We caught up with Mike Danton

When Coventry announced the signing of former NHLer Mike Danton he became for a few of us our number 1 off season interview choice for players from other teams around the league, we were lucky enough to track him down (via social media) and discovered that he was a Jolly nice chap who was more than happy to chat to us about all things hockey.

31-year-old Canadian forward Mike Danton played three seasons in the OHL prior to being drafted as a fifth round pick for the New Jersey Devils in 2000 going on to make an impressive 92 appearances in ‘The Show’ with the New Jersey Devils and St Louis Blues.

Danton then spent five years absent from the sport serving a widely publicised prison sentence before returning to play for Saint Mary’s University in the CIS while studying psychology and Criminology, before splitting last season between IFK Ore in Sweden and Orli Znojmo in Austria.

We caught up with Mike and spoke to him about what we can expect to see of him as a player, where he got involved in Hockey and where he sees it taking him and we touch on how he plans to deal with the inevitable fan chirps about his past and the comments made by departing Clan coach Drew Bannister

The Inferno (IF) - At what age did you first start playing hockey? Who were your inspirations or heroes when you were younger?

Mike Danton - I started skating around the age of 3, and started playing hockey about the age of 6. When I began to understand the game and become a true fan, my inspiration was driven from players like Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan.

IF - What influenced your decision to come to the UK?

Mike Danton - There were a few aspects that influenced my decision on playing in the UK. The EIHL has a familiar style of play to myself. Also, the familiarity of the language, food, and customs also played an important role in my decision making process. Moreover, I wanted to be on a winning team in a competitive league. I spoke to Thommo, and he is dedicated and committed to winning games and being competitive for this season and the foreseeable future.

IF - Are you one for superstitions and rituals pre-game? If you are would you comfortable telling us what they might be?

Mike Danton - I am a fairly superstitious player and I also have my pre-game routines, but I will not be revealing that on an open forum, haha.

IF - If you had to pick one part of your game you would improve, what would it be and why?

Mike Danton - As an athlete, I would say that I continuously want to improve all elements of my game. I had the honour of playing with some pretty good hockey players over the years, and one thing that I learned from them is that they were always working on their game, especially the aspects that they were good at.

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

Mike Danton - An off day would consist of sleeping in a bit and then heading over to the gym to maintain. Then there would be some time for movies and playstation. I would also probably have to fit in some schooling here and there.

IF - Who's the best forward you've played on a line with and best D man against?

Mike Danton - I have played with a wide variety of good players in my time. It is tough not to be in awe while on the ice when you are skating around with guys like Doug Weight, Keith Tkachuk, and Patrik Elias. The skills that some of those guys possess are unbelievable. As far as defensemen are considered, I would have to say that Niklas Lidstrom is by far the best I have played against. He is so smart with and without the puck, and he works smart, not just hard. There is a big difference.

IF - Have you made plans for when you hang your skates up? Is coaching something you'd like to get into?

Mike Danton - Hanging up the skates has not entered my mind yet. However, at the end of my career, I would like to be involved in the game at some level. Coaching does interest me, but managing a team interests me as well. I have also thought about running a hockey school and being a university professor. I enjoy teaching. I think I have a lot of worldly knowledge and experience that I could share with people that want to progress in life and in hockey.

IF – What’s the best arena you've played in for atmosphere and the most intimidating?

Mike Danton - Playing in the NHL gives you so many opportunities to visit great arenas and fans. New York and Philadelphia have some crazy, demented fans. I seriously think that a lot of their fans have some screws loose. They throw bottles and garbage at you and everything like that. Teams like Vancouver, Detroit, Colorado, and St. Louis have some intense atmosphere going on. Truthfully, it is an absolute thrill to play in any NHL arena in front of their fans.

IF - What can Coventry Blaze fans expect from you this season? Have you looked at many of the arenas you will be playing in? I'm sure Thommo has told you about our great blue tent?

Mike Danton - The fans in Coventry can expect a little of everything from me. I will be bringing my hard nosed style of play overseas with me, but I will also be counted on to be productive offensively. I will bring a relentless work ethic and expect everyone on the team to match that. Hard work is a vital part of the game that energizes a team and breaks down the other. I haven't seen any of the arenas yet, and Thommo has not told be about the big blue tent. However, I have seen it mentioned on twitter.

IF - When Theo Fleury played in the league, the Coventry fans were known for not holding back on the 'banter', do you expect the same from visiting teams or even in other rinks? Not being pros ourselves, how do you deal with that?

Mike Danton - Yes, I expect to hear banter and chirps throughout the league. I truly enjoy that kind of stuff. Nothing is better than getting chirped by the people that pay to watch me play. I have had to deal with fans like that my entire career and I have a lot of choice words and phrases for them. I look forward to it. It doesn't affect me whatsoever. If anything, I get energized and pumped up when I hear that. If fans are not ****** off at me and chirping me then I am not doing my job.

IF - We've just seen Drew Bannister try to spin a web of deceit on his departure from the Clan, partly blaming his decision on the Blaze signing you. We've also seen your reply, how does it make you feel that he essentially lied and attempted to cast you in a bad light, despite trying to sign you?

Mike Danton - I think my comments on Drew Bannister's situation speak for themselves. I knew nothing of Drew before my interaction with him and had no judgements towards him. However, he clearly didn't look at me in the same light. That's fine. I have had to deal with negativity for the past 8 years. I'm used to it. It's just pathetic that people have nothing better to do than comment on my past when they know nothing about me.

IF - You didn't play for 5 years whilst you served your time in jail, did you always know you would come out and try to make a fresh start with your career? How hard was it to lace them back up again and hit the ice?

Mike Danton - I always wanted to return to the game of hockey. Some days were tougher than others. There were times when I was unsure if I would be able to play hockey again, but my desire to play the game I loved made everything possible. I knew that I wanted to play again, but in order for that to happen I needed someone to give me that opportunity. I got that opportunity form Saint Mary's University and then again in IKF Ore, Znojmo, and now in Coventry. I'm extremely grateful to those institutions and organizations.

IF - There's been a polarised reaction to your signing by the Blaze, mostly from other teams fans but some Blaze fans as well. Does that worry you at all, or will you make any attempts off the ice to change that, or do you hope that the on ice showing helps people change their view?

Mike Danton - Actually, the only negativity I have heard regarding my signing was from Drew Bannister, So if there has been some banter, it hasn't reached me yet. When it comes to societies' reactions to my signing, there is nothing I can do but play. In the end, everyone has an opinion of me and that won't change. With all due respect, I could care less what people think of me. I was signed by Coventry to play hockey, not make friends. I have a past and people have to understand that. However, I have a pretty good hunch that people will soon change their minds of me once they meet me and get to know me. It has been that way since my release from prison. The unknown is scary and makes people uncomfortable and defensive. I'm sure I will be a fan favourite in Coventry. In other rinks, I believe my style of play and demeanour will be respected, but I will not be liked. And that is the way I want it.

We'd like to thank Mike for taking the time to speak to us and wish him all the best ( aside from the dozen or so times he'll play the Devils) for the upcoming season.

If you keen to read more about Mike we'd suggest the Behind the Net player Bio here http://behindthenet.co.uk/player-bio-mike-danton/ and the Mike Danton page on Facebook or @Mike_Danton on Twitter.