The Inferno speaks to Jon Pelle

10th Aug 2011 | Posted by The Inferno

“Belfast Giants are delighted to announce the signing of American forward Jon Pelle for the upcoming season. ” Words that broke many a heart here in Cardiff when the Giants announced that Jon Pelle had done what seemed to be the unthinkable and signed in Belfast.

Jon joined the Devils at the start of last season coming to the UK from the Rapid City Rush off the back of a CHL league winning season. In his season with the Devils Jon amassed a mighty 55 goals and 55 assists for an unheard of 110 points leading all players in scoring and setting a new league points record along the way. Jon also won both the Forward of the Year and Newcomer of the Year Awards.
Jon describes himself as " an Undersized, fairly skilled, somewhat Educated, American Hockey player" on Twitter what we’ve seen suggests that he’s much more than that. After he signed in Belfast we knew we had to speak to him and bitterly cry “ Why..oh why” and also ask some of the questions that we’ve all wanted to ask all year.

Inferno (IF) Who do you think is the best forward you have played on a line with and against?

Jon Pelle ( JP) The best forward I've ever played on a line with is Scott Matzka- with Max Birbraer being a close second. Despite Scott's old age he works extremely hard. The three of us hardly spent any time on defense because of his strong play down low. Scott is an explosive skater with incredible vision and I owe a lot of my accomplishments to him. Despite his temper tantrums both on the ice and in the classroom he's become a good friend. The best forward I have ever played against would probably be Drew Stafford back when he was at the University of North Dakota- he's now a Buffalo Sabre.

IF- What were your expectations coming into last season. Were you expecting the season that you had ?

JP - G expected me to finish in the top 10 in scoring. To be honest, I thought this was ambitious. Before the season started I had heard the EIHL and CHL were comparable leagues. This turned out to be true, although I believe the CHL has better goaltending and much more depth. Coming into the season I thought I would finish around a point per game, if not slightly higher. From a team perspective, I wanted to win at least one trophy. I knew we would have a strong team based on G's recruiting and in my opinion we exceeded expectations despite not winning any hardware. It's frustrating to look at the team we had and the way we performed and have nothing to show for it. The world record is pretty neat, but I would trade any of the personal accolades for a Championship.

IF -What factors made last year your career year? Did you think before coming in that you would make such and impact!

JP - I found some instant chemistry with Matzka and Maxi. Those guys can both fly and I like to think we complimented each other well. They are both great skaters and amazing play-makers, where as I am a bit slower and more of a shooter. I think the blue tent also worked to my advantage. It's such a small sheet so I'm never too far from the net. In the big, Olympic rinks it's tough to get in tight for quality shots. I didn't think I would make such an impact- it wasn't until I got a few skates in with Scotty and Maxi that I thought we might be able to do some damage.

IF- You had a career season last season, what aspects of your game would you most like to improve? Where do you think your game Shines?

JP - You always want to improve but to be honest, at this stage of my career, I don't think my game is going to change that much. My skating could definitely use work and I would like to get stronger. However, with a short off season there's only so much that can be done. I know my strengths by now- those are probably shooting, passing, and maybe finding open areas. I just hope to be consistent with those throughout the season. Getting in the best shape possible over the summer will help that.

IF- Obviously making the move that you have was a big decision. What were your main reasons for leaving and what influenced you to pick Belfast?

JP - It was a difficult decision, one which I put a lot of thought into. I never had any on-ice concerns with Cardiff. The Devils will have a strong team next season- with the recent signings you can see that G and Franny are doing a nice job. Cardiff will continue to be a great place to play but it was time for me to move on. I definitely did not leave because of money. The contract I signed with Belfast is not much different to the deal I received from G. I offered to re-sign with the Devils a couple weeks after the season ended but G and I were a bit off on the terms. I understand G has a budget to work with and I respect that. During my negotiations with the Devils I had a few offers from different European countries that would have paid me more than any club in the UK. However, none of them fit what I was looking for. I like the idea of having a number of other North Americans on the team- it provides an atmosphere very similar to what we experience in the States. Many of my offers came from small, non-English speaking cities with few North American imports. I want to be in a city where I can enjoy my time away from the rink. This past off-season, being relocated for a second time to an apartment with no internet and cable made the last couple of months less enjoyable. As an import in school, not having the internet for 4 of my 10 months was unacceptable. I think it's unfortunate the way it worked out as I enjoyed the majority of my time in Cardiff. I realize things are much better now, but with all the problems surrounding the club over the summer it felt like I was getting off a sinking ship. In this time, I spoke at length with a close friend and former Giant about playing for Belfast. He told me the organization really cares about the people involved and does a nice job of looking after its players. They have top notch facilities and a solid reputation for recruiting high end players and consistently challenging for trophies. More than anything, though, I want to experience living in a new country and being part of a new culture. I enjoyed traveling around Europe after the season and I want to spend my time in professional hockey experiencing as many new places as possible.

