really show that the players who come to Edinburgh like it and think they can develop there and have a chance to win. When I took the job, Edinburgh needed a culture change. The two of them in a Capitals jersey show how far we have come. I hope it is a harbinger of things to come.
1. Now all the teams have already qualified for the playoffs, what are the aims of the season for the Caps? To improve as an organzation first and foremost. This is going to be the hardest year for us. Hull is better with the assistance of added revenue and a new coach. Newcastle seems to have some exciting new players and the rest are consistent winners and larger budgets. Its going to be a battle and if we can keep a nucleus of what we had last year we could surprise some people.
2. If you could sign one player from the EIHL who would it be and why? Jody Lehman. He was the best player in the league last year and completely separated Sheffield from everyone else. Of the returning players in the league, I would love to have Weaver, he is so good and he competes.
3. JF Perras was fantastic for you but then failed to impress most people at Coventry, any thoughts behind this? How do you fill those shoes? Coventry finished second and he was a failure, thats a lot of pressure. I am sure he would like to have a few goals back but it is a team game and he helped them finish second in the league.
4. Out of the last 2 seasons as coach, which brought the most pleasure in making the playoffs? Both were special. Year 1 was the first time in franchise history and that was great for our fans and for the team but last years team was a special group of men. People would never believe the adversity we went through even if we told them. The players in our room took a bad situation and took it upon themselves to change it.
5. How close did the team come to folding last season? Close enough that I was looking for a job.
6. Whats been the highlight of your career so far? My first call up to the AHL. I had a tough couple seasons and I did not quit. Getting to the AHL as an undrafted free agent was worth all the hard work.
7. Best player you've played with and against? With-Mike Green from the Washington Capitals. Against-Eric Staal from the Carolina Hurricanes.
8. What does a normal week in the life of Doug Christiansen entail (during the season!) Monday is using a day of rest. I try to catch up on email and blogs. I do our program article, watch the video of the previous weekends games, and get ready for the next week of practice. I encourage our players to meet somewhere and enjoy Edinburgh. Tuesday we usually have a workout during the day and then I will go home and prepare that nights practice. Tuesday is either very hard or fun depending on the mood of the players and the results of the weekend. Wednesday we skate during the day and usually it is individual skill work or powerplay. Wednesday night, I usually try to build a scouting report for the weekend by watching video and doing research on our opponents. Thursday, we have a team practice focusing on Saturdays opponent and our own game plan. Usually, there is lots of PP and PK. Friday is usually a light skate getting ready for the weekend. We might make a couple adjustments based upon the previous night and get ready for the trip. Saturday is usually a road game for us. Our trips are long. I try to sleep much of the way. I wake up about an hour before we arrive and put together my game card. I have learned not to do it the night before because a lot can change in a day(sickness, etc). I try to have our players as prepared as possible. I think they need to be because I am a player-coach and it is harder to run a game plan if they are not already prepared. After the game, food and a long way back to Scotland. We often arrive in the wee hours. I will watch film or just relax on the way home. I then wake up and get ready to do it all over again at home.
You don't have to answer this one!
Thommo gave Ben O'Connor some stick over his departure from the Blaze, what are your thoughts on his departure and subsequent arrival back at Edinburgh? Was Ben just un-happy in Coventry?
I cannot answer whether or not Ben was unhappy in Coventry because I do not know. I do know that Ben really enjoyed Edinburgh and enjoyed being close to his mother who travelled up for games often with his sister. Ben was a popular player in Edinburgh and he made some great friendships with his teammates.
I have a great amount of respect for Paul Thompson and the job he does in Coventry. I was very close to wearing the Blaze jersey 3 years ago and if I did, I am sure I would have loved it. Coventry has great fans and they high level of success. Paul Thompson is the key to that. I was upset when Ben left us last year, so I know exactly how he feels. Ben contacted us about coming back and having20lost a great young defender in Craig Mitchell to Hull we needed a good British d-man. It made sense for us to try to bring him in.
I will add that I think that is a real sign of progress for our club that a player of Ben's stature would return to Edinburgh. For a long time the top clubs have waited for the best British talent to develop in smaller clubs and then sign them. Ben and Mark Garside in Edinburgh really show that the players who come to Edinburgh like it and think they can develop there and have a chance to win. When I took the job, Edinburgh needed a culture change. The two of them in a Capitals jersey show how far we have come. I hope it is a harbinger of things to come.
posted by Doug Christiansen at
17:46
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