We Catch up with Phil Osaer

1st Jun 2012 | Posted by The Inferno

We're back with another Devils player Q+A this time we welcome back netminder Phil Osaer to Cardiff and the Devils.

This will be Phil's second stint with the Devils and he brings with him a huge wealth of experience. Osaer was drafted back in 1999 by St.Louis Blues during his University days before heading to the ECHL/AHL for 5 seasons and then making the trip across the pond to Cardiff.

Osaer was part of the last Devils team to win some silverware back in 2006 when the Devils beat the Blaze for the British Knockout Cup. After 2 years in Cardiff, Phil moved onto a new challenge with Sparta Sarpsborg in Norway where he played for 4 seasons. With Phil in nets his team won the league twice(2009/2011) and playoffs once(2011).

Phil was also in the first Devils team to play in the blue tent which we asked him about, we also chatted about his career to date and we take a look at his views on the new season with the re-structuring going on within the league.

Inferno (IF) Firstly Welcome back Phil. How did it feel when G contacted you about coming back to the Devils or did you contact him? Have you been contacted before this season about coming back?

Phil - Couldn’t be happier, I mean it was something I said to G, chance to speak with the fans last weekend. Something always in the back of my mind when I spoke to G about leaving to go play in Norway he said “you will be back” and smiled, this is what I hoped would happen and as it was, we had a chance to talk and G was interested in having me back and I couldn’t have been happier. Samantha and I is a joint decision these days so it’s about my hockey career and our life. There’s no where else we would rather be and there’s no team I would rather be a part of to win a championship. G and I kept in touch for quite some time about whether about a play that’s available that he wants or I may know someone as the hockey world is so small. So him and I spoke a few times about Vother’s injury so it came up in conversation. It was great and when it kind of came a reality, it was more after the season. Something that really fit and put pen to paper.

IF-  How was your time in Norway? How did you cope with the language barrier? How was the city compared to other places you've played?

Phil - It was excellent, something I will always look back on and cherish some great friends from a hockey point of view, I went there with mixed emotions, play somewhere else for one year kind of live in a different culture, maybe take my game to another level and try to make it in Europe. What I kind of did was find a 2nd home and a team that helped me develop as a player and as a person. I met a goalie coach who is employed by work the youth section and he came and started talking to me in broken English after one practise. I asked him to tell me what he thinks and he’s only a year older than me which is a kind of weird dynamic. From that, the team took him on a part time basis and that took my desire to playing good to a different level. Certainly fell in being a job and Daniel made it into a practise where I tried to get better and it was extremely enjoyable so I think that coupled with we were successful.

We won the league in my 1st year then my 3rd year, we won the double with the league and playoffs it was nothing short of a magical experience. Last year wasn’t as quite as good, we had a 6month hangover from the championship but it was a great overall experience. No real language barrier, Scandinavians speak better English than southern Americans. Time in the locker room, some players would speaking Norwegian and start laughing I always miss that,, I love the locker room, I love it when guys tell stories and the banter with everything. It was tough at times but the guys are pretty good and I picked up some but not as much as my wife did but I picked up some of it. Sarpsborg with a population of 50k so it was really quiet, they were very hockey interested.

The sign when you enter the city says welcome to hockey town and at the forefront of everyone’s mind to the point where my wife would get ridiculed at the coffee shop she worked at if I had a bad night, fans would come in the next morning what was wrong with Phil last night. It was tough but they expected a lot out of us which was good. I enjoyed the pressure. I liked Sarpsborg. I liked the city but I don’t necessity know if I would want to live there forever it wasn’t really small but we will go back there 17th May to celebrate Norway’s national day.

IF-  As a returning Devil a lot of us remember you as a player but for new fans, what can they expect from you?

Phil -Fans can and should expect from me three things, 100% effort at all times, represent the Devils, Cardiff and Wales well on and off the ice at all times, and know that my goal for the season is to win championships! Those things are a given I hope. Aside from that, I play a 'hybrid' style of goaltending, I am vocal during the games (helps to calm my nerves) and I like to get out and play the puck a bit. We will see if G lets me though.

IF - You were in Norway for four seasons how does the standard of Hockey compare to the UK Elite League and the ECHL ? 