IF- Who would you say has the Best fans Rapid City or Devils? What’s the Best arena you’ve played in for atmosphere and where’s the worst?

JP -I've been lucky to play in front of two amazing fan bases in each of the last two seasons. They are totally different, however. In Rapid City, we were the only show in town and had about 3 times as many fans as the Devils. The fans were very energetic and our home games were almost always sold out. The booster club in Rapid is phenomenal- they always provided us with dinner after home games and snacks for long bus trips. The Devil fans are smaller in numbers but unbelievably loyal and supportive. This summer I've seen first hand just how passionate they are about their club. The atmosphere for away teams in the blue tent is very intimidating and I look forward to being heckled by my former supporters! Lynah Arena, home to the Cornell Big Red, is the best arena I've played in for atmosphere. There is an intense rivalry between Harvard and Cornell- their fans get extra excited for those games. They throw fish at us as we come out for warm-ups, everything from a Swedish fish candy to a small mouthed bass- it's something to see. The entire crowd stands for the duration of the game, the band is amazing, and the chants are great- it's just a fun place to play. Worst arena for atmosphere, Newcastle's rink at Whitley Bay- that is no place for professional hockey. Not much more to say on that.

IF - Which one current player in the British leagues (Brit or import) would you like to have playing with you in Belfast?

JP -That's a tough one. Excluding my former Devils teammates, I think it would be nice to play with Jon Landry. I went to Worcester Sharks camp with him a couple years back- he's a great player and an ever better guy.

IF - When you were announced, fans were concerned about your height and receiving some nasty hits from larger players/enforcers in the league. Do you find as a slightly shorter but more skilled player that this is the case or do you get more cover from team mates?

JP - As a smaller player, I think you learn to avoid big hits. If you ask most undersized players they will tell you that over time you figure out how to protect yourself out there. As far as enforcers go, most of them play the game with some integrity and don't take cheap shots at small, skill guys. These days, players who fight also need to be able to play a regular shift- that's what makes a guy like Brad Voth so valuable. It definitely helped last year that we were extremely tough. Guys like Finner, Vother, Weller, G, Ty and even Maxi are all very tough dudes willing to drop the gloves if they have to. I don't think a lot of teams matched up to us in that respect and I'm sure, to some extent, it allowed me more freedom to play my game.

IF- Did last season’s purchase of the Sheffield Steelers mid-season have an impact on the Devils locker room?

JP - For some guys, the acquisition of the Steelers just provided lots of solid joke material. For others, it made us uncomfortable. Our problem had very little to do with the financial aspect of the purchase. I'm not sure how much of our funds went into keeping them afloat, nor do I care. Our disapproval existed on more of a personal level . The Steelers were our biggest rival, eventually taking the trophy right out of our hands. It was difficult to look at pictures of our owner celebrating a Championship with a team we thoroughly disliked- a Championship we spent 62 games fighting for. I am aware that keeping the Steelers in the league was important but I think it was a mistake for Ragan to purchase them. In my opinion, there is no place in professional sports for dual ownership, especially between rivals- it is a serious conflict of interest. I understand his reasons were business related, and he may or may not have ambitions to grow the League, but from a locker room perspective it was not something Devils players supported.

IF- Do you follow Hockey ? If so do you have an NHL team? Are you happy to see the JETS back in the big time?

JP - I am a lifetime fan of the New York Islanders. My father had season tickets while I was growing up and it has not been an easy ride since then. Business Insider recently ranked them as the 10th worst franchise in all of sports. They also haven't won a playoff series since 1993. I am happy to see the Jets back in the NHL. I think it's a good thing for the league- that city will do a fantastic job supporting the club.

IF. What got you started playing hockey in the first place? What age did you start?

JP- That would be my father. Despite being a below average player and possibly a worse skater than Neil Francis, he was a huge fan of the game. I started skating out on the pond when I was 4 and first played competitively when I was 6.

IF- Where do you think the Elite league should focus future development? What was your perception of the league before you came over, had you heard much ?

