Paul Thompson new Devils coach

Devil94

Well-Known Member
Just noticed in the Odense press release about Paul Thompson leaving, it translates as;

"The now 57-year-old Briton has been missing his family back home in England, and it is also here in his homeland that Paul Thompson will be making his debut. Here, a new coaching challenge awaits him. He is taking with him assistant coach Niklas Hovivuori, who will continue together in a coaching constellation at a British club.'

I guess that's our new assistant coach then..

https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/63016/niklas-hovivuori
 

Devil94

Well-Known Member
Just noticed in the Odense press release about Paul Thompson leaving, it translates as;

"The now 57-year-old Briton has been missing his family back home in England, and it is also here in his homeland that Paul Thompson will be making his debut. Here, a new coaching challenge awaits him. He is taking with him assistant coach Niklas Hovivuori, who will continue together in a coaching constellation at a British club.'

I guess that's our new assistant coach then..

https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/63016/niklas-hovivuori
In fact, here it is looks to be confirmed on the Danish league website. "Odense's coaching duo moves to Cardiff Devils"

https://metalligaen.dk/nyheder/odenses-traenerduo-skifter-til-cardiff-devils/

Hard to find much info about him, 48 years old and Finnish, even though is EP says Swedish. Never played professionally. From a quick Google it looks like he started his coaching career in floorball, which is pretty big in Scandinavia, then progressed to ice hockey with Frolunda junior system, then Norway and then to Denmark.

Him and PT obviously had a good thing going last year, Thommo must be a big fan to tempt him over. On a personal level, if this is true and not just a bad translation job, I'm looking forward to a Scandinavian behind our bench, something different for us.
 
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BostonBart22

Well-Known Member
In fact, here it is looks to be confirmed on the Danish league website. "Odense's coaching duo moves to Cardiff Devils"

https://metalligaen.dk/nyheder/odenses-traenerduo-skifter-til-cardiff-devils/

Hard to find much info about him, 48 years old and Finnish, even though is EP says Swedish. Never played professionally. From a quick Google it looks like he started his coaching career in floorball, which is pretty big in Scandinavia, then progressed to ice hockey with Frolunda junior system, then Norway and then to Denmark.

Him and PT obviously had a good thing going last year, Thommo must be a big fan to tempt him over. On a personal level, if this is true and not just a bad translation job, I'm looking forward to a Scandinavian behind our bench, something different for us.
I assume matt is not involved then unless going with 3 coache's
 

Devil94

Well-Known Member
Thommo chose a Swede in Jerry Anderson to be his assistant in Sheffield too. In their 2 years together, they had a total of 8 Swedish/Finnish players. I wonder if that's the route we will go down this year.
 

Sheincar

Well-Known Member
Thommo chose a Swede in Jerry Anderson to be his assistant in Sheffield too. In their 2 years together, they had a total of 8 Swedish/Finnish players. I wonder if that's the route we will go down this year.
Wouldn't that mean European style hockey, which lots of you don't want?
 

Ocko

Well-Known Member
Thread starter #109
Wouldn't that mean European style hockey, which lots of you don't want?
Not necessarily. Both of the Steelers teams that Jerry Anderrson was involved in with Thompson had at least 2 heavyweights and a number of other players who would fight.
 

Devil94

Well-Known Member
Wouldn't that mean European style hockey, which lots of you don't want?
Certainly not me, I want it more of it. Those who have watched a Swedish or Finnish league game will know that it's a more physical league than here, with more hits being finished. 15% of NHL players are Swedes or Fins, they're tough cookies. Also the faster paced puck possession game is a better watch than the North American dump and chase.

What's a guarantee also is that they will be great skaters. I guess usually it's a bit of a challenge to convince a good player from there to come to the UK, as most would have more appealing options, including staying in their own system. But with new personnel and contacts I'm sure that will be more achievable this year.
 

hip check

Well-Known Member
Certainly not me, I want it more of it. Those who have watched a Swedish or Finnish league game will know that it's a more physical league than here, with more hits being finished. 15% of NHL players are Swedes or Fins, they're tough cookies. Also the faster paced puck possession game is a better watch than the North American dump and chase.

What's a guarantee also is that they will be great skaters. I guess usually it's a bit of a challenge to convince a good player from there to come to the UK, as most would have more appealing options, including staying in their own system. But with new personnel and contacts I'm sure that will be more achievable this year.
So basically last season we didn't play European style hockey because there was almost a complete lack of hits and physicality was at a premium, what kind of hockey we played was probably dictated by our injury problems but whilst saying that the squad put together was not a physical team per se.
 
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