Phil -Norwegian hockey and British hockey I believe to be about the same standard. They all play on a big ice sheet and their coaching is dominated by a Swedish mentality so they play tight neutral zone hockey and man on man in the defensive zone. This makes the play a little different as transition plays are not as common.  The ECHL, wow that was a long time ago. I know that the young players now are far better than when Vother and I played in the coast over a decade ago, so it is hard for me to say. Although, I can say that all the players who have come to Europe are high end AHL and ECHL guys would have all had a chance in NHL when we were given our chances. So the new players G is looking at are very good and have bright futures in our game. 

IF-  Looking at the Sarpsborg rink it looks to hold around 2600 ? What was the match night atmosphere like ? Are the fans loud ?

Phil -The Sparta Amfi holds 3500 and for the big games it gets loud. They have great dedicated supporters who love hockey. They have a lot in common with Cardiff Devils fans, passionate, hockey knowledgeable, and fun to make friends with. As far as the noise, it is hard to compare to my last game in Cardiff, when we beat Nottingham to go back to the final four weekend.  

IF- You spoke when you signed back with the Devils about working with a net keeping coach, can you tell us a little about this and the effect its had on you as a player ?

Phil -Daniel is a great coach, he has improved my practice habits, and taught me a structure that makes it easier for me to play to a consistent level. 

IF - Do you have any superstitions your happy telling us about ?

Phil -Um I’ve tried to get away the older I get. You can’t let your superstition control your game as you never know what may happen and if you cant do something you rely on, your whole game could be ruined at noon the day of the game so it doesn’t make much sense. I’ve got a few superstitions I take care of at the end of warm up haven’t changed and before each period, I have a superstition where I hit the post and move my feet which goes back as far as 1989 when I had a bad game and my mom pointed out what the thing was wrong. That superstition will never change.

IF – Who's the best forward you've played against and Best D you've played on a team with?

Phil - Best D man I played on a team with- I’m going to get ridiculed by Tyson for this but Matt Robertson. He was Tyson but he blocked shots, so you know it was everything I could ask for in a Defenseman and I will tell Tyson to his face you know. Best forward that I’ve ever played against, Matzka actually mentioned him last year, Andy Hilbert, he could score at will. I saw it a few times playing against him and as back up and he was my best man at my wedding. I was backing up a game in Worcester and he was playing for providence bruins - he called me before, I was mad I wasn’t playing and he said I will chase him from the net in the first 5minutes. That game, he got 3 in the first 5minutes and I was in. he was that good, Andy Hilbert is the best I’ve played against.

IF -  Plans for the future when you hang the skates up? We understand that your looking into coaching and doing some study in Cardiff ? 

Phil -I’m going to study at Uwic and I’m going to take a masters in sports. I want to coach University Hockey, this has been a goal of mine since I was 13-14. My uncle coached college football and he’s the kind of star in the family and I started to think I would love to coach college hockey and to coach at that level and as I’ve grown and got into the game I’ve realised, university coaches have the opportunity to recruit a kid at 17 years old to offer a scholarship and an education and then work with them for 4 years. If they get better and make it to the NHL, it’s wonderful, if they get a great career in finance they will always look back at the coaching they had at college hockey as fun point in their life. I know the way I think about the coaches I had at university, it was a special bond and I would the opportunity to work with young athletes and coach college hockey

IF -  You were in the first group of players to play in the big blue tent, what were your initial impressions of it?

Phil -Tyson and I watched it through a window and sceptical about it. I was really excited when I got in there, it looked really cool considering what the outside looked like. I’ve had some great memories from the first game getting cancelled, Simon Mangos having to shower with a water bottle because no water in the guest locker room to the last game v Nottingham when the place was packed when we went to another final four weekend. I liked it, it’s going to be different playing in a smaller rink again but I think I will be able to figure it out in August here and I’m excited. I like the idea that I can say I played in the old rink with this new palace being planned.

IF- You’ve got a day off, what are you doing ? What’s the ideal day outside of “work”

Phil -Typical day, I like to golf. If the weather is like this I like to be on the golf course, I don’t change much like most hockey players you know and spend time with walking Marvin round Cardiff City Centre and down in Bute Park and that sort of thing. Perfect day off would be a round of golf, hang out with my wife and then some friends later.

IF- What do you consider the strongest part of your game and what 1 thing would you improve - and why?