JP - I guess a good place to start would be the officiating. They are not of the quality you see in North America or comparable levels in Europe. Perhaps this isn't their fault. From my understanding, they are not appropriately trained or compensated. Officiating is not an easy job. With no development and no real incentive to get better, how can we expect them to elevate their performance? My main issue with them is consistency- this, in my opinion, can be corrected. The league will not be fully respected until something is done to improve this crucial aspect of the game. The website also needs some changes. For many fans and potential players, this is the first point of contact with the League. My main concern is the lack of interesting content. Throughout the season there are tons of compelling story lines that receive no attention. Almost every article is pulled directly from various team websites. Last year, many of the top teams received no coverage whatsoever. I have been told that the League office is understaffed, but I believe they should make an effort to do more research throughout the season. The disciplinary process also needs work- it is less consistent than the officiating. You might say I'm biased as we ended up on the wrong end of a number of decisions, but if you look across the board at offenses and punishments the math just doesn't add up. The biggest problem last season, however, was the lopsided score lines. A league will never be taken seriously when a team finishes the season with 30 straight losses and a Goals For/Goals Against difference of -280. Nobody gains anything from those games and it makes it tougher for top end guys to advance their careers in Europe.

IF- What was the single best non hockey related aspect of living in Cardiff ('it being a great city, y’ know' isn't an answer)

JP - The best thing about living in Cardiff was the range of professional sporting events in town. Seeing the All Blacks at the Millennium stadium is something I will never forget. I was also lucky enough to attend a few soccer games. The people and the nightlife were great, too. I particularly enjoyed watching S&M perform at O'Neills on Sunday evenings. Also, the Bay is a fun place to relax when the sun is out. To next years players, on a nice day I recommend calling Max Birbraer and heading down to Terra Nova.

IF- How big an influence was the MBA place on your decision to play on Cardiff ? Harvard v Cardiff- Big gap in terms of credibility?

JP - It was the main reason I chose Cardiff. I was planning on retiring after my second season in Rapid City. My experience in Denmark was frustrating and disappointing. There was also an incident in Rapid CIty that made me question whether or not I wanted to stay in the game. However, in April of that year, my agent phoned asking if I would be interested in a UK University deal. I told him I would. Less than two weeks later we had an offer from the Devils. I did a bit of research on the club and the city before signing on, but it was not a very long process. Looking back, I'm happy with my decision. Winning the CHL Championship and enjoying some success with the Devils has kind of re-ignited my passion for the game. I'm not too worried about the gap between Harvard and Cardiff in terms of credibility. Cardiff University is a well-respected school and I will be proud to have the experience and the credentials come next January.

IF - How off putting to players is the Big Blue Tent ( If at all we are only guessing that it is )? Did you know about it before you signed ? Have the Facilities ever cost us a signing to your knowledge?

JP - Before I arrived in Cardiff I did not know much about the Big Blue Tent. It had been described to me by friends in language that is not appropriate for this interview- all of which turned out to be true. However, none of it mattered to me. My only concerns were getting an education, living in a good city, and having a chance to win a championship- Cardiff provided all three. We don't actually spend too much time at the rink- maybe 15-20 hours a week between 3 practices and 1 home game. In my case, the education and the city far outweighed the BBT. To my knowledge, it's never cost the Devils a signing.

IF- After you hang your skates up, what would you like to do? Would you like to be a fireman or will you look to coach or use your degree to pursue other employment?

JP - Ideally, I'd like to stay in sports. It would be great to someday be on the business end of things, specifically in hockey. I've remained close with one of my owners and the GM in Rapid City. They are both important friends and resources for when I retire. Also, I think working in the same organization as Todd Kelman next year will be a good chance for me to learn some things. The other option I'm considering is financial services where I have a bit of work experience. A number of my close friends and family members currently work in that industry and seem to enjoy it. Many aspects of the profession draw similarities to sport in terms of teamwork and competition which might help make my transition into "the real world" a bit smoother

IF – Anything else you’d like to add ?

JP - Thanks for the opportunity to do this interview. I'm sure to many people this is old news, but for those still interested I hope they enjoy the read. I'd like to thank G and Franny for giving me the opportunity to study and play in Cardiff last season. I'd also like to thank the fans for all their support throughout the season and into the summer. See you in September!

Fin

We’d like to thank Jon for taking the time to speak to us and also wish him well ( well kind of wish him well but not too well.. you know what we mean) for next season.
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