Here is the conversation I had with Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland on the team's three day stop in Kelowna later this month:
When did you decide that you would spend three days in Kelowna?
"When our schedule came out, we had an interesting schedule with a Monday night game in Calgary and then a game in Edmonton on Friday. We obviously have three days off, so I talked to Mike Babcock and we went through a number of options. Do we stay in Calgary or do we go back to Edmonton? I am born and raised in Vernon and I know the Okanagan really well, so I thought it would be a little treat for our team in the middle of March and Mike liked the idea. So we are coming in on Monday (Mar 15) after our game in Calgary".
This has to be a first for your team?
"Very rarely do we go on the road and sit for three days without playing, but this was something unique in the schedule. I felt going to the Okanagan...a wonderful part of the world...and it was an opportunity for our guys to get away for a couple of days and bond. Obviously when you are on the road like we are, you try to do something different to keep the players focused and motivated and build chemistry."
Is the trip all business and no pleasure?
"Tuesday is an off day, they can do whatever they want. I am not sure what they are going to do? Obviously we are on the road and we are in the race for the playoffs so every game is critical. Our guys are professionals, they have to do what they have to do to get prepared for the next upcoming games, and from a business standpoint we are going to give them Tuesday off. Wednesday we are going to practice and Thursday we are going to practice again and then go directly from the rink to the airport and jump into our plane and fly off to Edmonton. The players will go out for supper on the off day and if they go golfing that will be their choice."
Do you realize what type of excitement you are building in Kelowna and area?
"Marty Stein, our scout who lives in Vernon, called me the other day and said he has a lot of people asking him about us, so it's probably going to be great. The practice on Wednesday is an opportunity for fans to watch an NHL team have a practice and it will probably be good for our guys too. Sometimes you go to practice and it's just another day at practice. Over the course of six months you try to do some things different to break the routine. Anything you can do to get the guys juices flowing and build some team chemistry is a positive thing."
When did you decide that you would spend three days in Kelowna?
"When our schedule came out, we had an interesting schedule with a Monday night game in Calgary and then a game in Edmonton on Friday. We obviously have three days off, so I talked to Mike Babcock and we went through a number of options. Do we stay in Calgary or do we go back to Edmonton? I am born and raised in Vernon and I know the Okanagan really well, so I thought it would be a little treat for our team in the middle of March and Mike liked the idea. So we are coming in on Monday (Mar 15) after our game in Calgary".
This has to be a first for your team?
"Very rarely do we go on the road and sit for three days without playing, but this was something unique in the schedule. I felt going to the Okanagan...a wonderful part of the world...and it was an opportunity for our guys to get away for a couple of days and bond. Obviously when you are on the road like we are, you try to do something different to keep the players focused and motivated and build chemistry."
Is the trip all business and no pleasure?
"Tuesday is an off day, they can do whatever they want. I am not sure what they are going to do? Obviously we are on the road and we are in the race for the playoffs so every game is critical. Our guys are professionals, they have to do what they have to do to get prepared for the next upcoming games, and from a business standpoint we are going to give them Tuesday off. Wednesday we are going to practice and Thursday we are going to practice again and then go directly from the rink to the airport and jump into our plane and fly off to Edmonton. The players will go out for supper on the off day and if they go golfing that will be their choice."
Do you realize what type of excitement you are building in Kelowna and area?
"Marty Stein, our scout who lives in Vernon, called me the other day and said he has a lot of people asking him about us, so it's probably going to be great. The practice on Wednesday is an opportunity for fans to watch an NHL team have a practice and it will probably be good for our guys too. Sometimes you go to practice and it's just another day at practice. Over the course of six months you try to do some things different to break the routine. Anything you can do to get the guys juices flowing and build some team chemistry is a positive thing."
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