Phil -Like to improve. the ability to see the puck through traffic, goalies rely on others at times so I couldn’t see it so it’s not their fault that goal. Everyone else in the rink is watching the puck so why can’t I? So I really want to battle and make sure I find all the shots at all times. Whether it’s through traffic or I’m not screened at all. My strength is, I try and have a good net presence and be a player who provides confidence for the rest of the team everyday and play with the consistency that the team believes in.

IF- In all your years playing, what’s your favourite memory?

Phil -The hard part there is there are so many. When you’re younger it’s easy, the longer you play, the more memories you accumulate. Last time I was here, I made it to the NHL so some memory to topple. Since we won the knockout cup which a lot of people in Cardiff might kind of laugh at, but I think we were against adversity and it was my first trophy I’ve helped since I was 12 or 13 which was wonderful. With 2011, our team won the playoff championship. Vother was in town visiting and team had back to back shutouts to win the playoffs. It was amazing, a Saturday in Norway, everything was perfect. This tops my list as my favourite hockey memory.

IF- With the recent announcement from the Elite league about the re-structure, can you give us your views on the whole thing.

Phil -I’m excited about this, the Elite league has taken a step in the new direction and they want to increase the competitiveness of the league and think this is excellent. I love the fact that we will get the opportunity to play against Nottingham and Sheffield more often, I think Coventry and whoever else ends up in our conference.

I love the chance that there’s another cup to win when you win your conference championship. It’s great, you look at the NHL guys celebrating their conference and that’s something which is great. It gives you something else to play for whichever conference your in. I think it’s really good of the league, if it helps obviously, everything comes down to economics almost in all aspects of life and if it helps the travel for all Scottish teams and Devils that’s excellent.

This means the ownership can perhaps lower ticket prices next year this sort of thing, adjust their bottom line- great, this extra money that saved in travel you can maybe sign another high level import who can provide depth which with the new format which I also think it great that we will be able to play 4 lines and give us a little more depth, more young British players the opportunity to play games, get in there and be more part of it rolling 4 lines situation.

I think it’s all very good. I’ve read a lot of criticisms about it. I think a lot of people have a fear of the unknown which is easy to fall into. I think this is very good stuff for our team in particular and the Elite league so I’m excited about it. Hockey road trip would be ideal for us to get away, group of guys, some bonding time, nights in the hotel I think that’s all very very good. Fans get to do the same thing. I think it’s absolute great. Maybe with the new format, play 2 games v Dundee Friday/Sat Sat/Sun . we all go up there, that’s awesome.

It’s a really good opportunity for fans to see different cities, not go watch the game and just head back. For me, as a paid tourist in a way, after pre game nap, we may go on tours. When we played in Belfast, we went on the black cab tour. It’s great, this is why guys come overseas to play and find it a really good thing.

IF- Anything else you would like to add

Phil -I like the open question. I understand that there’s a lot of fans will welcome me back with open arms but some who think that Stevie was dealt an unfair hand because he played so well and he’s such a good goalie. First of all I have the up most respect for him as a person and as a hockey player so humbled that I get to come in and try to fill his shoes next season which is an honour for me in that way. I just want fans on that regard, to give me an honest chance as they did with me last time when I replaced Peter Aubry. I’ve been in this situation here once before here and I understand and one of the things I love about Cardiff is the loyalty to the players here and their team so I definitely look forward the opportunity to earn back everyone’s respect.

In that same line, I hope everyone gives us respect that I think we deserve. Just because our budget, you can ask the New York Yankees or New York Rangers you don’t always need the biggest budget to win championships always. Look at the devils starting tomorrow, they have 1 high paid player and maybe our budget can get us 1 or 2. It’s written everywhere in sports. You don’t have to be the highest paid team to win championships . I was happy to be apart of one which wasn’t that close to the highest paid team you know that sort of thing. Give us the opportunity going forward, just because our arena isn’t as pretty as Nottingham’s just yet it doesn’t mean at the end of the day we won’t be carrying around some trophies end of next season.

Can’t ask for anymore from Cardiff fans, stuck through the history thick and thin, maybe bring some friends to games, make sure they stop by and say hello to us when they see us because all us players know, without these fans, we wouldn’t be able to live the life we get to live and kind of live the dream of delaying our adulthood as my wife will tell you we are doing. I’m very thankful for the fans and all they done and cant ask for them to approve anything just keep up the support and we hope to return the favour.